Nasturtium (another name is capuchin) is one of the most unpretentious, but effectively flowering plants. According to gardeners, the culture is a little trouble, rarely gets sick and is rarely attacked by pests. However, summer residents should still be aware of what diseases of nasturtium exist, and what pests of nasturtium can damage it.

Care rules

In order for the capuchin to abundantly release flower stalks, not to go into the greens and not get sick, it is worth organizing competent care. All procedures are quite simple and do not take much time.

Caring for nasturtium in the garden

  • The garden flower must grow in an open area. Culture loves the sun's rays.
  • For better growth of nasturtium, it is important to organize watering. Since the ancestors of the Capuchin were born in the tropics, watering should be abundant, but not frequent. It is enough to moisten the soil once every 7-10 days. As soon as flowering begins, the procedure stops. From this time on, watering is necessary only in case of drought.
  • Many gardeners have different opinions about plant nutrition. Someone suggests applying fertilizers containing small amounts of phosphorus and potassium every 10-15 days before flowering starts. Others confidently state that a garden flower planted in fertile soil can grow well after one feeding. In one opinion, experienced summer residents agree - phosphorus-potassium mixtures are used as top dressing. You can treat the ground first with superphosphate or ammonium hydrogen phosphate, and then potassium sulfate or kalemagnesia. In garden stores, ready-made phosphorus-potassium mixtures are sold, for example, Nitrofoska, Autumn mixture, AVA. The disadvantage of Nitrofoska is that it contains nitrogen. Nitrogen is not useful for capuchin. This fertilizer should be used in minimal quantities.

Caring for nasturtium in the garden

Important! Nasturtium cannot be fed with organic matter. Manure, like lime, will have a harmful effect on crops. It will produce a lot of rich emerald leaves and no flowers.

  • The Capuchin does not like weeds. Therefore, the garden should be weeded on time. This event can be eliminated by putting mulch on the soil. Straw, leaves, grass are used as such a blanket.
  • Another tip that allowed you to get thickets with bright flowers until autumn is to pick off wilting inflorescences. So the plant will spend food to form new flowers.

Caring for nasturtium on the balcony

Some housewives grow this annual flower in a pot on the balcony. Such a greenhouse creates coziness and comfort. The balcony flower should be watered profusely, but rarely before flowering. He also breaks off withered inflorescences. It should be fed 2-3 times. Phosphorus and potash fertilizers are used.

If you plant a capuchin in a hanging pot, the culture will form a waterfall of greenery and flowers. In this case, it will take the form of an ampelous plant.

Nasturtium problems

Even with unpretentious nasturtium, gardeners can have problems. In this case, the cause of the plant's malaise should be identified and treated.

Capuchin does not bloom

Novice summer residents are interested in the question "Why does not nasturtium bloom, what to do with it?"If we are talking about open ground, then perhaps the plant was planted in a shaded area. In the shade, the capuchin goes into greenery, becomes stunted, he will not have the strength to flower stalks. Another reason is feeding with manure or fertilizers containing nitrogen. Nitrogen is responsible for growth, and it is a poor helper in flower formation. Thanks to fertilization, the green mass will be as lush as possible, but you will not find flowers among it.

It is also possible that the soil is waterlogged, or the temperature outside has dropped sharply. The plant does not like watery soil and does not tolerate cold. Due to these factors, the roots suffer and, accordingly, flowers do not form.

Capuchin does not bloom

To bring the plant to a state of flowering, you should abandon nitrogen-containing dressings, waterlogging of the soil, and grow bushes in a sunny open space. If a cold snap occurs, then the plantings are covered with spunbond or other covering material.

Another topical question is “why doesn't nasturtium bloom on the balcony?”. The plant may be out of space. The bushes are too densely planted in a small pot or container. Because of this, the flower spends energy on finding food, which is not enough for everyone. As a result, the Capuchin does not have the strength to form buds. In this case, it is best to grow crops in large pots and not thicken the planting.

Maybe there is too little light on the balcony. Therefore, the flower should be outweighed where the sun shines all day. If this is not possible, for example, the loggia is located on the north side, then it is recommended to install additional lamps.

Also, the potted plant should not be overfed with nitrogen and kept in too moist soil.

Leaves turn yellow

The yellowness of the leaf plate is a natural event. It speaks of the approach of autumn. If the leaf changes color in the midst of the growing season, this means the plant has some kind of problems.

Answers to the question "why does nasturtium turn yellow?" there may be several:

  • First, waterlogging of the soil. In this case, watering is stopped for a while, and after that it is carried out no more than once a week.
  • Secondly, burns of leaf plates. This happens if, after watering, the water is on the leaves, while the bright sun is shining. As a result, burns occur on the leaves. A summer resident should water the plant only at the root and preferably after sunset.
  • Third, the soil is too poor. In this case, complex fertilizers should be applied, in which, in addition to potassium and phosphorus, there will be additional useful elements. This is also the answer to the question "why do the leaves of nasturtium on the balcony turn yellow?"
  • Fourthly, yellowing of the foliage speaks of a disease such as mosaic. The first thing a gardener should do is to tear off the yellowed leaf. The plant is recommended to be treated with karbofos.

