Detailed Methods for the Prevention and Control of Pests and Diseases in Michelia platypetala

Root Rot

This disease always accompanies stem rot and anthracnose, and is mostly caused by improper use of water and fertilizer. Do not assume that water and fertilizer are beneficial to growth and just keep watering and feeding; many plants are "watered to death." This disease occurs over a relatively long period, and can appear anytime between late April and early July.

Once discovered, immediately adjust the current water and fertilizer regimen, promptly pull up the diseased plants and destroy them, and then spray the remaining unaffected plants with a chemical treatment.

White Grubs

These insects often appear together with cutworms, and April and May are the times when they are most "rampant." They usually move underground; if not handled properly, the entire plant will definitely fall victim to these insects and eventually wither and die. They are actually the larvae of scarab beetles, basically white, but with brown heads. They hide in the soil during the day and only come out to do damage around eight or nine at night. They most like to emerge when the temperature is 13-15°C.

If you encounter these insects, it may be because drainage was not done properly on rainy days. Once such insects appear, directly use a certain dose of trichlorfon for control; you can avoid direct spraying and instead poke holes around the area and pour it in, which is somewhat more effective.

Scale Insects

These small insects are also quite common. They basically appear in May and June, and are relatively difficult to control. In more serious cases they overlap in clusters, sparing neither leaves nor fruit, and can even cause entire branches or the whole plant to die.

Pay attention to care and management at ordinary times. In autumn, promptly brush off the larvae on the branches and trunk. If the whole plant has already died, to prevent it from continuing to spread, destroy the dead plant, and prune and improve ventilation in time.