DISEASES AND HOW TO TREAT THEM
It’s one of the saddest, but most common things to happen to our plants; an attack of a disease. It’s something that makes our plants sad, unhealthy and will prevent them from growing to their full potential. It doesn’t mean all hope is gone, only that you as a plant caretaker have to help your plant out. Here are some of the most common diseases for our indoor plants, and how you can treat them to make sure your plant stays healthy.
THRIPS:
Cause: too dry soil and air
Looks like: yellow and black or brown spots on leaves
Cure: neem oil and or insect spray and predatory bugs.
MILDEW:
Cause: too moist and too less air circulation
Looks like: white fungal fluff on the plant’s leaves and stems
Cure: milk and neem oil
WHITE FLIES:
Cause: the soil and air is too dry
Looks like: white little flies on the underside of the leaves of the plant
Cure: neem oil and or vinegar
SCALE INSECT:
Cause: too dry soil and air
Looks like: small brown insects on stem and leaves
Cure: ice water, green soap, neem oil.
ROOT ROT:
Cause: too damp soil over time
Looks like: root system with blackened areas and stunted foliage.
Cure: remove rot and use a preventative treatment.
MEALY BUG:
Cause: over watering and too high level of nitrogen soil
Looks like: small white insects with a fluffy white coating
Cure: remove manually with rubbing alcohol or insecticide.
FUNGUS GNATS:
Cause: too moist soil
Looks like: small black gnats on top of the soil of your plant
Cure: dry out plant, put white sand over the potting soil. Or invest in nematodes (worm that eats gnats).
SPIDER MITES:
Cause: too warm heated homes
Looks like: fine webbing on underside of leaves.
Cure: isolate plant, prune damaged leaves and clean infected plant with soapy water or an insecticide.