Types of Plant Disease

Sometimes this breeding process has reduced the plant’s immune system and the gardener must be pro-active in providing additional protection from disease.

Here are some different types of diseases found in New Zealand gardens.

FUNGAL DISEASE

Fungal diseases reduce crops and flowering, stresses plants, cause unsightly marking and can ultimately kill your plants.

Fungi, including blackspot, rusts, moulds and mildews will, given the chance, attack our fruit trees, roses, vegetables and ornamental plants. Lawns can be attacked by various fungal diseases including brown patch, red thread, mildews, moulds, leaf spot, smuts and blights.

Kiwicare produce a comprehensive range of fungicides and combination fungicide/insecticides and disease protective products to help you keep your plants healthy, productive and beautiful.

BACERTIAL & VIRAL DISEASE

Other than fungi, plants are also vulnerable to disease caused by bacteria and viruses. ORGANIC COPPER OXY will protect from bacteria and fungi.

The best way to prevent vial disease is to keep your plants healthy so that they are not damaged and their own immune system is able to ward off viruses.

NUTRIENT DEFICENCY

Not all disease is caused by other organisms. Sometimes the plant is diseased because it is deficient (or over supplied) with some nutrient.

Water is a very obvious example of where a lack of or an overabundance is detrimental. Plants with too little water rapidly show symptoms of dehydration and wilting. Without water moving up from the roots to supply the stems and leaves there is also the problem of a lack of the nutrients that would travel with the water. The leaves will often begin to yellow and eventually go brown.

The same is true when the root system is waterlogged. The plant is unable to transport nutrients properly and again the leaves will often yellow, droop and die.

Even with good water supply if the soil does not contain the nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and other chemicals that the plant needs to function properly it will sicken, become weak and susceptible to disease caused by fungi, bacteria and viruses.

Healthy soil means healthy plants. The NOURISH ORGANIC FERTILISER range includes ALL PURPOSE, CITRUS, VEGETABLE and FLOWER and are formulated to give ideal soil conditions for specific plants types; flowers, ornamentals, vegetables and citrus.