A white coating on the leaves or branches of the cherry laurel is not only an optical problem. Triggered by fungi or pests, the metabolism of the wood is impaired and the laurel cherry is massively damaged in the long term.
Wipeable, white coating on or under the foliage
You can recognize powdery mildew by the white, mealy coating that only spreads on the upper side of the leaf. Downy mildew initially shows reddish purple spots on the upper side of the leaves. The dirty whitish-grey fungal growth can only be found on the underside of the leaf.
Means against powdery mildew
Mildew can be combated in an environmentally friendly way with milk or vinegar sprays. However, these gentle methods require repeated and consistent application. It is also advisable to cut out all diseased parts of the plant and dispose of them in the household waste. If the infestation is very severe, you can use a fungicide that effectively kills the fungus.
White coating on the branches
If you discover a white coating on the branches and shoot tips, it is often an infestation with mealybugs. The scale insects, which are about ten millimeters in size, are covered with light-colored, greasy hair and form large colonies on the branches. They damage the cherry laurel in three ways:
- They suck the lifeblood and weaken the bush.
- They secrete a plant toxin and excrete honeydew.
- In the wounds of the branches, sooty mold often settles, which causes additional damage to the plant.
Fighting lice
- Wipe off lice carefully with a cloth soaked in alcohol and destroy the cloth.
- Spray off pests with a sharp jet of water.
- If the infestation is severe, cut out all infested parts of the plant.
- Then treat with an insect repellent that works specifically against mealybugs.
tips and tricks
Regular spraying with horsetail or nettle tea prevents re-infection with scale insects or mildew.