Root rot has two main causes: lack of oxygen and fungal infection. 1. Lack of oxygen: If a plant has been overwatered, has poor drainage, or its soil is too densely packed, this can cause a lack of oxygen. In these cases, the roots are essentially drowning.
Once root rot is identified, you must determine if the plant can be saved. If the entire root system has already become mushy, it is too late to save the plant. However, if some healthy, white, firm roots exist, try to bring the plant back to good health by replanting in fresh soil with good drainage.
More severe infections may take longer, but you should notice new growth and healthier leaves quite quickly. Do you water a plant after repotting for root rot? No. If your plant is suffering from root rot, you'll want to refrain from watering your plant for about 1 week after repotting.
Cut off any diseased roots using a sterile cutting tool like a knife or scissors. You want to make sure that you're cutting off the roots that are black and mushy. After you've cut off any dead roots, we recommend soaking them in an 80:20 solution of water to hydrogen peroxide. Five minutes or so should be sufficient.
Hydrogen peroxide can help to control fungal growth and fungal infection, such as root rot, by preventing the growth of fungi. It can also help kill fungus and bacteria on plant roots.
Another product that'll help prevent the spread of root rot is non-flavoured cinnamon. After having removed the dead roots, sprinkle a thin layer onto the healthy tissue before placing into a bed of new compost.
Root rot is a plant disease that can be caused by overwatering, poor drainage, or by soil fungi. Like many plant diseases, root rot is hard to treat and prevention is the best way to avoid it.
Spores from root rot causing agents do contaminate other plants, but the rot cannot take hold unless there is adequate moisture. Spores are not only airborne, but are also carried by insects and other arthropods in the soil.
Can you reuse soil with root rot? We recommend sterilizing the soil before reusing the soil. This will ensure there were no diseases or fungus that were growing in the soil while the roots were rotting. Once the soil is sterilized, mix with new potting soil 50/50.
It is perfectly safe for plants when properly diluted and used in moderation. Adding hydrogen peroxide to water promotes better growth in plants and boosts roots ability to absorb nutrients from the soil. Diluted 3% peroxide adds needed aeration to the soil of plants and helps control fungus in the soil.
However, bottom watering is a more controlled method of watering your plants. By remembering to check your plant every ten minutes or so while it's sitting in water, you can significantly reduce your chances of overwatering and causing root rot.
If they look dark brown and mushy rather than firm and white or tan as they should be, your plant probably is suffering from root rot.
Make sure the container has good drainage and only water the plant when the top of the soil is dry. While regrowing its roots, do not fertilize the plant, as this may stress it. You do not want to have to treat root rot again in the plant.
We advise not to right away, but within the same week of repotting is fine. The Soil should be slightly, naturally moist, so water when the top few inches feel dry as per normal. If you have treated your plant, it shouldn't be a problem again. Lastly do not fertilise your plant after root rot for a few months!
The benzimidazole fungicides such as thiophanate-methyl are very active against the fungus and are used as soil treatments to control it.
Baking Soda Fungicide
Common household baking soda is a natural product used for combating plant fungus problems. Mix 1 tbsp. of baking soda with 2-1/2 tbsp. of vegetable oil in 1 gallon of tap water.
Use cinnamon rooting hormone to encourage root development
Like sulphur, cinnamon is a natural fungicide that helps most plants root, while inhibiting the spores that cause rot in stem cuttings. Dip prepared plant stems in cinnamon and push them into the soil.
Depending on the circumstances and severity of over-watering your roots may need more time for recovery than others! The good news is that most plants will bounce back between 7-14 days if they're given proper care (which includes rehydration).
If you slide an overwatered plant out of the pot, the soil usually has a sour smell, similar to sewer gas. Roots will be dark; you might not be able to distinguish them from surrounding soil. Water will likely drip from the soil, and if you squeezed it, water would run from it like a sopping wet sponge.
By strategically sprinkling cinnamon around the edge of containers and baskets, most pests will simply leave it alone and move on. Even with its strong smell, cinnamon will not cause any harm to the plants.
Mix with water and spray onto plant stems
'Another option is to mix cinnamon with water to create a spray that can then be applied directly to the leaves and stems of your plants,' Diana explains. This can help distribute the cinnamon more evenly and will be the best method if you want to target pests.