One of the most common problems with plants, both indoors and outdoors, is root rot . It is caused by fungi, which are microorganisms that proliferate in moist and dark places.
Can anything be done to prevent it? Fortunately, yes.
Index
- 1 Prevent your plants from getting sick
- 2 What are the symptoms of root rot?
Prevent your plants from getting sick
You can’t 100% prevent them from getting sick, but there are a number of tricks that can be very useful for keeping them healthy enough to resist possible infections without too much trouble. They are the following:
- Use a substrate that drains well . The roots must be well aerated to be able to perform their functions correctly. For this reason, it is highly recommended to mix the peat or mulch with 20-30% perlite, clay balls, akadama, pumice or similar. In the event that you have cacti and/or succulents, you can plant them only in pumice.
- Don’t overwater . I know, this is easier said than done. Controlling irrigation is not always easy, so you have to check the humidity of the substrate before watering, for example by inserting a thin wooden stick to the bottom. If it comes out practically clean, it means that the soil is dry and therefore can be watered.
- If you have a plate under it, remove it 15 minutes after watering . This way the roots will not be in contact with the water, which will prevent them from rotting.
- Pay her . During spring and summer, the plant must be fertilized regularly so that it grows correctly.
- Make preventive treatments in spring and autumn with copper or sulfur . It will be enough to sprinkle a pinch from time to time on the surface of the substrate.
What are the symptoms of root rot?
You will know if your plant is experiencing root rot if you see the leaves turning yellow and wilting rapidly . If it’s a cactus or succulent, the stem and/or leaves will get very, very soft, to the point where they can end up completely rotten.
Unfortunately, if we have a plant with rotten roots, the only thing we can do is throw it away . It is not good for composting.
We hope you find it useful.
