We often encounter leaf spot disease outdoors. But even houseplants are not safe from it. Wherever she appears, she always brings one thing with her: ugly stains. This destroys the decorative function of a houseplant. Can we save her beautiful appearance?
How to treat leaf spot on houseplants?
To combat leaf spot on houseplants, affected leaves or branches should be cut off and discarded. Isolate the diseased plant from he althy plants and treat with a broad-spectrum fungicide. Correct care errors and replace the substrate if necessary.
Visible symptoms
Leaf spot creates one spot after another. These are not just on the surface of the leaves. The entire cell structure of the leaves is changed in these places.
- Stains are different sizes
- they are usually irregularly shaped
- grow larger and connect over time
- their color ranges from yellow to dark brown
- they are outlined in a different color
- Heavily infected leaves often fall off
Causes of the disease outbreak
Leaf spot is a fungal disease. It can only break out and have serious consequences if the houseplant is already weakened. This is precisely why it is important to always care for and position houseplants in a way that suits their nature.
If an exotic plant cannot find the optimal conditions for it in your home, it is better to avoid it. Not only does she not look her best, she is also particularly susceptible to illness.
Note:The popular yucca palm, rubber tree and camellia all have beautiful leaves. Maybe that's exactly why the fungal pathogen likes to attack them.
Fighting the disease
Nothing can reverse the brown spots on the leaves. But you can try to protect other, still lush green leaves from this. However, the first step is always to isolate the diseased plant from he althy specimens. And this continues until the plant is completely he althy. The fungal pathogen can easily move back and forth on plants that are close together.
This is another necessary step:
- cut off and dispose of diseased leaves
- if applicable. Whole branches also have to be cut off.
- use clean, sharp tools
- disinfect this before and after
Home remedies do not help with this disease. Some of them can only be used as plant strengtheners. Therefore, dispose of all plants that are unlikely to recover from this disease. You can treat particularly valuable specimens chemically with a broad-spectrum fungicide.
Eliminate care errors
Use this illness as an opportunity to critically review your previous care. Eliminate possible errors in care so that the disease does not return. Since fungal pathogens can get onto the substrate through falling leaves, repotting in fresh soil is advisable. At least the top layer should be replaced promptly.