This text is part of the special Pleasures notebook
Is your plant looking ugly and you’re wondering what’s causing it? Making a diagnosis is not an easy task, as plants can show the same symptoms for a multitude of different reasons. Here are some clues to help you find the problem… and try to save your plant!
There are several deficiencies that could potentially affect your plant, but it could instead suffer from a disease. How to know? How to treat it? Here are five evils that need to be brought to your attention.
Root rot
Rot comes as a result of disease usually caused by various fungi, but sometimes also by bacteria. Its development is mainly favored by excessive watering, stagnant water, inadequate drainage… In short, when the roots do not have enough oxygen!
When the plant is affected, its foliage wilts even if it does not lack water, since its soil is still damp to the touch. When you take the root ball out of the pot, they are brown and give off a rotting smell.
You must then prune them, leaving only those that are healthy, and then repot the plant in a new disinfected container, with unused potting soil. To limit the spread, avoid reusing contaminated potting soil.
Gray rot (Botrytis)
Gray rot is a fungus that thrives in cool, damp conditions, attacking decaying plant tissue (like dead flowers and leaves). Its presence is first noticed by brownish spots on the foliage and flowers, then by a grayish down which appears on the infected tissues. The disease gradually spreads to healthy parts, and those affected eventually dry out and die.
To prevent deterioration of the plant, at the first sign of infection, remove contaminated parts and do not leave any dead tissue. Since the spores of Botrytis are easily dispersed, avoid placing plants too close to each other, as proximity makes it easier for an affected plant to spread to a healthy plant.
Leaf spot
Leaf spots can be of bacterial or fungal origin. Their appearance as well as their color (brown, yellow, black, gray, white or red) depend on their cause. In any case, when many spots are present, they may enlarge and merge. They thus reduce the photosynthetic surface of the plant. The leaves weaken and eventually fall off.
Removing affected leaves remains the most effective method to combat this disease. However, some infections can be systemic. Then, even if individual leaves with spots are removed, the infection spreads through the plant’s vascular system and contaminates other areas of the plant. Copper fungicide sprays can help reduce the spread. But sometimes destroying the infected plant is the only option.
Smoke
Sooty mold is made up of hyphae (filamentous structure) of fungi. They colonize leaves previously infested by biting-sucking insects (whiteflies, mealybugs, aphids, etc.). These insects produce honeydew, a sticky material that allows the development of the fungi responsible for this condition. This is characterized by a black deposit resembling soot. This substance blocks the stomata (natural openings) of leaves and prevents gas exchange and photosynthesis.
Since honeydew can drip onto neighboring plants, spreading the fungus, it is best to avoid placing plants too close together.
Although this disease is not very serious in itself, you must first control the insects causing honeydew and ensure that they do not attack nearby plants. Then clean the affected plant with a damp cloth.
Powdery mildew (“the white”)
Powdery mildew, also called powdery mildew, is a fungal disease that causes powdery white spots to develop on leaves. As the infection spreads, the spots expand and cover the entire surface of the infected parts. This condition rarely causes the death of the plant which suffers from it, but the presence of the powdery coating hinders the completion of photosynthesis. Better air circulation and a less humid environment can prevent the phenomenon.
To slow the spread of fungal spores to other plants, isolate the plant at the first sign of disease and quickly remove the contaminated parts. The sooner you spot the white powder and take action, the easier it will be to control it.
This content was produced by the Special Publications team at Duty, relating to marketing. The writing of the Duty did not take part.