Hops usually grow very quickly. Unless a disease or pests are troubling him. Then it's time to act quickly to save the plant.
When you hear hops, the first thing you probably think of is beer. The versatile climbing plant can do much more. It is particularly popular for greening fences and facades. Because hops (humulus) are not only inexpensive, they also grow very quickly and are extremely easy to care for compared to other plants such as ivy.
Even if the plant is easy to care for - it is still not immune to diseases and pests. There are quite a few culprits here who can severely affect the hops. However, if you know the diseases and pests and fight an infestation early on, you don't have to worry about your hop plants.
Hope diseases and pests at a glance
The following overview lists the most common diseases and pests. You'll also learn how to spot an infestation and how to deal with it.
Hop Aphid
Signs of infestation:
The hop aphid usually attacks the hops from mid-May until the harvest. Animal excrement (honeydew) makes the leaves sticky and shiny. In addition, the affected parts of the plant can also turn black. This is caused by sooty mold.
Combat:
Spray the hops regularly with nettle manure or a mixture of water and washing-up liquid. A splash of washing-up liquid is enough.
Common Spider Mite (Red Spider)
Signs of infestation:
Infestation with the common spider mite usually begins on the lower leaves of the plant. At first the leaves only get light spots, but later they change color and the umbels turn copper-red.
Combat:
In order to combat the common spider mite, it is first of all important that you check your hop plants regularly from mid-June, as the pest loves hot, dry weather. If an infestation is visible, you must remove the lower shoots and carefully defoliate the hop vines.
Botrytis
Signs of oneInfestation:
This is a fungal infection that often occurs in years with frequent rainfall. Both flowers and umbels, which turn reddish brown, are affected.
Combat:
In order to get the fungal infection under control, you must remove the affected parts of the plant and, if necessary, cut back the hops completely down to the shoots. A fungicide such as Ortiva (e.g. available here) can also help with this disease.
hop wilt
Signs of infestation:
Hops wilt is a fungus that often affects young and injured roots. It penetrates the water channels, which then become clogged. The result: the hop plant withers and dies over time.
Combat:
Infestation with hop wilt cannot generally be combated directly. At most, you can cut off the infected parts of the plant deeply. Otherwise, as a preventive measure, it is advisable to only ever plant wilt-tolerant varieties.
Powdery mildew
Signs of infestation:
Powdery mildew usually spreads from mid-May and especially in dense stands and in warm weather in the garden. An infestation can be recognized by the pustule-like elevations on the leaf surface, from which flour-like white spots develop.
Combat:
To get rid of powdery mildew, you need to remove all affected areas and replace the soil. It can also help if you spray the hops with a water-milk mixture (9:1).
Downy mildew
Signs of infestation:
The fungal disease can occur in varying degrees every year. All parts of the plant can be affected. However, a basic distinction is made between a primary and a secondary infection.
➜ Primary infection:
In the case of a primary infection, the fungus hibernates in the subterranean parts of the plant and penetrates the young sprouts with the sap shoots in spring. The diseased lower shoots are then compressed, yellow-green in color and have curled-up leaves. A grey-black fungal coating can also be seen on the underside of the leaf.
➜ Secondary Infection:
Secondary infection is infection by spores that are carried to the plant by wind and rain. They form yellowish spots on the upper side of the leaves, which later turn brown. In addition, the flowers usually die off.
Combat:
To control downy mildew, you must firstcompletely remove all affected leaves and plant parts. Then it helps if you use a fungicide like Ortiva, for example. You can also spray the hops with a garlic or onion decoction.