Top Causes of Plant Diseases and How to Treat Them
It’s easy to overlook plant diseases and assume that they aren’t affecting your plants, especially if you live in an area with particularly temperate weather. But diseases can impact the health of your plants, so it’s important to know how to spot them, treat them and prevent them from reoccurring if possible. Here are the top causes of plant diseases and how to treat them if they strike your plants or crops.
Understanding the Symptoms
It’s crucial to understand what you’re looking at when it comes to plant diseases. You don’t want to kill your plant with over-treatment, or neglect it by not giving it enough attention. For example, if you have a fungus on one leaf that is impacting that one leaf only, then perhaps all you need is a squirt from your garden hose every couple days while watering. But if your disease has spread into roots or a more serious form (such as powdery mildew), then you may need something more aggressive like an insecticide or fungicide. The bottom line? Don’t guess—identify! Better yet: research!
Fungal Disease
Many plants suffer from fungal diseases that attack their roots, leaves, stems or flowers. These infections can occur in humid environments or when conditions are too cold. On top of that, a number of fungal diseases (such as powdery mildew) thrive in areas with high humidity. Luckily, there are safe treatments you can use to eliminate fungal infections on your plants. Read below for more information about common fungal diseases and how to prevent them from affecting your garden!
Understanding Commonness
The most common plant diseases are caused by fungi, which feed on plant roots. When a fungus takes over a plant, its root structure can be compromised, making it difficult for plants to absorb nutrients from soil. If left untreated, these diseases can actually be fatal for some plants. Most fungi that cause disease in plants enter through wounds or injuries in leaves or stems. But some fungal infections occur due to weather conditions like wet soil or heavy rain.
Check Nutrients Before Blaming Disease
Before you blame any disease on your plants, it’s important to make sure they have all of their nutritional needs met. Plants can’t fight off diseases if they don’t have what they need for healthy growth. Make sure you provide plants with enough water and sunlight, as well as good nutrition in their soil. If your plants aren’t getting all that they need, you won’t have any success fighting off diseases—and may even end up making things worse! Find out what nutrients your garden requires by checking out our fertilizer guide . Then get started!
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
Simply put, IPM is a method for preventing plant diseases by monitoring crops for pests, then using non-chemical controls (such as traps) before pesticides are applied. This not only helps save money on pest control but it also keeps chemicals out of our environment. (Keep in mind that, if you decide to use chemical pesticides, wearing protective gear—like rubber gloves and masks—is essential.) There are dozens of different types of fungal diseases; some cause wilting while others attack your plants’ leaves. The key is recognizing what sort of disease you have so you can treat it effectively. Below are some common types
When all else fails, get outside help
When you spot disease in your plants, consult with a plant expert. Even if it’s too late for treatment, early detection will mean less stress on your plants. And it may save you from future problems. For example, powdery mildew can eventually kill your leaves if left untreated—and once dead, there’s no coming back. If something just doesn’t look right about your trees or flowers , check with someone who knows what to look for . A little guidance can go a long way toward avoiding costly mistakes that could leave you with a yard full of brown sticks instead of healthy green foliage.
Causes of fungal disease in plants
There are several causes of fungal disease in plants, but they can usually be attributed to poor conditions. If you think your plant is sick, take a look at its environment. Determine whether it has too much or too little water, if it's getting adequate light, if it's been treated with pesticides recently, or if there's just not enough oxygen around. All these factors could be affecting its health. At times though, fungal diseases can be an indication that something is wrong with your plant's genetics. In fact, certain species are more susceptible than others when certain fungi appear on their roots or leaves. Over time you'll come to recognize which plants fall into which category so you can plan accordingly for their care!
Name of fungal diseases in plants
The most common fungal diseases that plague plants are powdery mildew, caused by Sphaerotheca pannosa, stem rot, stem canker and rusts. Powdery mildew is one of more problematic for gardeners.
