Root rot is a disease in plants that decays the plant’s roots. It gets attracted to the plants which have damp and wet soil. If the decaying disease is there in the plant, it shortens the plant’s life. This decaying leads to many other plant problems like leaf drop, branch dieback, eventual death, poor growth, wilted leaves, etc.
If the root rot is left untreated, it will kill the plant. Get the best Tree Root Rot Treatment At Tree Doctor to resolve the problem as soon as you see the symptoms mentioned above. To avoid the worsening of plants, ensure a drainage hole in the container and properly drain out. The container plants are most at risk other than the garden plants.
Causes of root rot
Soft and brown roots can witness root rot, and a healthy root is always firm and white. If the leaves turn yellow or fall off, growth slows down, and the blooming is delayed.
There are two leading causes of root rot-
- Poor drainage
- Overwatered soil
These soggy conditions prevent the root from taking the oxygen they need for living. As soon as oxygen is less, the roots die and decay; this rot can spread to other healthier branches and affect the full plant.
The roots that get weakened are susceptible to soil fungus, which is also a significant root rot issue. The fungus may not be active in the soil, but when there is waterlogging, spores can come to life and attack the roots and cause the plants to die and rot. The species of fungi are Pythium, Fusarium, Phytophthora, Rhizoctonia, etc., which are found in plants. A well-known fungus is Armillaria, which damages the hardwoods and conifers in the area.
Many organisms cause root rot to the plants. Phytophthora cactorum is a problem in the moist area and can also be seen in dry areas. Irrigation can result in wet soils and increase the root rot type.
The organisms that affect the root rot are of two types
- Oospores are thick-walled spores that strike the soil when it is moist.
- Zoospores can swim and travel across the soil with the flow of irrigation water or runoff, which helps them quickly infect a large number of trees.
Many reasons cause root rot, but the best tree root rot treatment at a Tree Doctor is available.
Types of rot
Basal rot
This rot affects the flower and crop bulbs, and a variety of fungi and bacteria causes it. The shoots fail to grow, become reddish, yellow, or purplish, and later, leavers wilt and die.
Gray mold rot
This rot causes the seedlings, leaves, young shoots, buds, flowers, and fruits, making them rotten and flecked. This disease can be noticed by tan and brown spots covered with dusty mold.
Seed rot
This disease can appear within a few days after planting. Early infection in germination seeds results in seed rot or seedling mortality, mainly when cool temperatures and seed rot results in poor plant or row skips.
Wood rot
This damage usually occurs slowly through the wounds visible on the trunk of the wood, and this destroys a significant amount of timber each year. Wood rot can be avoided by removing the dead branches, cutting the damaged stems, wrapping the young trees to protect them from fungi.
Symptoms of root rot
Root rot is a sign of pest infestations. It is easy to spot the root rot above the ground by
- Poor growth.
- Small or pale leaves.
- Branch dieback.
- Brown, yellow, wilt leaves.
- Quick decline without any prominent reason.
- Fungal growth.
- Thin canopy.
To check the decay, dig below the ground to the place of decay. You can use the Pulaski tool for this purpose as it has two sides. One is for chopping, and the other is for digging or scrapping. While doing this, it is necessary to take care while searching as it can cause harm to the plant. Make use of the sterilized tools for treating the infected plants. Else get the best Tree Root Rot Treatment At Tree Doctor.
PREVENTION OF ROOT ROT FROM PLANTS
- Plan plantation after inspecting
Before planting the seeds, make sure the container or the area where you are sowing the seed is fungus-free. There should be proper water drainage to avoid standing in the water. Gently wash the roots and then plant them.
- Check the saturation of the soil.
Suppose you witness some whitish thing above the soil, then carefully dig that part of the soil and remove it as it is a symptom of decay. It is advised to wash the diseased roots and remove the brown, soft part of the roots using the scissors or Pulaski tool.
- Use cultivars
The tree root rot can be prevented by using disease-resistant varieties or cultivars. You can use chemicals or biopesticides to remove the decay. Chemicals like methyl bromide can reduce infection by putting this in the base or holes left after removing the trees. Make sure to disinfect the tools used for treating the infected plants.
- Use of home remedies
You can use cinnamon powder to reduce the spread of root rot after removing the diseased tissue. Cinnamon acts as a potential fungicide for plants. Boil red chili powder in water, and after cooling, add this water to the plant to remove the pests on it.
- Remove the infected part.
Ensure to remove the infected part of the plant as the brown root, wilt leaves, or any mushy roots witnessed. This will help stop the further spread of the disease in the plant, and the plant can be saved.
The tree root rot can be cured by adequately inspecting the plants regularly. So that the decay or infection, if it exists, can be removed in time to save the plant. For this purpose, get the best Tree Root Rot Treatment At Tree Doctor.