What does a fungal infection look like on a plant?

Author: Prof. Dawn Blanda DDS  |  Last update: Thursday, September 11, 2025

Symptoms of a fungal disease on indoor plants There are many species of fungi that can cause leaf spots on houseplants. Symptoms often include many tan to reddish brown to black roughly circular spots or lesions that may run together to cause large irregular shaped lesions or blighting of the entire leaf.

How do I know if my plant has fungal infection?

Symptoms may include a detectable change in color, shape or function of the plant as it responds to the pathogen. Leaf wilting is a typical symptom of verticilium wilt, caused by the fungal plant pathogens Verticillium albo-atrum and V. dahliae.

How do you get rid of fungus on a plant?

Baking soda is one of the most commonly used and seen indoor plant fungus treatments. For this, you will need one tablespoon of baking soda, mixed with a gallon of water and two and a half tablespoons of vegetable oil. Once the mixture is ready, add it to a spray bottle, shake the contents and spray the affected areas.

How do you treat fungal spots on plants?

Since most leaf-spotting fungi infect in spring as leaves are unfolding, the first fungicide spray is applied at budbreak. Two or three additional sprays are subsequently applied at 7- to 14-day intervals. Additional applications may also be necessary in unusually wet springs.

What does a fungal leaf spot look like?

Leaf spots (also called leaf lesions) are discrete, diseased sections of leaves that initially may be dull green or yellow in color, but later turn brown, black, or display another abnormal color. Leaf spot shapes also vary greatly, but usually are oval, oblong, or round. Leaf petioles can also develop such spots.

How To Treat Fungal Infections On Houseplants

How do you tell the difference between a fungal and bacterial leaf spot?

Bacterial leaf spot symptoms typically have a more angular appearance than fungal leaf spot, with the spots bounded between the veins. Fungal leaf spots will cross veins. This is because the bacteria is inside the plant and cannot cross vein easily. Fungal leaf spots grow on the surface and cross veins easily.

What do fungal infection spots look like?

Fungal infections of your skin can change how it looks. You may get patches of skin that are: red, discoloured or darker in colour. scaly and itchy or have a fine scale, like dry skin.

What is the best antifungal for plants?

Sulfur can be a preventive fungicide against mildew, rose dark spots, rusts, and different infections in gardens and plants. Sulfur keeps contagious spores from sprouting, so it must be applied before the infection spreads for the best outcome.

Should I cut off leaves with brown spots?

Brown spots are one of your plants' ways of letting you know something's up. The cause is rarely anything too serious, but it's good to try to fix the problem. Whatever the cause, brown spots won't turn back to green so you may want to trim off affected leaves, to make your plant look nicer.

How do you tell the difference between bacterial blight and fungal blight?

In order to distinguish between bacterial and fungal leaf diseases, one can put leaves in a moist chamber and check for fungal structures (little black dots in the lesions) after two to three days. Also, bacterial lesions will be 'water-soaked' or 'glassy' before they dry up, particularly if the environment is moist.

Does vinegar get rid of plant fungus?

Vinegar – Similar to mouthwash, the acetic acid of vinegar can control powdery mildew. A mixture of 2-3 tablespoons of common apple cider vinegar, containing 5% acetic acid mixed with a gallon of water does job.

Can you use hydrogen peroxide on plants?

Saturate the soil with 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide 3% per 1 litre water. Put wet soil in a watertight container and leave overnight before planting. This kills pathogens such as fungi and bacteria including insect eggs and nematodes (roundworms).

What is the strongest natural fungicide?

Garlic. Garlic contains the powerful antifungal agent ajoene, an organosulfur compound that has been found to kill off a variety of fungal infections.

Can a plant recover from fungal disease?

If you do encounter fungus on your plants, just remember it can be treated and your plants will more than likely recover beautifully. Learn how to recognize powdery mildew and black spot, and how you can prevent and treat them in your own garden.

What does baking soda do for plants?

Prevent Fungal Disease

MAKE IT: Mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda and 2-3 drops of liquid soap in 1 liter of water. Spray the solution on the infected plants. Baking soda helps the plants become less acidic and prevents fungal growth.

What are the first signs of fungi?

Symptoms of Fungal Infections
  • Asthma-like symptoms.
  • Fatigue.
  • Headache.
  • Muscle aches or joint pain.
  • Night sweats.
  • Weight loss.
  • Chest pain.
  • Itchy or scaly skin.

What fungicide is good for brown spots on plants?

Daconil® Fungicide Concentrate

Providing 3-way control, Daconil stops and prevents leaf spot, downy mildew, blight, fruit rot, rust, and many more listed fungal diseases. Daconil has you covered. Including an easy-to-use measuring cap - simply mix the liquid with the recommended water dosage into a sprayer.

How often should I water my plants?

How often you water your plants will depend on the plant itself. Some may need watering every few days, others will need to be watered once or twice a week and some plants who prefer a dry climate can get away with being watered just once a month.

Does overwatering cause brown spots on leaves?

If the leaves develop brown spots or edges encircled by a yellow halo, that's a bacteria infection due to overwatering.

What kills fungus on plant leaves?

Baking soda solution: Mix 1 tablespoon baking soda and ½ teaspoon liquid soap such as Castile soap (not detergent) in 1 gallon of water. Spray liberally, getting top and bottom leaf surfaces and any affected areas.

Which plant is best for fungal infection?

2. Plants having antifungal activity
  • Eugenia uniflora. Myrtaceae. Leaves. ...
  • Psidium guajava. Myrtaceae. Leaves. ...
  • Curcuma longa. Zingiberaceae. Rhizome. ...
  • Piptadenia colubrina. Mimosaceae. Stem bark. ...
  • Schinus terebinthifolius. Anacardiaceae. Stem bark. ...
  • Persea americana. Lauraceae. ...
  • Parapiptadenia rigida. Fabaceae. ...
  • Ajania fruticulosa. Asteraceae.

What does fungus on plants look like?

Symptoms of a fungal disease on indoor plants

There are many species of fungi that can cause leaf spots on houseplants. Symptoms often include many tan to reddish brown to black roughly circular spots or lesions that may run together to cause large irregular shaped lesions or blighting of the entire leaf.

What kills fungus completely?

Ketoconazole will kill the fungus and prevent it from growing back. Alternatively, common shampoos, like Head and Shoulders, contain selenium sulfide, another antifungal agent. Do a bit of shopping and find an over-the-counter shampoo that works for you.

What can be mistaken for fungus?

Two of the most common are eczema and fungal infections. Both conditions can look similar, but a fungal infection is more likely to involve your hair and nails. It also doesn't come and go like eczema.

What does the start of fungus look like?

It begins as a white or yellow-brown spot under the tip of your fingernail or toenail. As the fungal infection goes deeper, the nail may discolor, thicken and crumble at the edge.

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