Hi all, here we have come up with new stuff about how to check the plant health continuously and how to know if your plant is healthy enough. 

 

Many times it happens that we as plant lovers go for tree plantation, perform it and after that the efforts go in dump due to;

 

Human issues:                     1.  Not getting enough time

                                                 2.  Don’t know how to check plant health

                                                 3.  Wrong interpretation of plant issues 
 

Plant’s issues:                       1.  Pests and diseases 

                                                 2.  Lack of nutrition

                                                 3.  Poor soil texture

                                                 4.  Rootbound 

                                                 5.  Foliage 

 

Please note, it is not just easy to plant a tree and leave to grow its own. You will have to keep a continuous check on its health and growth. Poor health may affect plant growth badly and ultimately make it die soon. 

 

The other two issues are related to plant issues, we can help you here. Make sure while choosing a plant for your home garden you are checking;

 

                                                 1.  if the plant has fresh, green leaves. 

                                                 2. It is standing strong and straight

                                                 3. There is no yellowing or browning of the leaves, even from the edges

                                                 4. The plant is pruned in sustainable manner i.e., there is no diseased and weakened stem

                                                 5. There is no existing rootbound

Now it's not easy but the fact is, the very first human issue is Not getting enough time to look after the plants; only humans can solve it themselves. If you are a true plant lover then please draw some time for your plants from your hectic schedule.

 

The very first step is the visual checkup of the plants. The visible parts of the plant can be observed to predict plant health.
 

1.  Leaves

 

 (A)    Symptoms:               Color change, mainly yellowing or browning of the leaves either from the edges or tip

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            Cause:                         Plant is suffering through underwatering or over watering, non-adequate sunlight or overuse of fertilizers or nutrition deficiency.

            Solution:                      1.  Check if your the soil or potting mixture is dried out, if yes then add enough water

                                                 2.  If the soil is heavily mist and color of the leaves has started becoming yellow stop watering the plant until the soil is moderately
                                                     dried

                                                 3.  Check the current location of the plant, if it is too sunny and bright. If yes, simply shift the plants where it will receive partial sun

                                                 4.  If none of the above is existing or working then your plant is overfed, Here you will have to either stop adding fertilizers immediately. 

                                                 5.  If you have made use of liquid fertilizers then you need to remove the plant from the soil, wash the roots and place it in a fresh soil
                                                      and DO NOT add fertilizers immediately as your plant already carries a huge amount of nutrition.
 

(B)   Symptom:                   Suddenly your plant has started losing its leaves drastically
 

         Cause:                          Plant falling sick due to nutrients deficiency or pests attack
 

         Solution:                      If the plant is exposed to pests attack then spray some neem oil over your plants. It is a natural, harmless way to
                                                 get rid of the pests.

1. 1  Sunlight

 

Symptom:                            Browning of the leaves from edges or tips 
 

Cause:                                   Over-exposed to direct sunlight OR it is not getting enough sunlight.

Solution:                               Based on the requirement of the sunlight there are 3 categories;

                                                           1. Plants which grow best in full sunlight

                                                          2. Plants which are shade-loving

                                                          3. Plants which do not bother amount of sunlight, they can grow in either conditions

   
Based on the above categories you need to choose the location for the plants where they will be getting sunlight as per their need.

Most of the plant diseases can be recognized by their leaves. Let's go through some of them.
 

1. 2   Black spots on the upper front of the leaves

 

                                                                                               

                                                                                                                                     Cause:      Bacterial infection

                                                                                                                                     Reason:    Wet weather during rains

                                                                                                                                     Solution:   1. Use of well-drained soil
                                                                                                                                                         2. Avoid overwatering

                                                                                                                                                         3. Removing dried leaves

                                                                                                                                                         4. Adding fertilizers to prevent fungal growth 

                                                                                                                                                         5. Pruning of diseased stems and leaves

 

 

 

          (Photo courtesy: Flickr)

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1. 3    Red blotchy patterns on the leaf surface

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                                Cause:      Fungal infection
 

