What's Wrong with My Plants? - A Guide to Identifying Diseases

How many times have we asked ourselves what's wrong with my plants? Why are they dying? Why do their leaves look like this? Well, today we are going to try to create a small guide to help us identify the most common problems we face: diseases, deficiencies, and pests.

Common diseases of indoor plants

To understand and classify the different common diseases that our plants can suffer from, we must divide them into two groups: diseases of indoor plants and diseases of outdoor plants.

Indoor plants often suffer from BOTRYTIS, caused by a fungus, which will leave a brown trace on the leaves and mold in the area of the flowers or buds. This disease usually occurs after pruning, so the plant should be treated with an anti-botrytis treatment as a preventative measure.

ROOT ROT is also caused by fungi and is one of the most common diseases suffered by indoor plants. We will identify this disease by a yellowing of the leaves that will evolve to brown, and if not treated in time, it will spread to the stems and, finally, to the roots, causing the plant's death.

POWDERY MILDEW, also caused by fungi, can occur in both indoor and outdoor plants and is identified when it looks like the plant has some white powder; however, this doesn't come off when the plant is shaken or cleaned. This disease will cause the leaves to fall off. It can be combated with fungicides and sulfur.

SOOTY MOLD is one of the most aggressive diseases a plant can suffer from and is caused by insects such as aphids, mealybugs, or whiteflies. We will identify this disease when we see grayish or black powder.

ANTHRACNOSE is another of the most lethal plant diseases. It is recognized by lesions similar to burns and appears on the youngest leaves and stems.

Other common indoor plant ailments

Diseases caused by BACTERIA are those that make the plant emit an unpleasant odor, and to prevent this, it's essential to always have a good bactericide on hand, as once the plant is attacked, little can be done to save it.

Diseases caused by VIRUSES are less common (or at least more difficult to identify as they are often confused with other diseases). However, any plant can suffer a viral attack, which will manifest with malformations in the plant, curled leaves, or abnormal growth.

Outdoor plant diseases

Regarding outdoor plants (which also suffer from many indoor plant diseases), being exposed to many more agents, insects, or bacteria, they also have some exclusive diseases such as ROOT ROTS. This disease is very damaging and occurs when soils do not have too much porosity or due to excessive watering.

POWDERY MILDEW is a disease that causes the proliferation of white fungi on different parts of the plant. They usually appear due to excess humidity, and to combat them, it is sufficient to remove the affected areas and reduce the moisture.

GALLS on leaves or flowers are caused by fungi and are detected when the flowers and leaves swell, giving a fleshy appearance, and become discolored.

There are many more diseases, but perhaps these are the most common ones we will face in our daily lives. That's why prevention is so important.

Buy all the materials you need to keep your plants always in good health

The best way to prevent all types of diseases, pests, and other deficiencies in our plants is to always keep them well cared for. For this, at GARDEN WEB, we have a wide variety of gardening products that will help keep your crops in perfect condition, among which we highlight:

• Substrates like universal and coconut fiber for optimal growth.

• Latest-generation fertilizers to provide an extra boost of nutrients to your plants.

• Bamboo stakes and other supports to correctly guide your climbing plants.

• Pots of all kinds and sizes that will adapt to all your crops.

• Gardening accessories such as gloves, labels, work shoes, etc.

We take this opportunity to invite you to visit our online store, where we have all kinds of materials and tools for agriculture, gardening, and nursery. Enter now and place your order online, without having to leave home or carry heavy items from a physical store, as we will deliver it wherever you wish.