The Senetti plants are kept for their vibrant colors. They are quite resilient to swift changes in weather conditions.
They add color to the otherwise dull garden. The plants are quite resilient in both summer and winter. They help greatly with pollination. Thus, they are a great addition to gardens.
But, like all the other plants they face some issues too. These issues arise due to poor watering, temperature fluctuations, inadequate sunlight, or pests.
Downy Mildew, Alternaria Leaf Spot, Root rot, and Leafminers are seen in Senetti plants. Let’s see what your plant has got.
Watering Issues
Poor watering is the root cause of many plant-related issues. Water your plants well and you will be rewarded with healthy foliage and blossom.
Senetti plant likes moisture. The plant also likes soil with good drainage. So, try to keep the soil moist but not soggy.
Make sure the soil is well aerated. Ensure the plant gets enough water and the soil is somewhat wet but not soggy.
Poorly watered plants’ leaves turn brown and the plant, in general, becomes dull. Such plants can be revived by conscious watering.
How often should I water my Senetti?
Water your Senetii mid-day as cold water can shock the roots. Senetti plant is very thirsty, it needs regular watering.
Water them twice a week. A good rule of thumb is not letting the top 2 inches of the soil go dry. Check the soil for moisture with fingers.
Temperature
Senetti plants love lower temperatures. Although they can survive any conditions, they do their best in lower temperatures.
They flower in temperatures below 10°C, so it’s better to keep them in indirect sunlight or in shade during summer.
Do you see worm-like trails on the leaves of your Senetti?
Do you see white trails that look like worms on the leaves? They are caused by Leafminers, which are aptly named looking at the damage they cause.
Leafminers lay eggs on the leaves. They turn into larvae. These larvae then go on to feed on the leaf tissue of the plant.
These larvae turn into pupae and in time, fall into the soil. This way they can spread into the neighboring plants.
If the infection is in the early stages, you can cut off the affected leaves. Collect the cut infected leaves and throw them away.
Severe cases
In severe cases, the pupae are in the soil, and cutting the leaves won’t matter much. Do not cut the leaves if the infection is severe.
Spraying Neem oil immediately after you notice early symptoms works well. It will knock out existing larvae. If the infestation is severe, insecticide spray may prove useful.
You can prevent such infestations by introducing natural predators.
Root rot
Black root rot is commonly seen in Senetti plants. This happens when the plant is overwatered.
So, when watering you have to make sure the soil isn’t already moist. Do not ever let the soil get soggy. This is the main cause of root rot as it lets the algae Phytophthora thrive.
Alternaria Leaf Spot
This disease causes dark brown to black spots on the leaves. This is caused by a fungal infection. The spots engulf the entire leaf.
Spots spread to the petiole, breaking it.
How to fix: Remove and get rid of the infected leaves. Do not let the leaves get wet. Apply fungicide to protect healthy plants in the same bed.
Downy Mildew
This disease is caused by Plasmopara. In the beginning, yellow spots are seen on the leaves. After a while, the yellow spots become black.
Sparse fungal infection is seen on the lower side of the leaves. This is the reason why it gets the name “Downy” Mildew.
How to fix: Removing infected leaves can help. Water at the base of the plant, do not water the leaves.
How to care for the Senetti plant?
Caring well for the Senetta plant is crucial to prevent diseases/disorders. There are various factors that influence the health of a Senetta plant.
Does Senetti need sun?
Senetti plants mostly like cool conditions. It can, however, thrive in full sun or partial shade conditions.
If it gets abundant sunlight it gives out colorful blossom.
Watering
You need to take extra care when watering your plants in the winter. It can get very cold.
Do not water your plant in the morning or the evening. The water will be very cold. The plan will suffer a shock if you water it in the cold hours.
To avoid this, water your Senetti in the afternoon. You can also water the plant with somewhat warm water.
Make sure you don’t let the soil go dry. Always keep the soil moist but not soggy. Use well-drained soil if you are growing a potted plant.
Deadheading
Deadheading will prolong the flowering in Senetti plants. This also increases the life of the plant.
Faded flowerheads should be cut to 6 inches. You can encourage new blossom by feeding your plant some liquid potash based food.
Happy Gardenin’ 🙂