Should i be worried?
#Monstera I got this baby 2 weeks ago. I saw the soil was so wet so i decided to repot it to a chunky mix and add the moss pole after a week. I haven’t watered it yet since then nor the moss pole. Just today I saw this leaf dropping and decided to cut it because the visible end was black and mushy. I haven’t check under the soil yet. Should I be worried?
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Best Answer
A black and mushy stem indicates active stem rot, which is a severe condition that will spread and kill the plant if ignored. This usually happens when the plant is overwatered or if the main stem is buried too deep in the soil. You must act quickly to save the plant. Step 1: Assess and Cut Away the Rot - repot the plant immediately to check the roots and the base of the stem. Take a sharp, sterilized knife or pruning shears. Cut away all black and mushy tissue. Keep cutting until you reach completely healthy, firm, and white/green tissue. If any rot is left behind inside the core, it will continue to spread. Step 2: Treat the Wound - Disenfect: Dab the freshly cut, healthy tissue with 3% hydrogen peroxide using a cotton swab or a clean toothbrush to kill off any remaining bacteria or fungi. Let it Callus: Leave the plant out in the open air for about 30 to 60 minutes so the exposed wet cut can air-dry and form a protective callus. Step 3: Repot or Propagate- If the roots are still healthy and attached to a firm stem: Repot the plant into a clean pot using a fresh, highly aerated, chunky soil mix (heavy on perlite and orchid bark). Make sure the remaining stem is not buried deep under the soil. If the rot severed the roots completely: Cut the remaining healthy top portion of the plant into individual node cuttings and place them in clean water or damp moss to grow a brand new root system
I repotted both my monsteras and removed most of the black tissue. Some roots still had some black but not mushy parts. I read that its okay so i left them there. I repotted the plants above the soil with just the roots buried. Here are some photos. Is it too high?