                          Reason:    Wet weather during rains

                          Solution:   1. Use of well-drained soil
                                              2. Avoid overwatering

                                              3. Removing dried leaves

                                              4. Adding fertilizers to prevent fungal growth 

                                              5. Pruning of diseased stems and leaves           




                                                                                                                                                                                             (Photo courtesy: Geograph.ie)

1. 4  White powdery substance seen on the leaf surface

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                                                                                                                     Cause:       Powdery mildew (can be seen on fruits, stem or buds too) 

                                                                                                                                Reason:    Fungal infection due to excessive soil moisture, humid climate and
                                                                                                                                                     shady location        

                                                                                                                                Solution:   1.   Do not crowd the plants. Each plant should get enough breathing
                                                                                                                                                          space
                                                                                                                                                     2.   Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda in 1 teaspoon olive oil in 1 Ltr of
                                                                                                                                                           water and spray it over the affected leaf surfaces

 

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         (Photo courtesy: Wikimedia commons)

1. 5    Pale green or yellowish spots on the leaf surface and cotton -like structure formed the downside of the leaves
 

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                                 Cause:      Downy mildew (can be seen on fruits, stem or buds too) 
 

                           Reason:    Cool and moist weather      
 

                           Solution:    1.  Clean out dry waste such dried leaves and branches
                                                 2.  Keep your plant in dry place and make sure the leaves are not
                                                      holding surface water for long time 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                               (Photo courtesy: Wikimedia commons)

1. 6    Random shaped dark brown spots on leaves and shrinking

 

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                                                                                                                                     Cause:     Blight
 

                                                                                                                                     Reason:   Fungal infection due to warm and humid weather    
    

                                                                                                                                     Solution:  Unfortunately there is no cure for blight. It is windborne. Simply destroy the plant which is
                                                                                                                                infected.

                                                                                                                                Clean up the dry waste of blight-infected plants and destroy that too.  NEVER add it in your                                                                                                                                          compost.

 

 

 

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         (Photo courtesy: Wikimedia commons)
 

1. 6    Wound like structure on leaf surface, stem or limbs 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                   Cause:   Canker
 

                                   Reason:  Fungal infection
 

                                   Solution:   1.  Make use of healthy soil
                                                 2.  Allow breathing space while choosing location for plants

                                                 3.  Maintain nutrients level by adding compost

                                                 4.  There is no exact cure on Canker, these are just preventive measures 

 

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                                                                                                                                                                                                                 (Photo courtesy: Flickr)
 

2.   Roots

Symptoms:                         The roots start running out of the drainage hole present at the bottom of the pot or start peeping out of the surface of soil in pots.

Cause:                                   Plant has become rootbound.
 

 

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                                                                                                              (Photo courtesy: Flickr)

Solution:                               The only solution to remove rootbound is, replace the pot. But, before that cut the excessively grown roots and bring them to their
                                                 original form.
 

The growth of fungi is another problem with plant roots. In case of fungal infection on the roots let the roots dry completely.
 

3.  Pests and disease

Symptoms:                         Suddenly the leaves will show some powdery substance on it,  color change of the leaves, weakened stem etc.

                                                 Many times you can see the infections at the underside of the leaves or near the joint where the leaf is connected to the stem.

Cause:                                   Plant's leaves are infected with powdery mildew, aphids, spider mites, mealybugs etc.

Solution:                               To get rid of pests you can try out following things;

                                                            1.   Give your plant a strong spray wash with the water

                                                           2.   Spray some neem oil over the plants

                                                           3.   Cut down the diseased stem and leaves
                                                           4.   After doing this place the plant at such a location where it will get partial sun and shadow for at least 4 hours.

                                                           5.   Please DO NOT let your plant be exposed to direct sunlight immediately after neem oil treatment. It will just burn out your plant

 

So here we have tried to enlist some common plant diseases found often along with their solution to resolve them. Hope you will find this helpful.

Dear readers, we need your support to improve this info and make it more and more useful day by day. Your feedback and suggestions are always welcome here!

Happy Gardening! :)

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