5 Prayer Plant Diseases to Watch for This Season

At the beginning of the infection, look for stunted growth. You may see your prayer plant’s beautiful leaves turn yellow and mushy, and eventually droop. The stems may also lose their structure and appear limp and lifeless.

The soil may give off a foul rotten smell. This is a clear indicator that the roots are decaying underneath.

The best way to prevent root rot is by not letting your houseplant’s soil become too soggy. These microbes thrive in wet conditions. Below are the best ways to prevent root rot from infecting your houseplant.

• • Plant in well-drained soil
  • Use containers with plenty of drainage holes
  • Don’t overwater your plants. Keep the soil moist but not soggy. 

If you see these symptoms, decrease the watering and misting. With clean pruners, clip away discolored leaves and stems. Continue watering or misting your plants once the soil is dry.

If the problem continues, there’s nothing else you can do. You’ll have to replace your houseplant and adjust your watering schedule.

Look for small discolored lesions on the leaves. They’ll appear brown to reddish brown or even black. They can combine to form a larger lesion that grows over time.

They spread quickly and will eventually attack the stems. Leaf drop and severe dieback are the most common results if you leave the disease untreated.

It’s easy to prevent fungal leaf spots from developing. The key is growing your houseplants in an environment that’s not too moist. Below are a few tips for keeping them disease-free.

• • Water early in the day to give your plant time to dry off.
  • Keep watering directed at the soil and not the leaves.
  • Only mist your plants when they appear too dry.
  • Space your plants apart to allow enough aeration between the leaves. 

If you see signs of leaf spots on your plant’s leaves, move it away from other plants immediately. This will stop the spread of the disease and make it more manageable.

Treat the infected leaves with an organic fungicide, such as neem oil. Follow the product’s instructions on how to dilute and apply the oil. Cover the diseased leaves and repeat the treatment until the disease goes away.

Reduce watering and misting to make the growing environment less moist. By changing the environment and treating it with fungicide, your infected plant should bounce back.

Look for fuzzy spots on the leaves. In the early stages, they will appear white or off-colored. As they progress, they’ll turn brown. You may see gray or dust-colored spores on the infected area.

Space your plants away from each other to help improve air circulation between the leaves. Water and mist in the morning and give the foliage time to dry. Consider using a dehumidifier if your home has high humidity.

Try using an organic neem oil solution or diluted copper fungicide. Follow the product’s directions and keep applying until the mold infection disappears. 

Look for small to medium-sized brown lesions with yellow borders on the leaves or occasionally stems. They’ll eventually merge to create larger infections.

The most common cause is purchasing plants, cuttings, or seeds already infected with the bacteria. Buy your plants from a reputable nursery or online supplier.

At home, try not to grow your houseplants too close together. Water gently to avoid splashing, which could transfer the bacteria from one plant to another.

Trim all the infected parts of the plant and dispose of them in the trash. Use disinfected pruners and disinfect them again once you’re done to prevent transferring bacteria to other plants. Whatever you do, don’t dispose of the infected leaves in your compost.

After trimming away the infected leaves and stems, treat your plants with a liquid copper soap. Monitor them for signs the disease has returned and treat them with soap once more. Keep them away from other plants until the disease is gone.

Look for a powder-like gray coating on the leaves and stems. The worse the infection gets, the more the plant will be covered in the substance.

Water directly on the soil and avoid adding moisture to the leaves. Space your plants far apart to improve circulation. Remove dead leaves or plant debris from the topsoil or other nearby plants. Keep the humidity of your home at medium levels.

Treat powdery mildew by trimming away diseased foliage. Throw it in the trash and not in compost bins. Try using an organic copper fungicide to treat severe infections.

If the mildew keeps progressing, it would be best to dispose of your prayer plant and get a new one. Quarantine it away from your other houseplants and make sure the mildew doesn’t spread.