Close-up Devils Dream red leaves

Fighting medlar fungal infestation: how to do it

With its intensely coloured, fiery red and lush green foliage, the glossy medlar is a real eye-catcher that can be used in a variety of ways in the garden, on the patio and even on the balcony. However, although it is extremely easy to care for, Photinia Devil's Dream® can also occasionally suffer from diseases. Driven by unfavourable weather conditions, an unsuitable location or a lack of nutrients, pathogens can spread and cause very different clinical pictures. However, even if the diseases affect the appearance, they rarely have serious consequences. Nevertheless, it is advisable to combat the fungal infestation of the loquat, as some variants can spread to other plants. However, with home remedies, tried-and-tested tips and a little care, your loquat will soon be fungus-free again. We reveal what to do.

Devils Dream as a stem

Recognising the disease to combat the fungal infestation of the loquat

In order to combat a fungal infestation on a loquat, you must first identify the pathogen in question. The easiest way to do this is to look at the damage pattern. Does your Photinia Devil's Dream® have grey to purple discolouration on the underside of the leaves and yellow spots on the upper side? Then it is suffering from downy mildew. A white, mealy coating, on the other hand, indicates powdery mildew. Brownish-reddish to black spots on the leaves are a sign of leaf scald, while apple scab is characterised by dark, scab-like spots.

Once you have identified the culprit, it can be kept in check with the right measures and eventually eliminated completely. You can use these home remedies to combat your loquat fungus infestation without harming the environment:

Downy mildew

  • Spray your Photinia several times a week with a garlic broth diluted with water.
  • Horsetail broth strengthens the plant cells with the silicic acid it contains, making the plant more resistant.

Powdery mildew

  • Spray the plants once a week with a mixture of milk and water. The fungal spores cannot tolerate the environment created by the lactic acid.
  • Baking powder and rapeseed oil also make an effective mixture.
  • The same applies to a solution of household vinegar and apple cider vinegar. However, this mixture should not be used in hot weather or strong sunlight.

Leaf browning

  • Garlic decoction and horsetail broth are also the remedies of choice here.
  • Also effective: a nettle broth made from around one kilogram of fresh nettles.

Apple scab

  • Spray your plants every fortnight with a solution consisting of a packet of baking soda and two litres of warm water in which you dissolve it.
  • Some of the remedies already mentioned can also help against the pathogen. These include: Garlic broth, field horsetail broth, milk and water mixture and nettle broth.

 

 

Photinia fraseri as a pot plant in the garden

Factors that favour glossy medlar fungus

Even if the remedies for a disease vary, the triggers that open the door to the fungus are very similar. These include high humidity, excessively moist soil and weakened plants. To avoid having to fight a fungal infestation in the first place, you simply need to ensure that the plant has the right conditions at its location and is well supplied with nutrients.

Devils Dream Plants

Prevent fungal infestation with the right choice of location and care of the loquat

Photinia Devil's Dream® prefers sunny to semi-shady conditions. This keeps its leaves dry and waterlogging is rare. If you only water your loquat from below, you can also help to prevent the leaves from becoming too moist. And don't plant the individual Photinia too close together. A distance of 30 centimetres is ideal so that the shrubs have enough space and the air can circulate sufficiently between them.

Fertilise your Devil's Dream® regularly to ensure an optimum supply of nutrients. This is particularly important in spring, as your Photinia will produce new shoots during this time. This costs the plant a lot of energy! If it cannot draw on sufficient reserves during this time, it is weakened and offers pathogens a welcome target. In addition to fertilisation, natural tonics such as horsetail or nettle make the plants more resistant. If you then water regularly (from below) during dry periods and ensure that no waterlogging can occur, fungi and the like will hardly stand a chance.

Red leaves of the Devils Dream in close-up
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