The virgin vine (Parthenocissus), colloquially often referred to as wild wine, wall cat or wall wine, is often used for greening facades, pergolas or walls and as a ground cover. The very fast-growing climbing plant can grow up to 12 meters high and several meters wide, and it also forms a very dense trellis. With regard to diseases or pests caused by viruses or bacteria, Virginia creeper is quite resistant - except when it comes to the dreaded Verticillium wilt.
If Virginia creeper leaves change color before the fall season, it may be diseased or lacking nutrients
Powdery mildew is extremely rare
In contrast to the grapevine (Vitis vinifera) - with which the Virginia creeper is often confused - the same has developed a method to protect itself from powdery mildew or downy mildew. As a result, Parthenocissus is almost resistant to these fungi, which quickly cover leaves and shoots with their greyish-white fungal growths and can destroy entire populations within a short time. If you do find signs of mildew - no matter what kind - you need to act quickly to contain the infestation.
Common problems
Virginia creeper, however, usually has to contend with completely different problems.
verticillium wilt
Verticillium wilt is also a disease caused by fungi that penetrates the plant from the soil via the pathways and causes leaves and shoots to die off. So far, no herb has grown against this disease, quite the opposite: infected plants should be removed immediately and completely to prevent further spread. You can only prevent the disease by carefully observing the instructions for location and care for Virginia creeper.
Mealybugs and scale insects
On the other hand, the mealybugs and scale insects, which can be up to five millimeters in size, are much more harmless. Their presence can be identified by the white webs that appear primarily on the undersides of the leaves. However, they are not easy to combat either, even if there are effective countermeasures. A mixture of one liter of water, a good splash of washing-up liquid and three tablespoons of vegetable oil, which is sprayed on the affected areas for several days in a row, has proven to be a tried and tested remedy.
tips
On the other hand, if your Virginia creeper does not want to grow properly or the leaves turn yellow at an inappropriate time, this could be due to a lack of nutrients or water. In this case, the location should also be checked.