"What Causes Plant Problems"

September 07, 2022

Whether you’re growing a large and diverse garden or trying to care for a single houseplant, there are many things that can go wrong. Specific plants require specific types of care, and most will have to deal with the threat of pests and disease. To keep your plants happy and thriving, it’s important to keep an eye out for anything that can go wrong, as well as to know what signs to look for if you want to make sure your plant is healthy.

Avoiding Pests

Pests, such as bugs and herbivorous rodents, can cause a lot of problems when raising plants. If you notice distorted or stunted plant growth or bites in the leaves, then you likely have a pest problem. These pests, mostly insects like whiteflies, aphids, and mealybugs, feed on or suck the nutrients out of your plants, resulting in noticeable damage.

To prevent these pests from getting to your plants, it’s best not to resort to chemicals, as many pesticides are toxic and damaging in their own way to the environment. Instead, keep an eye out for bugs and remove them with water or by hand, and keep your plants in an enclosed environment to ward off rodents.

Diseases

Like humans and animals, plants can also get sick if not properly cared for. Plant diseases come in a diverse range, with different warning signs and different methods of solving the problem. Many of them are fungal based and may come as a result of overwatering. Some common plant diseases include:

Leaf Spots: These can be a result of bacteria or fungi, and damage the leaves that they affect, leaving dark spots with yellow halos. You need to remove the leaves, and prevent the issue by increasing air circulation while decreasing moisture.
Root and Stem Rot: This happens when a plant is overwatered and causes plants to rot away, eventually wilting and dying if not addressed. You need to remove the infected roots and replant the rest in a new, sterile pot, and avoid overwatering.
Powdery Mildew: A white fungal growth that causes leaves to distort and fall, powdery mildew happens with too much moisture or humidity. Infected leaves should be removed, and air circulation increased.
Blight: Blight is a fungal based disease that spreads through spores. Less common for houseplants, blight is nevertheless a disease that spreads rapidly. It can be prevented by keeping the humidity to a minimum while disposing of infected plants.

Abiotic Problems

While many plant problems are caused by living creatures, these are caused by various other factors, such as the amount of sunlight or the climate of the setting. As a result, diagnosing these problems is a bit harder, but still possible. Make sure you do your research beforehand and find out the best way to raise each plant, as a lack of light, an overabundance of water, and even the amount of nitrogen in the soil can ultimately harm the plant.

If your plants are suffering, you might want to call an expert. Contact Flower Works LLC and talk to a professional today.