My Chrysanthemum Is Looking Unhealthy. What Could Be The Cause Of This And Is There Anything I Can Do To Help It?

Are the leaves, stems, and buds distorted and sticky to the touch?

Do the leaves have yellow-brown spots or blotches on them and do some leaves die and turn brittle?

Do the leaves have tan or brown blotches or serpentine tunnels?

Are the leaves and flowers greenish-yellow and distorted, and is the new growth spindly?

Are the leaves on your plants stippled with yellow and the foliage is webbed?

Does your chrysanthemums have deformed flowers with white specs on leaves and petals?

Do the leaves of your chrysanthemums have fuzzy, brown or gray spots?

Do the leaves of your chrysanthemums have powdery white patches on them?

Distorted and sticky leaves, stems and buds are caused by aphids. These tiny insects can vary in color, green, pink, black, gray to completely white. They cluster under leaves and on growing tips where they feed on plant sap. Leaves, stems, and buds get distorted and latter leaves and flowers drop from the plant. You can control them by washing them off the plant with water spray. Insecticidal soap should be used only with severe infestations.

These symptoms usually indicate on Foliar nematodes. These microscopic roundworms overwinter in soil or plant debris, then travel up a plant's stem in the film of water created by spring rains. Symptoms move up the plant with nematodes. Remove and destroy infested plants and the surrounding soil and do not compost the debris. Rotate plantings and mulch in spring to keep nematodes from climbing up plants. Avoid wetting leaves when watering.

These symptoms are usually caused by insects - Leafminers. These tiny pale green fly larvae feed between the upper and lower surfaces of the leaves. Prune off and destroy all infested leaves. Remove debris in fall because it might contain overwintering leafminers. The weekly application of insecticidal soap should keep their numbers low. Also, introducing parasitic wasps is a very effective method of controlling leafminers.

Greenish yellow and distorted leaves and flowers with spindly new growth usually indicate viral diseases. Several viruses can attack chrysanthemums and all of them are incurable. Remove and destroy all infected plants. Wash all tools used around infected plants. Leafhoppers and aphids are most likely carriers of viruses so the best way to prevent viral diseases is to control these insects.

Yellow flecks on leaves and webbed foliage is caused by spider mites. These tiny, spider-like pests feed by sucking sap from the underside of the plants leaves causing yellow flecking on the upper leaf surfaces. You can control spider mites by spraying plants thoroughly with water 2-3 times a day for several days. For severe infestations, spray plants with insecticidal soap, or pyrethrin as a last resort.

Deformed flowers and specs on leaves and petals are caused by thrips. Thrips are tiny, yellow to black flying insects. They hide under leaves and inside flowers. Severely infested plant parts should be pruned off and destroyed. Control thrips by introducing lady beetles or lacewings, their natural predators. Insecticidal soap helps in severe infestations.

Fuzzy, brown or gray spots on the leaves are caused by fungal disease - Botrytis gray mold. This fungus tends to attack weak plants. It also thrives in humid but cool weather. Remove and destroy all infected leaves, stems and flowers and thin plants to ensure good air circulation around chrysanthemums.

White, powdery patches on the leaves are caused by a fungal disease - Powdery mildew. Powdery mildew usually appears in damp places. Thin your plants to ensure good airflow. Water plants from bellow to keep foliage dry. Any affected leaves should be cut off and removed. Any commercial fungicidal spray will protect your plant from further infections.

Environmental issues might have caused your chrysanthemums unhealthy look. They love full sun and fertile, well-drained soil. Plant them in a spot with lots of sunlight, fertilize them with compost monthly during the growing season and stop fertilizing in August. Do not overwater them, make sure that soil dries between waterings. Use mulch to ensure even soil moisture.