Plant Diseases
Just like other living creatures, plants can be affected by diseases. However, by learning to spot the symptoms early, diagnose, and treat your plant, you will give it the best chance of survival.
Plant Disease Identification & Treatment
Once the disease has been noticed, the first step is to move it away from any other houseplants. This will reduce the risk of spreading the infection.
Many plant diseases can be brought on by improper care conditions. Adjusting your care routine will help not only treat the disease but prevent outbreaks in the future.
It is a learning process, so don’t get discouraged! Here are some of the most common plant diseases for houseplants and how to tackle them.
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Botrytis is a fungal disease, Botrytis cinerea, that attacks the soft parts of plants. Shoots and young leaves are most often affected, and will be seen covered in a gray, furry mold. The inner petals of any flowers may also appear to be discolored and wilted.
Begin treatment by pruning off any infected parts of the plant. This fungus is often brought on by damp, still air, so try to increase air flow around the plant. When watering, be sure to pour the water directly into the soil to reduce the humidity around the leaves. A fungicide, suitable for botrytis control, can also be sprayed on the plant. -
Brown, circular spots often surrounded by a yellow halo, are a tell-tale sign that your plant has a fungal leaf spot disease. These spots can grow and spread to leave the foliage wilted and blotchy. To treat this fungi, prune away any affected leaves. Good ventilation and watering directly into the plant’s soil can help to minimize the damp, stagnant air that fungi thrive on. Misting should be stopped for the time being. Baking soda mixed with water, a half of a teaspoon to a gallon of water, can be used as a homemade treatment spray for the plant.
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One of the most common houseplant diseases is the powdery mildew fungi. Usually found in spring and summer, it is identifiable by its dusty white coating that can affect flowers, leaves, and stems of plants.
Start by removing any badly affected parts of the plant. Powdery mildew can occur when atmospheric conditions are too wet and stagnant, so try increasing the ventilation around the plant and when needed water directly into the soil. Potassium bicarbonate can be used as a non-toxic and organic fungicide to treat infected plants. -
Plant rusts are a fungi that are found primarily in plants in sunrooms. Small raised rings of black or brown spots, typically on the undersides of leaves, are symptoms of rust disease.
Rusts can be brought on by overly soggy conditions. Check your plants soil! Ensure that it is drying out thoroughly before giving your plant a drink. Remove all of the infected leaves, and continue to do so for the next couple of weeks until the rusts are gone. To treat plants afflicted with rusts, neem oil is effective as an organic and biodegradable fungicide. -
Sooty mold is a black, ashy looking disease that can grow to cover all surfaces of a plant. The mold grows on areas of the plant with honeydew, a sap that is produced by some houseplant pests.
To treat sooty mold, it is best to first identify the type of pest that is leading to the infection. Spray the plant with a suitable insecticide for sap-sucking insects. Once this is taken care of, use a clean, damp cloth to wipe the sooty surfaces of the plant.
Preventative Care
There are some basic measures that can be taken to prevent diseases from ever troubling your plant. First and foremost, make sure to buy clean plants! Buying your plants from a reputable source is very important! If your plant is healthy from the start, there is a much less chance of it developing problems later on.
As some diseases can originate in soils, when potting or repotting, use fresh organic potting soil appropriate for the specific type of plant. Potting soil is essential! Garden soils are intended for outdoor use and may have insect eggs or other unwanted items. They also lack the ingredients in potting soil that help hold in moisture and nutrients.
Don’t be shy, prune your plants! Whenever a leaf begins to not look so healthy, use a pair of clean, sharp scissors to trim it off at the stem’s base or at its joint. Similarly, for plants that flower, once blooms start to droop use your fingers to pinch or snap off the bud. Pruning not only benefits your plants’ appearance but also promotes new growth as well!
A little research never hurts! Proper care conditions for your specific plant are usually key to disease prevention. Our articles on plant care for succulents, cacti, air plants, or foliage plants can be helpful references. It should be noted that most plant diseases are encouraged by wet, still air. Try to increase the aeration around the plant. Before each watering, monitor by sticking your finger in the soil to ensure it is dry enough to warrant the next dose.