Fungi are one of the microorganisms that cause the most damage to plants, and one of the most difficult to eradicate. In fact, when they are detected, it is usually because they have already infected the entire root system, causing it to die, and of course, recovering diseased plants is practically impossible. So much so that the most effective treatment is prevention , since preventing them is relatively easy.
At home we can do several things to keep our pots looking pretty, and also some other things to try to eliminate these fungus beings. Let ‘s see how to remove fungus from indoor plants .
Index
- 1 How to remove fungi from indoor plants
- 1.1 Identify the fungus that has infected your plant
- 1.1.1 Mildew
- 1.1.2 Rust
- 1.1.3 Powdery mildew
- 1.1.4 Phytophthora
- 1.1.5 Botrytis
- 1.1 Identify the fungus that has infected your plant
- 2 How to prevent fungus
- 2.1 Control irrigation
- 2.2 Use a substrate with good drainage
- 2.3 Put your plant in an area where there is good ventilation
How to get rid of fungus on indoor plants
Identify the fungus that has infected your plant
Not all fungi produce the same symptoms, so the treatment will be different. Those that affect plants are:
Mildew
Also called gray mold or gray powder, it is a fungus that, in addition to staying on the surface, penetrates into the tissues of leaves, stems and fruits, where that gray-white powder appears that you can see in the image.
The treatment consists of cutting the affected parts and treating the plant with Fosetil-Al .
Rust
Rust is a fungus that causes the appearance of small orange bumps on the undersides of leaves and stems. Yellowish spots appear on the upper surface.
The treatment consists of treating the plant with Oxycarboxin , but for it to be really effective it must be applied as soon as the first symptoms are seen.
powdery mildew
Powdery mildew is a fungus that produces almost the same symptoms as mildew, but unlike it, it only remains on the surface of the leaves.
The treatment consists of removing the affected parts, and applying Fosetil-Al .
Phytophthora
The phytophthora fungus is one of the most infecting seedlings, conifers, and in general all kinds of plants. It attacks the root system first and then works its way up the stem until it reaches the leaves.
The treatment consists of applying Fosetil-Al as soon as the first symptoms appear.
botrytis
Botrytis is a fungus that produces a grayish mold on leaves, stems, flowers and fruits . Enters the plant through wounds.
The treatment consists of applying Captan on the leaves.
How to prevent fungus
As we mentioned at the beginning, when it comes to fungi there is nothing better than prevention. These fungal tenants multiply so rapidly that by the time we realize the plant is sick, it is often too late. But, curious as it may seem, preventing our beloved pots from having this problem is relatively simple. Relatively yes.
control irrigation
These microorganisms thrive in moist and warm environments, so if we overwater a plant it will weaken and the fungus will infect it. What happen? That irrigation is one of the things that is most difficult to master, so in case of doubt it is always better not to water… or, better yet, check the humidity of the substrate, like this:
- Insert a thin wooden stick to the bottom and then remove it to see how much soil has adhered to it: if it came out practically clean, it is because it is dry.
- Take the pot as soon as you water it and after a few days: and memorize more or less the weight it has in each of the situations.
- Use a moisture meter: to be 100% reliable, it is important to introduce it on different sides.
Also, you should know that you should never wet the leaves or the flowers , only the substrate.
Use a substrate with good drainage
Just as important as giving the plants a drink is to make sure that the excess water will run off and not be in contact with the roots
. For this reason, it is convenient to use a suitable substrate for each type of plant , and also if we have a plate placed under it, it must be removed 15 minutes after watering.Put your plant in an area where there is good ventilation
Fungi do not do well in ventilated areas, so they can be avoided and/or controlled by placing the plant in a room that is well ventilated. But beware, it has to be protected from air currents such as those produced by the fan, the air conditioning or even people passing very close to it , otherwise its leaves could be damaged.
I hope that these tips will help you to eliminate and prevent fungi on your plants