What Is Wrong With My Princess Flower Plant?

Are the leaves distorted, curled, and yellow?

Are the leaves stippled with yellow and the foliage is webbed?

Do the leaves and stems have white, cottony clusters on them?

Are there any small holes in unopened buds?

Are the leaves covered with small bumps?

Are the plants yellow, stunted and roots have swollen galls?

Have the stems blackened at the base and does the whole plant falls over?

Distorted, curled leaves are caused by aphids. These tiny insects cluster under leaves and on growing tips where they feed on plant sap. Leaves, stems, and buds get distorted, and later 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 with severe infestations.

Leaves stippled with yellow 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.

White, cottony clusters on leaves and stems are caused by mealybugs. These tiny insects are covered with a fluffy white coating. They feed by sucking plants sap. They produce sticky substance honeydew which makes leaves sticky. You can control them by washing them off the plant with water spray. Insecticidal soap should be used with severe infestations.

If there are small holes in unopened buds, the culprits are Geranium budworms. This caterpillars tunnel 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.

Leaves covered by small bumps are caused by scales. These tiny, shelled insects often feed on the undersides of the leaves, causing an unhealthy appearance with yellowish blotches on the upper leaf surfaces. Scrape off minor infestations with your fingernail. Prune out badly infested growth, or use a soft brush and soapy water to gently scrub the scales off the stems. Control scales by spraying insecticidal oil during the growing season.

Yellow, stunted plants and roots that have swollen galls indicate root-knot nematodes. Other symptoms are plants wilting during bright, hot days. Prevent root-knot nematodes by applying parasitic nematodes or solarizing the soil before planting.

Blackened base of the stems is most likely caused by Crown or Root rot. Poorly drained, overly wet soil promotes rot so choose well-drained sites and add organic matter to improve drainage. Avoid injury to crowns when digging near plants. Keep winter mulch away from crowns. Remove and destroy infected plants. Solarize the soil before replanting.

Some environmental issues may have caused your plants' the sickly look. For best results, plant princess flower in a location with full sun. It will tolerate light shade, but blooming will be diminished. Loam and sandy loam soils with a neutral to slightly acidic pH are best. Average water levels are optimal for this bush.