Poppy flowers are beautiful and offer a variety of hues from bright red to bright green. These attributes, combined with their ability to grow almost anywhere, make poppies an ideal ornamental plant for gardens and home landscaping. Unfortunately, this beauty comes at a cost as wellג€”and itג€™s not just the occasional pruning. Like most plants, poppies are vulnerable to a number of different diseases that can wreak havoc on the blooms and surrounding foliage. Letג€™s take a look at some of these common diseases of poppy flowers that you should be aware of if you grow them in your garden or landscape.
What is poppy disease?
Poppy disease is a fungal condition thatג€™s fairly common on plants of the family Papaveraceae, including poppies. This type of fungus attacks the plant by attacking its roots and stems, and eventually killing it. The spores are released into the air and can spread to other plants in the vicinity.
If you notice patches of your poppy flowers turning brown, or if you see a layer of slimy residue at the base of your plant, itג€™s likely that you have a case of this fungal disease.
Why are my poppy buds turning brown?
Poppies may be prone to a number of different diseases, but one of the most common is powdery mildew. Powdery mildew can cause the leaves and flowers on your poppies to turn brown and fall off. This disease typically affects plants in humid climates or if they are planted in poorly-drained soil. To combat this problem, use clean dry potting soil, avoid overwatering, and make sure the soil never stays wet for more than an hour. As a precautionary measure, you should also spray your poppy plants with a fungicide every week during their growing season to prevent this particular disease from developing.
What is poppy blight?
Poppy blight is a type of fungus that can affect the leaves, shoots, and flowers of poppies. This disease is caused by the fungus Alternaria tenuissima and is often found in wet, poorly drained soils. The disease spreads quickly during periods of high humidity or rain. Once the fungus develops on a flower head, it will kill it off and spread to neighboring plants in its path.
Poppy blight can be controlled by removing infected plants and preventing them from getting wet. It is also possible to use fungicides to control poppy blight if you want to prevent this fungal disease from spreading to surrounding areas.
How do you get rid of aphids on poppies?
Aphids are the most common pest to hit poppy flowers. You can get rid of the aphids by handpicking them off the stems or by using a spray made from water and dish soap. If you use a soap-based spray, make sure that itג€™s diluted properly to ensure that it doesnג€™t harm your plants. If you only have a few aphids on your plant, you might be able to knock them off with a strong stream of water from your garden hose. But if there is an infestation and your plant is already damaged, you may need to resort to harsh chemical treatments like insecticidal soaps or neem oil. These treatments are toxic to humans and pets so always wear gloves, safety glasses, and protective clothing when handling these products in case they are accidentally consumed.
Itג€™s also important to keep an eye out for signs of infestations throughout the season as well as take preventative measures such as planting flowers with different colors or textures than poppies or planting in areas with low water availability for aphids that rely on high water levels for survival.
