Contents
Houseplant Care and Basics
How to Buy Houseplants
Houseplants and Light Conditions
How to Water Houseplants
How to Fertilize Houseplants
Temperature, Humidity, and Air Flow
Houseplant Pots and Repotting
How to Maintain Houseplants
How to Propagate Houseplants
How to Take Houseplants Outdoors
Common Houseplant Diseases
Common Houseplant Insects
Types of
Houseplants
Flowering Houseplants
Foliage Houseplants
Succulent Houseplants
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Common Houseplant Diseases
Houseplants are most susceptible to disease when they’re weakened in some way, usually by poor growing conditions or sudden environmental change. To help prevent diseases:
- Provide each of your plants with its ideal growing conditions (see Types of Houseplants)
- Perform regular maintenance tasks (see How to Maintain Houseplants)
- Repot when necessary (see Houseplant Pots and Repotting)
Even so, your plants may still get diseases, so it pays to know how to recognize and treat them. There are four types of plant diseases: bacterial, fungal, viral, and abiotic (those caused by something other than a living organism).
Fungal Diseases
Anthracnose
- Symptoms: Brown or black areas on leaf tip or body.
- Remedy: Some experts say no effective remedy exists for the disease, so if it is common in your area, you should treat your plant with a fungicide in advance. However, if you do catch it in its early stages remove infected leaves from plant and soil.
Botrytis
- Symptoms: Gray, puffy mold.
- Remedy: Remove infected parts. Spray with fungicide. Reduce misting and increase air circulation.
Powdery Mildew
- Symptoms: Leaves with spots or coated with white powder.
- Remedy: Remove affected leaves from plant and soil. Spray plant with fungicide or dust leaves with sulfur. Increase air circulation.
Fungal or Bacterial Diseases
Leaf Spot
- Symptoms: Expanding brown spots on leaves.
- Remedy: Remove infected leaves from plant and soil. Spray plant with fungicide. Avoid misting. Water moderately.
Root Rot and Stem Rot
- Symptoms: Leaves yellow and wilted. With stem rot, base of stem turns brown or black.
- Remedy: Remove from pot. Brush soil from roots. Slice off brown or mushy roots, leaves, stems. Repot in new soil. Water moderately.
Viral Diseases
Virus Leaf
- Symptoms: Crinkled, pale green/yellow leaves. Distorted stems.
- Remedy: None. Throw plant away.
Abiotic Diseases
Chlorosis
- Symptoms: Yellowing leaves with green veins.
- Remedy: Fertilize with special iron-rich fertilizer.
Corky Scab
- Symptoms: Tough, corky swellings on leaf underside.
- Remedy: Remove infected leaves. Improve light, water less often, and repot if drainage is an issue.
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