Houseplant Diagnosis
oughly wet, and helps to flush excess salts from the
CHRISTIE SCHLUETER
Root rot is a common disease of houseplants.Check soil. Do not let plants stand in water. Standing water
your houseplants this time of year and keep a close in trays and saucers in which plant pots are sitting
eye on them. Overwatering is the most common cause should be dumped. This will prevent water logging
of soil at the bottom of the pot, and prevent potential
of death to houseplants.
Affected plants, if not killed, may be stunted or of high salt problems caused by water evaporating from
low vigor, or show desiccation, wilt, leaf scorch, dull- trays and saucers.
Water different houseplant species according to
ness or yellowing of foliage, and other symptoms of
drought stress, despite ample soil moisture. Rotted their individual requirements. Be careful that you do
roots appear brownish or mushy. Often, only root tips not over-water the plants. Soils high in organic mat-
will be affected. If rot is severe, the outer epidermis ter, and those of fine textures, dry out more slowly
of the root may be sloughed, leaving only the central than other soil types.
core. Root rot is caused by soil-borne fungi includ-
If a plant is suspected of having root-rot, gently lift
ing Pythium, Phytophthora, Fusarium, Rhizoctonia, the plant and root ball from the pot and check the
and others. These fungi invade through wounds, or roots. This can best be done when the soil is some-
directly penetrate stressed roots. Prolonged periods what dry, as this keeps the root ball intact and mini-
of excessive soil moisture or water logging result in mizes root disturbance. Rotted roots will be discol-
oxygen starvation of roots. This may kill roots out- ored (gray or brown) and mushy or dried up. Mature
right, or make them more susceptible to invasion by roots of some plants may have a bark-like epidermis,
root-rotting organisms. Conditions of excessive soil and will appear brown. To check these for rot, scrape
moisture also increase the growth of many root-rot- small pieces of bark away using a thumbnail or pock-
ting pathogens.
etknife to see the condition of internal tissues. Prune
As most soils usually have low populations of root- away severely rotted roots, and repot the plant in fresh
rotting pathogens, always use sterilized potting soil soil. Water plants thoroughly at time of transplanting,
or a soil-less mix. Garden soil can be pasteurized by
heating it in an oven to a temperature of 180 to 200
degrees Fahrenheit. The soil should be moist, but not
too wet, placed in nonplastic containers to a maxi-
mum depth of 4 inches, and covered with aluminum
foil. A meat or candy thermometer inserted into the
soil center will accurately measure when the desired
temperature is reached. Once the soil reaches 180 to
200 degrees Fahrenheit, turn the oven off and let soil
cool in the oven. Ensure the soil is not heated lon-
ger or at higher temperatures than necessary, as this
may result in the development of toxic materials in
the soil.
Select the type of potting soil best suited to the
plant being repotted. Ensure the soil is well-drained.
Use new pots or sterilized used pots. Used pots
should be thoroughly
scrubbed to remove
soil residues and salt
rings. To sterilize, pots
should be soaked for 30
minutes in 180 degrees
Fahrenheit or hotter wa-
ter, or soaked in a 1:9
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Use pots with drain-
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age holes in the bottom.
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Always water from
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the top of the pot. Add
water until you see it
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draining through the
drainage hole in the
bottom of the pot. This
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ensures the soil is thor-
and sparingly thereafter.
Put the plant where lighting is indirect, and not
excessively bright, to give it a chance to regenerate
roots.
If root-rot is severe, propagate a new plant by tak-
ing cuttings or air layering. Discard the lower portions
of the plants, rotted roots, and soil. Better to start over
than let the entire plant go.
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