Leaves turn white or gray

The leaf plates begin to turn white or become grayish in color if the plant is attacked by gray mold.

You can water the bushes with Bordeaux liquid or one of the drugs, including:

  1. Fitosporin;
  2. Fundazol;
  3. Mikosan, etc.

Sheet plates are curled

Sheet plates are curled

If the leaves of the capuchin begin to curl, then the reason is most likely in bacterial wilting. This is a dangerous disease. Experienced gardeners recommend removing infected bushes, there is no point in treating them. The disease spreads very quickly to healthy plants.

Leaves in holes

Another common question from novice gardeners is "why does nasturtium have leaves in holes?" This description of the problem is reminiscent of a pest attack. In particular, we are talking about tracks.

Additional Information. Capuchin tastes like watercress. Therefore, it attracts cruciferous pests. Caterpillars on nasturtium can be from both the whiteworm butterfly and the scoop and repnita.

Caterpillars on nasturtium how to deal with them?

To remove pests, one of the insecticides is used:

  • Lepidocide;
  • FAS;
  • Decis;
  • Calypso;
  • Iskra M.

Before use, you should carefully read the instructions.

Culture grows poorly

If the nasturtium grows poorly, the summer resident should remember all the planting activities. Only with proper planting, the bushes will quickly grow green mass and cover with bright colors. Therefore, the owner of the site must plant seeds in the garden in warm weather, it is better to do this in May. Otherwise, the seedlings will freeze, turn out to be frail and will grow slowly. If seedlings are used, then planting is recommended to be carried out in cloudy hours or in the evening. So the sun will not damage the young roots.

Grows poorly

Capuchin can grow poorly due to the lack of phosphorus-potassium supplements. They cannot be neglected.

Although the plant is not demanding on the soil, it is best to plant it on fertile, loose loam. In too poor land, the capuchin will have small leaves and nondescript flowers. Too clayey soil will also destroy the plant, as its roots will rot.

If a bed with a spectacular flower is located where there are drafts or strong winds, then the culture will also be frail and painful. But there is no point in replanting it. The annual plant has too delicate roots. Damage to the root system leads to death. The easiest way is to enclose the ridge with a homemade or improvised fence that will hold back the wind. In this case, the plant can establish growth.

Note! The culture may grow poorly due to poor-quality planting material. Before buying, be sure to check the expiration date on the seed package.

Pests

Nasturtium is a useful plant. It is a green manure, and also has the ability to repel insects. However, scaring away pests from other crops, the capuchin often takes a hit.

He can be overcome by:

  1. Caterpillars;
  2. Black aphid;
  3. Black bugs;
  4. Black midges.

Caterpillars were described above, in the section on leaves in holes.

If black aphids appear on flowers in the garden, then the fight against it consists in the use of special preparations (Aktara, Commander, Iskra, Intavir). Otherwise, all the juices will be drunk from the plant, the leaves will begin to dry, and then they will completely fall off. Aphids on nasturtium how else to fight? It is recommended to install trapping belts next to the plantings, on which the ants carrying the aphids will stick. The belts should be treated with poisonous agents. An annoying midge will also stick to these devices.

How to get rid of aphids on flowers in the garden with folk remedies? An effective method is treating the plant with fly ash. You can also prepare a solution of ash and soap.

Black bugs

On nasturtium, black bugs are cruciferous fleas. Among the methods of control - dusting with fly ash. If there are a lot of pests, then it is allowed to treat the plant with Actellik, Bi-58 or Biotlin.

Iskra M. helps with any black midges.

Treatment of diseases

In addition to bacterial wilting, mosaics, gray rot, which were written about above, rust and spotting can affect capuchin.

Rust treatment involves treatment with Topaz, Fitosporin, Baktofit. Bordeaux liquid helps. Bordeaux liquid is also used to get rid of rust from balcony nasturtium.

Ring spot involves removing damaged plants and digging up the ground using Aktara disinfectant. It is recommended to treat the soil with copper sulfate, a hot solution of manganese.

Prevention

Nasturtium diseases and pests than handling it is understandable, but it is best to prevent the development of ailments. To prevent disease, pest attacks and other problems, prevention should be done.

It includes:

  • Planting only healthy material.
  • Disinfection of the earth in the spring with boiling water with potassium permanganate or a solution of copper sulfate.
  • Follow the planting recommendations. Plant the capuchin on sunny beds in loose, fertile soil.
  • Watering the plant is infrequent, but abundant. Waterlogging of the earth must not be allowed.
  • Unless absolutely necessary, the plant is not transplanted from one place to another.The culture has delicate roots that cannot be injured.
  • Plant feeding should not be neglected. It is necessary to fertilize the capuchin at least once a season with products containing potassium and phosphorus.

A summer resident growing nasturtium may face diseases and crop pests. To prevent the plant from dying, he must take the necessary measures in time. But the best thing to do is to prevent ailments.