Common Diseases of Indoor Plants
Powdery Mildew
Powdery Mildew is a fungal disease that is common on many kinds of plants. It manifests itself as a white powdery substance on the foliage of plants. If left unchecked, house plants will succumb to powdery mildew and will die. Powdery mildew is contagious so one it is noticed on a plant, the plant should be moved away from other plants immediately.
 |
| White powder on house plant |
Control
The best way to control powdery mildew is to prevent it's arrival. Do not over crowd plants and keep them in a well ventilated area. Careful watering underneath of foliage will help keep fungus from growing.
If you begin to see fungus growing on the leaves you can create your own spray to keep it from spreading.
Powdery Mildew Spray:
1 Gallon Water
1 Tablespoon Baking Soda
1/5 teaspoon liquid soap
1 Tablespoon horticultural oil (optional)
Mix throughly and spray on foliage of effected plants.
There are also sprays and other products such as neem oil that are available to kill powdery mildew.
Source: gardeningknowhow.com
Blight
Blight is a plant ailment that develops in high humidity situations or when plants a left standing in too much water. It is s fungal disease that is spread by spores that are carried in the air.
Blight causes brown spots to appear on plants and will slowly kill many houseplants if left untreated. Many Ficus varieties are susceptible and African violets are often attacked by this fungus. Other symptoms include a grey mold growing on foliage of plants and distorted new growth
Source: http://homeguides.sfgate.com/botrytis-blight-houseplants-62476.html
Root Rot/Crown Rot
Root or Crown Rot occurs when a plant has been over watered. When plants are over watered their roots will not have access to essential oxygen needed to be healthy. This can be a tricky problem to catch because the sign of rotting is wilted leaves.
Usually when people see wilted leaves they assume the plant needs more water so they water their plant again. If you water a wilting plant and the wilting does not correct, it means that your plant is over watered and could possibly be rotting in the root system.
To avoid root rot, always check the soil moisture before watering a plant. This can be done by poking your finger at least two inches into the soil. If you feel wet soil you plant does not need much water. By checking soil moisture before watering you will be able to make sure your plant is not sitting in too much water.
If you are not able to recognize root rot before it kills your plant, check the dead plants root system when you dispose of the plant. If the roots are dark brown and soggy you will know that root rot was the cause of the death.
Source: Dayla Haderlie
Common Pests on Interior Plants
Mealy Bug
Mealy Bugs are small fuzzy bugs that can infest and destroy house plants. They are often white and can be seen fairly easily to see against the green color of plants. Mealy bugs thrive in warm environments and will hurt plants by sucking the phloem of leaves. As the mealy bug feeds, they secrete a substance called honey dew which is sticky and stays on the plant. Honey dew attracts the growth of mold and other plant diseases which can damage the plant even further.
White Fly
White fly are small pests that are very mobile and visable on interior plants. During the immature stages of life, this pest chew on plant material causing damage to the health of the plant. The adult white fly also feed on plant material and also secrete honey dew which attracts the growth of mold spores. Since white fly have a relatively short life cycle, they can quickly become a large problem if left unchecked.
Source: http://houseplants.about.com/od/pests/a/Whiteflies.htm
Scale
Scale bugs are a small pest that range in color, size and shape. They are most often a brown or black color. Scale tends to latch onto the underside of leaves or stem tissue and suck the plant sap out of the plant. Scale secrete honey dew and are not visually appealing to people.
Source: http://idl.entomology.cornell.edu/files/2013/11/Scales-on-Houseplants-ombss3.pdf
Blight
Blight is a plant ailment that develops in high humidity situations or when plants a left standing in too much water. It is s fungal disease that is spread by spores that are carried in the air.
Blight causes brown spots to appear on plants and will slowly kill many houseplants if left untreated. Many Ficus varieties are susceptible and African violets are often attacked by this fungus. Other symptoms include a grey mold growing on foliage of plants and distorted new growth
Control
The best way to stop blight is to take preventative measures. Make sure that indoor plants are spaced so that clean air may circulate around them. Water as needed and avoid over watering.
If you see blight on a plant, remove it from the location of other plants so that it does not spread. There are several fungicide sprays that will help combat blight. The use of these sprays might preserve the life of your plant.
Source: http://homeguides.sfgate.com/botrytis-blight-houseplants-62476.html
Root Rot/Crown Rot
Root or Crown Rot occurs when a plant has been over watered. When plants are over watered their roots will not have access to essential oxygen needed to be healthy. This can be a tricky problem to catch because the sign of rotting is wilted leaves.
Usually when people see wilted leaves they assume the plant needs more water so they water their plant again. If you water a wilting plant and the wilting does not correct, it means that your plant is over watered and could possibly be rotting in the root system.
To avoid root rot, always check the soil moisture before watering a plant. This can be done by poking your finger at least two inches into the soil. If you feel wet soil you plant does not need much water. By checking soil moisture before watering you will be able to make sure your plant is not sitting in too much water.
If you are not able to recognize root rot before it kills your plant, check the dead plants root system when you dispose of the plant. If the roots are dark brown and soggy you will know that root rot was the cause of the death.
Source: Dayla Haderlie
Common Pests on Interior Plants
Mealy Bug
Mealy Bugs are small fuzzy bugs that can infest and destroy house plants. They are often white and can be seen fairly easily to see against the green color of plants. Mealy bugs thrive in warm environments and will hurt plants by sucking the phloem of leaves. As the mealy bug feeds, they secrete a substance called honey dew which is sticky and stays on the plant. Honey dew attracts the growth of mold and other plant diseases which can damage the plant even further.
Control
To prevent mealy bug, clean foliage regularly and check for pests. Avoid over watering or over fertilizing plants.
If you spot a mealy bug problem early on, you can physically remove the bugs or dab them with rubbing alcohol to control the issue. If there is a larger population, insecticidal soaps are available to help control the problem. Any neem oil product will be effective against mealy bug.
White Fly
White fly are small pests that are very mobile and visable on interior plants. During the immature stages of life, this pest chew on plant material causing damage to the health of the plant. The adult white fly also feed on plant material and also secrete honey dew which attracts the growth of mold spores. Since white fly have a relatively short life cycle, they can quickly become a large problem if left unchecked.
Control
Preventing a large population from developing is key in controlling this pest. Check plants regularly for signs of white fly and treat them immediately. When scouting for this pest be sure to check underneath of leaves for white spots. White fly are very tiny but their white color shows up against the green of leaves.
Insecticidal soaps and neem oils are the best treatments for an infestation of white fly. If there are only a few visible, you can vacuum them up or remove them by hand but that could be difficult because they can fly so quickly.
Source: http://houseplants.about.com/od/pests/a/Whiteflies.htm
Scale
Scale bugs are a small pest that range in color, size and shape. They are most often a brown or black color. Scale tends to latch onto the underside of leaves or stem tissue and suck the plant sap out of the plant. Scale secrete honey dew and are not visually appealing to people.
 |
| Scale on a Palm Frond |
Control
Insecticidal soaps, neem oil and other horticultural oils are effective in getting rid of scale. Be sure that any product you use is labelled for indoor usage. These sprays are usually most effective during the crawler stage of the scale bugs life. After the scale has been killed they will usually stay on the plants for a few weeks. If they have died then they are no longer doing damage to the plant
No comments:
Post a Comment