Causes of Cucumber Wilting and the Latest Control Methods

Cucumber is one of the common vegetables in daily life, and during greenhouse cultivation, plants often show wilting: within a short time the leaves of the whole plant suddenly wilt, the plant gradually loses its ability to set fruit, and in severe cases the plant dies. Moreover, the wilting phenomenon worsens year by year, seriously affecting the yield and quality of cucumber. So what causes cucumber wilting? How should it be controlled? Let's find out together.

1. Acute wilting

The plant grows normally, but at noon on a sunny day the leaves suddenly wilt and recover in the evening; when the stem base is cut open, no discoloration of the vascular bundles is found, and no milky fluid flows out. The main reason is that after consecutive cloudy days without removing the straw matting, the plant cannot carry out photosynthesis and root activity is weak; once a sunny day comes, the greenhouse temperature rises, air humidity drops, leaf transpiration is fast, and root water uptake is weak, so the leaves wilt.

Control method: after consecutive cloudy days, when a sunny day comes, it is absolutely inadvisable to remove all the straw matting at once; it is best to remove part of it first, and then gradually remove all of it later. When the leaves wilt severely, a sprayer can also be used to spray water on the leaves to prevent excessive wilting from damaging the leaves.

2. Flood irrigation

After irrigation, the soil moisture content is relatively high and air permeability is poor; in an oxygen-deficient environment, toxic substances are produced in the soil, causing root poisoning or suffocation from lack of oxygen, resulting in wilting.

Control method: water thoroughly 15-20 days before cucumber transplanting. If the soil layer is too deep, level the bed surface after watering so that the soil meets the standards of being deep, thorough, fine, level and firm. Drip irrigation is preferable for watering; avoid flood irrigation, and be sure to remember not to use flood irrigation. After rain, cultivate and loosen the soil in time to increase permeability.

3. Root-knot nematodes

⟦NL>Root-knot nematodes are generally distributed within the 3-9 cm soil layer. Affected roots form root galls and gradually swell; after the root tissue is damaged, the absorption and transport of fertilizer and water are blocked, making the plant short and stunted, with yellowing leaves, and in severe cases wilting and death.

Control method: control of root-knot nematodes must start before planting, using chemicals to disinfect and sterilize the soil. When disease occurs, carbendazim and chlorothalonil solutions can be used for root drenching, with good results.

4. Excessive fertilizer concentration

Applying too much fertilizer, especially applying chemical fertilizer near the root and stem of cucumber, can easily burn the plant. Applying nitrogen-containing fertilizer will decompose in the greenhouse and produce ammonia gas; when the temperature rises, excessive ammonia concentration can lead to wilting and plant death.

Control method: during cultivation, pay attention to applying less quick-acting chemical fertilizer and more decomposed organic fertilizer. At the same time, carry out foliar feeding and spray leaf fertilizer, which can also provide the nutrients needed for plant growth.

The above is an introduction to the causes of cucumber wilting and the control methods. We hope it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.