How to Prevent Root Rot – Causes, Prevention, and Control

Are you wondering how to prevent root rot? Root rot is one of the most common diseases that can affect almost every plant. It happens when your plant’s roots are affected by pathogens that can cause rotting. The roots will turn into mush and they’ll be unable to transport nutrients throughout the entire plant. If you can’t control the problem, root rot can be fatal.

 

How to Prevent Root Rot – Causes, Prevention, and Control

What Causes Root Rot?

Root rot can be caused by different types of fungi, viruses, oomycetes, and bacteria. There are two main reasons why this disease happens: poorly drained soil and overwatering. These bacteria thrive in wet conditions. Wet soil prevents oxygen from getting into the roots. Oxygen-deprived roots will die and the rot can spread to other unaffected roots.

Weak roots are more vulnerable to soil fungus, which also causes root rot. The fungus can be dormant in the soil but when the ground becomes soggy, they can come back to life and cause root rot.

 

How Can You Prevent Root Rot?

When it comes to root rot, prevention is always better than cure. Fortunately, it’s easy to avoid this problem. You just have to make sure that you properly water and drain your plants. Here are some of the tips you need to remember:

 

Tip #1. Water on a regular basis

One of the ways to keep root rot at bay is to water on a regular basis. Otherwise, your plants will not have enough time to dry between every watering, which leads to root rot.

 

Tip #2. Ensure proper drainage

If you choose to grow your plants in a container, make sure that it has enough drainage holes. In this way, the water will drain out from the pot completely. If water stays too long, it’s going to cause significant problems, including root rot.

 

Tip #3. Examine the soil

Be sure to examine the soil before you water the plants. The watering schedule depends on the type of plant you’re growing. Some plants prefer to dry out before they need to be watered again, while others like to be kept moist all the time.

 

Tip #4. Keep the soil aerated

Make sure there’s enough oxygen in the soil for the roots to grow. It also ensures that there’s enough space for water and oxygen to flow. Additionally, aerated soil prevents moisture from building up in the roots.

 

 

How Can You Fix Root Rot?

If your plants have been infected and you’ve spotted the problem early, you can still save it if you act fast. Here are some of the steps you can take to control the root rot:

 

Step #1. Pinpoint the issue

One of the signs of root rot is when your leaves start to yellow and turn to mush. Uproot the plant from the container so you can check the roots. If they’re soft, wet, darker than usual, or mushy, you’ll need to treat the roots as soon as possible.

 

Step #2. Wash the roots

Take the plants out of the pot and carefully remove the soil around it. Remove the affected roots with gardening scissors. Clean the healthy roots by placing it under running water to clean the roots of any pathogens.

 

Step #3. Repot the plant

Transfer your plant in another pot with enough drainage and fresh soil. If you’re planning to use the same container, make sure to clean them completely. To be safe, it’s better to use a new pot. If the root rot was serious and you had to remove most of the roots, you can prune your plants so the roots expend less energy.

 

Step #4. Place them in a sunny spot

Once you’ve cleaned the roots and repotted the plant, you can return to watering it and fertilizing it regularly. Your plant should grow and become a new and healthy plant.

 

Why You Should Grow Your Plants in a Semipro Greenhouse

Growing your plants in a greenhouse is one of the best investments every gardener should make. Here are some of the reasons why you need one:

 

Prevent root rot

With a greenhouse, you can control the indoor climate by reducing humidity levels when you need to. You can also heat the air and venting the warm air out of the greenhouse. In this way, your plants will use up the water much faster, preventing the plant stress and pathogens from developing.

 

Keep your plants safe from pests

Aphids, beetles, snails, rodents, and other animals and insects can harm your plants. You can keep them safe and healthy by keeping them inside a greenhouse. This reduces the risk of insects munching on your leaves and produce. It also lowers the risk of contracting infectious diseases that may be affecting neighboring plants.

 

Protect your plants from inclement weather

Bad weather can wipe your garden in an instant. Heavy rain, high winds, frost, and excess heat can easily damage your plants. A greenhouse protects them from inclement weather, keeping them safe and healthy inside the enclosure. Once the weather warms, you can transplant them into your garden if you want to.

 

Final Thoughts on How to Prevent Root Rot

Now that you know how to prevent root rot, it’s essential to check your plants for signs of the diseases regularly. Avoid root rot by planting them in well-draining pots and soil.

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