Why Does My Ageratum Look Sickly?

Are the flowers covered with gray mold, stems are soft, may be rotted?

Are the leaves of your ageratum covered with white powder?

Are the leaves yellow, wilting, and dying?

Are there any dark lesions on stems, roots may be rotted?

Are there holes chewed in leaves and buds?

Are there holes in unopened buds?

Are the leaves yellow or discolored, covered with honeydew, plants look weakened?

Have some plants disappeared completely?

Gray mold on flowers, followed by rotted stems are symptoms that indicate a fungal disease - Botrytis blight. Other symptoms include brown to black spots that may appear on leaves and petals. You can only prevent Botrytis blight disease by planting flowers in areas with good air circulation. Water plants sparsely. Infected plants should be removed. Spray weekly with a copper fungicide until the disease is under control.

White, powdery patches on the leaves are caused by a fungal disease Powdery mildew. Powdery mildew usually appears in damp places. Encourage good air circulation around the affected plants by thining them and any surrounding plants. 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.

Yellow leaves that die and drop usually indicate Root rot. This disease is caused by both fungi and bacterias. Poorly drained, overly wet soil promotes rot so choose well-drained sites and add organic matter to improve drainage. Remove and destroy infected plants. Solarize the soil before replanting.

Dark lesions on stems are caused by Stem rot. This disease can be caused by both bacterias and fungi. Remove and destroy all infected plants. Thin plants to ensure good air circulation. Water plants from below so the foliage can stay dry. Solarize the soil before replanting.

If there are small holes in unopened buds, the culprits are most likely tobacco budworms. This caterpillar tunnels into unopened buds and eats them from the inside out. To prevent the spread of the worms into healthy buds remove any buds showing tiny holes and nearby brown specks. Handpick any visible worms and destroy them.

Corn earworms larvae are known pests of ageratum. Adults are tan moths. Cover plants with row cover until tassels emerge to exclude the first generation of pests, especially if you have had problems in previous years. Spray BTK as soon as any feeding holes are found. Make sure to spray the undersides of leaves and insides of unfolding leaves where pests feed.

These symptoms indicate insects Whiteflies. These tiny, mothlike flies and their larvae feed by sucking plant juices. Whiteflies secrete honeydew, a sugary substance that makes leaves sticky to the touch. Control whiteflies by eliminating garden weeds and by introducing green lacewings in the garden. Spray infested plants with insecticidal soap every 3 days for 2 weeks.

If the plants are missing, the culprits may be deers. Barriers provide the most reliable long-term protection from deers.

Some environmental issues or poor growing conditions may have caused your ageratums sickly look. Caring for ageratums includes regular watering until the plant is established. Use warm water to irrigate the plant for a bounty of blue blooms. You should also deadhead spent blooms as needed to encourage more flowers.