If a fungal decay hasn’t completely destroyed a plant’s origins, you can frequently rehabilitate it by cutting the diseased parts of the origins and repotting the plant from pasteurized soil. You have to be alert to early signs of fungal disorder and know the fundamentals of repotting and nursing the plant back to health.

Root Rot Symptoms

Infections by fusarium, pythium, phytophthora, rhizoctonia solani and other root dander most often happen in wet soil caused by over-watering them growing them in pots which do not drain well. Fungal infections stunt the origins, causing leaves to turn yellow or red, indicating a lack of nutrients. The origins are typically brown, mushy and frequently have a bad odor. Severely infected roots may be hollow, permitting you to snap them readily between your index finger and thumb. Healthy roots are firm and cream to white colored. Fungi can infect and destroy a plant in seven to 10 days.

Pruning Diseased Roots

After removing the plant from the pot, gently wash off the dirt from the contaminated roots. Trim away the contaminated roots with scissors or a sharp pair of shears. After you complete pruning the diseased roots, disinfect your working surface and tools using alcohol, detergents or a mixture of water and 10 percent bleach. Disinfect pots which previously contained plants with contaminated roots by soaking them in one part bleach to nine parts of water for thirty minutes. Repot the plant in a commercial potting mix that’s been pasteurized to eliminate fungi or pasteurize dirt yourself. Garden soil often includes fungi and must be prevented.

Pasteurizing Soil

To pasteurize moist dirt, place it level and not more than 4 inches deep in an aluminum, glass or iron roaster. Bury a 1 1/2 inch diameter potato in the center of the ground and cover the container with aluminum foil containing a small hole away in the potato. After inserting a candy or meat thermometer through the hole to the ground, place the roaster in the oven at 180 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes before the ground temperature is 180 degrees Fahrenheit. The potato should be well cooked, a indication that heat penetrated through the ground. Eliminate the dirt and let it cool. Otherwise, place about 2 pounds of moist soil in a plastic bag with the top open and heat it in a microwave oven for 2 1/2 minutes on full force. After heat, close the bag and allow the dirt cool.

Repotting Plants with Pruned Roots

Planting houseplants in pots using a hole in the bottom assures that they drain properly. While watering needs vary among species, water must typically soak fast and uniformly throughout the potting soil. The best general advice is always to water houseplants thoroughly until water drains through the bottom and wait till the dirt under the surface is barely moist before watering again. Fertilize only when the plant is apparently recovering.

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