You feel that your indoor plants are not in great shape ?
When the growing conditions are not optimal or appropriate, your plant is weakened and will therefore be more susceptible to diseases and attacks of parasites. The leaves turn yellow, the flowers fall or small insects settle in ? If your plants are sending you abnormal signals, it is probably because they have a disease. It is important to identify illnesses beforehand to be able to provide them with appropriate care. Plant disease is an abnormal sign (lack of light, heat, fertilization, falling leaves, different color, etc.) that your plant gives you, due to different crops that are not adapted to them, this may be due to the watering, exposure... lots of factors are possible. In this article you will find the most common diseases and problems in houseplants and how to save your plants.
Identification of the problem
When a problem is detected (loss of leaves, yellowing, soft leaves, etc.) it is important to succeed in understanding and identifying the problem or disease that is encountered in order to intervene effectively and quickly.
Why is my plant losing its leaves ?
If you notice that many green, non-yellowing leaves are falling quickly, this is due to insufficient air humidity or irregular watering.
To remedy this, increase the air humidity around the pot for example by adding clay balls or damp gravel to the bottom of the pot then spraying the foliage of the plant. Then ensure more regular watering but without excess, preferring the drenching technique.
On the other hand, if leaves turn yellow and then fall, it is a sign of irregular watering, a lack of fertilizer or light or an atmosphere that is too dry.
To remedy this, check that the growing conditions correspond to the needs of the plant, increase the humidity of the air which is often insufficient in winter.
Why are the leaves of my plant turning yellow ?
The leaves turn pale and yellow but the veins remain very green, growth seems to slow down, this is a sign of an iron deficiency due to a growing substrate with too high a lime content.
Repot the plant in suitable potting soil (often for green plants) and use a fertilizer enriched with trace elements.
The leaves dry out, become thin then die, this is a sign of air that is too dry and sometimes polluted. It is necessary to increase the humidity of the air by grouping the
If growth is slow and the foliage is discolored or dull, it is because the soil is depleted and linked to a lack of fertilizer, in this case repot your plant in quality soil then add more fertilizer one month later first diluted by half during the growing period (spring).
Why are the leaves of my plant soft ?
The foliage droops and then takes on a wilted appearance, your plant is telling you that it needs to be watered. For the foliage to come back to life, use the drenching technique which consists of immersing the base of the pot in a basin or large tray of water (preferably non-calcareous or rainwater) to rehydrate the soil then let it drain. In the case of excess watering, you must empty the saucer and monitor the plant to perhaps repot it.
If your leaves become deformed and take on a wavy or crimped appearance, it is because the temperature is too low and the fertilizer is not suitable for the plant's needs.
Why are the leaves of my plant turning black ?
If you see that the foliage turns yellow at the ends and edges of the leaves and then turns brown, it is due to too dry air or excess watering. If you have overwatered your plant, there may be stagnant humidity in this case you must empty the saucer or the
1.The Parasites
- The spider mites are colorful mites or microscopic red spiders. To get rid of them, water your plants regularly and spray the leaves with soapy water.
Mealybugs, there are 2 types :
- The mealybugs produce a whitish substance which will be seen on the leaves of indoor plants. The leaves affected by mealybugs will die but we can still treat our plants in a natural way by diluting in a liter of water, a teaspoon of black soap, vegetable oil and 90° alcohol . Spray this mixture once a day for 4 days.
- The shield scale insects produce small black spots dotted on the leaves of plants. To treat your plants from this disease, apply a mixture to copper base of sulfur (Bordeaux mixture), alcohol and water.
- The mud gnats are small flies measuring 1 to 2 millimeters. They live on the surface of
2. Powdery mildew : This disease is caused by insufficient watering and a lack of air, it occurs characterized by whitish spots on the leaves, and it generally occurs in May during dry weather. In this case, remove the parts attacked by this white deposit using a clean cloth, and adjust your watering as well as the ventilation of your room.
3. Mildew: You see brown spots on the leaves of your plants with mold, like white down, on these ? It is absolutely necessary that you remove the affected leaves using a clean cloth and no longer spray them or mist. You can also add garlic decoction to fight late blight.
Other signs which may be an illness:
4. Root rot: Drought or too intense watering on your plant can cause its roots to rot. Initially, your roots turn black, eventually rotting completely. In this case, there is unfortunately no other solution than to throw away the contaminated plant.
5.Appearance of black spots: You notice black and yellow spots on your foliage. Sometimes a few of your leaves will break off and fall off. In this case, you will need to remove the stained sheets immediately to leave only those in good condition. Your room must lack ventilation, so remember to open your window from time to time to circulate more air.
Products found in supermarkets to care for your plants
Chemical manufacturers have developed pest control combinations that make life much easier for indoor gardeners. You can find them in supermarkets in the “ gardens ” sections but home remedies are also possible and just as effective as explained above. We all have certain ingredients or products in our cupboards so let's avoid overconsumption and give them a second life for the greatest pleasure of our plants.
How to prevent your plants from getting sick ? Watering, exposure, maintenance
First advice and undoubtedly the most important is to constantly monitor your plants and in particular the signs they may give us, especially during the first weeks because they may take some time to get used to their new environment. . This involves carefully inspecting the foliage and young shoots, the underside of the leaves, also checking the humidity of the potting soil and the absence of stagnant water in the saucer or
2) Choose plants adapted to the place where you want to install it. It will then resist the climate and the light.
3) Water your plants correctly, i.e. at the base without wetting the leaves and stems. This will keep the leaves healthy.
4) Finally, a little tip to nourish the soil of your plants with a fertilizer to ensure the good growth of your plants.
5) Don't forget to provide them with fertilizer in spring, the most favorable time for their growth and blossoming.
6) Cut damaged leaves colonized by parasites to stop the spread. Preferably isolate the plant to limit the risk of contamination with others. Treat only as a last resort!
How to apply treatments to care for your plants ?
- Treat preferably in the morning or evening, to avoid the risk of sunburn, particularly in summer.
- With an aerosol can, maintain and respect a minimum distance of 30 to 40 cm between the can and the plant.
- Apply the treatment in insisting at the intersection of the branchesand in the leaf folds for greater effectiveness
- Treatment products contain toxic substances, store them out of reach of children and animals !
