Sometimes shit hits the fan. Life falls apart and you’re not quite sure what was the catalyst for it all. It’s no different with plants. You may think you’re taking good care of your plants, but if they develop a fungus or are attacked by pests at some point or another, you may want to think otherwise. Houseplant diseases are opportunistic, so they take a hold of plants when they’re growing in unfavorable growing conditions. The best thing you can do to prevent disease outbreak is to treat your plants correctly from the very start. This means using proper soil, avoiding drafts, finding the right temperature and humidity, light, water and drainage. These are the key ingredients to a healthy and happy plant!
With that being said, sometimes your plant may still go down. Especially during the winter. That is the time for extra diligence and inspection because the inherent stale air and close quarters lends itself to invasive buggers that like to hide under leaves in tricky nooks and crannies. But never fret! There are a couple easy steps you can follow that should help nurse your plants back to health. I also know a couple pesticides and herbicides that you can make for less than $10. Home hospital remedies that won't cost more than an afternoon lunch.
Common Pests:
Thrips, spider mites, aphids, whiteflies and scale insect.
Common Fungus:
Downy mildew, powdery mildew, blight, black spot
Steps for Dealing with Diseased Plants
1. Isolate the plant
2. Wash your hands between plants when working with multiple
3. Sterilize tools with a solution of one part bleach and nine parts water
4. Provide the correct amount of water—not too much or too little.
5. Check light needs and move the plant to the correct spot
6. Spray the plant with a fungicide or herbicide
7. Always keep your planters clear of old, dead leaves and foliage.
There are a couple easy signs that your plant has a disease. Growth will slow, leaves might yellow, show what powdery blotches or develop spots. Eventually the affected leaves will fall. The stems may also become mushy and black.
Signs that the plant is under siege from pests include slowed growth, changing colors and visible bugs. If you act quickly, you can save your potted plants and avoid the spreading of pests or diseases. A good starting point is to regularly check for pests well before an outbreak. Pesticides, fungicides and herbicides are the three most common solutions to these problems. There are some pros and cons to them though that any well-being-minded millennial should watch out for.
While pesticides are advertised for use on plants, many are a little too strong for your indoor plants and for your health, so watch out! They’re meant to be sprayed outside, so they need a well-ventilated area, which is hard to come by inside. They can also do more harm at times than good, so I advise making less harsh organic pesticides and fungicides instead. They're cheaper and made out of things you will probably already have lying around the house.
Here’s a recipe for a chili pesticide recipe I found awhile back. I used it when my Monstera plant had an invasion of thrip bugs and it worked like a charm.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED
4 cups water
1 tbsp chili powder
6 drops dishwashing detergent
Spray bottle or mister
DIRECTIONS
1. Mist the water, chili powder and detergent directly in the spray bottle or mister.
2. Apply to the infected plant on a sunny day. Please avoid applying in the evening or early morning.
3. Spray the concoction direction onto the infected plant. Make sure you cover the plant thoroughly. That means under the leaves!
4. Keep applying the recipe every couple of days, until you notice that the bugs are gone.
This is just one of the many DIY recipes out there. I hope your plants never have to undergo these treatments, but just in case they do, you’ll be ready. And one last thing. It always breaks my heart a little when my plants start to go down, and you might feel the same way, so being proactive is the best way to curb bug and disease invasions, and easier in the long run.
Comments