Any advice on making this guy look good again?
The day I got him he looked great, but the black creeped up out of nowhere and progressed for a few days. It feels papery and tears easily. He drooped at first, but has really perked up over the course of two weeks and has been doing great despite his looks. #Philodendron #sickplant
6ft to light, indirect
7” pot with drainage
Last watered 3 years ago
7
Best Answer
Hi @HighTeatree sorry to see your philodendron as sick as it is but the markings on the plant and what you’ve described are very familiar to me. When you have necrotic tissue like that it can be many things, but the Missouri Botanical Garden explains that when you have the yellow halo, that confirms it is a fungus. To clarify, a fungus does not need to have a yellow halo. Sometimes they don’t. But if it does, that means it is a fungal pathogen. Fungal infections, like brown spot, are actually quite common, yet very serious. They occur when there is excess moisture on the plant where the spores can attach to the foliage. Often the genesis of the infection is when water is splashed on the leaves during watering The fungus will eventually infiltrate the plant, going into the stem and metastasizing like cancer, unless the spread is stemmed and the disease brought under control.
To treat the fungus, the Clemson College of Agriculture advises that for the treatment of fungal infections of this sort “sprays of copper soap,” and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens,” are effective. These are available from Bonide under the labels id Copper Fungicide RTU (ready to use) and Revitalize Biofungicide RTU. They are available on Amazon. Revitalize is particularly helpful as it can be used as a preventative measure both as a foliar spray and a soil drench, which treats the fungus living in the soil and provides an immunity defense (mix with water per instructions).
Clemson also recommends removing any infected plant tissue by sterilizing sharp scissors with rubbing alcohol and identify the leaves or plant tissue to remove and then remove the leaves, ensuring that the cuts are clean do not lacerate the plant tissue.
Treating fungus can require several applications. Be sure to quarantine the plant, as the pathogen is contagious. Increase ventilation and space plants apart to prevent an large outbreak. Wipe away an unnecessary moisture when you water and consider using pebbles as a top dressing to reduce exposure between the soil and the leaves.
Moreover preventing fungal infections through sound cultural practices (ensuring proper light, water, etc) is much easier than treating it.—so be sure to adhere to Greg’s tailored recommendations for each plant. Wipe away any moisture splashed on the plant after watering. I often put my plants in front of a fan after I’ve treated them as it is more effective than wiping off the moisture.
Hope this helps
To treat the fungus, the Clemson College of Agriculture advises that for the treatment of fungal infections of this sort “sprays of copper soap,” and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens,” are effective. These are available from Bonide under the labels id Copper Fungicide RTU (ready to use) and Revitalize Biofungicide RTU. They are available on Amazon. Revitalize is particularly helpful as it can be used as a preventative measure both as a foliar spray and a soil drench, which treats the fungus living in the soil and provides an immunity defense (mix with water per instructions).
Clemson also recommends removing any infected plant tissue by sterilizing sharp scissors with rubbing alcohol and identify the leaves or plant tissue to remove and then remove the leaves, ensuring that the cuts are clean do not lacerate the plant tissue.
Treating fungus can require several applications. Be sure to quarantine the plant, as the pathogen is contagious. Increase ventilation and space plants apart to prevent an large outbreak. Wipe away an unnecessary moisture when you water and consider using pebbles as a top dressing to reduce exposure between the soil and the leaves.
Moreover preventing fungal infections through sound cultural practices (ensuring proper light, water, etc) is much easier than treating it.—so be sure to adhere to Greg’s tailored recommendations for each plant. Wipe away any moisture splashed on the plant after watering. I often put my plants in front of a fan after I’ve treated them as it is more effective than wiping off the moisture.
Hope this helps
Cool ... and a little weird. I'm gonna tag the most awesome Philodendron Queen. @AwesomePlants
I think you have one of these, don't you?
I think you have one of these, don't you?
@TexanExpat thank you so much for the response and diagnosis! I’m still getting the hang of this app it seems. Looks like Amazon is in my future
@HighTeatree it could be an infection like @TexanExpat said, but I would take a look at the root system as well. How do the roots look? Is it in too big of a pot for the roots?
What kind of soil are you using? Like most philos, they want a chunky soil mix to help with aeration to avoid root rot.
If that plant has been near the others and they aren't showing any signs of infection, it may be the conditions of that plant.
Rugosums like most other philos are pretty easy going.
Ty for the tag @sarahsalith
What kind of soil are you using? Like most philos, they want a chunky soil mix to help with aeration to avoid root rot.
If that plant has been near the others and they aren't showing any signs of infection, it may be the conditions of that plant.
Rugosums like most other philos are pretty easy going.
Ty for the tag @sarahsalith
@HighTeatree I’m going to chime in and clarify what I think @AwesomePlants is saying: there may be two concurrent issues going on. It is possible that you have a fungal infection of a certain kind (leaf stop) among the foliage, as well as another kind of fungus or bacterial infection going on with the roots, (root rot arises from fungal pathogen sun the roots). Foliar diseases like brown spot are contagious. However, they require excess moisture, or merely moisture on the surface of the leaves to attach and infect the plant through the leaves. The most effective way of preventing these diseases is though sound cultural practices. Our plants are exposed to various pathogens all the time. But the conditions are not always suitable for contagion. A healthy plant sitting next to a sick plant may never get sick. As for the root issue, the original infection of the roots I don’t believe is contagious. However, a secondary infection could be. With this in mind, if no other plants are exhibiting signs of infection, it is prudent to infer it is possible that they could have yet to exhibit symptoms. So the abscenxe of any sick plant doesn’t impact the propriety of an otherwise proper diagnosis. While the absence of other plants without the contagious disease might suggest that perhaps something else is going on is most useful if you consider whether there are other factors that point to the roots. If you used garden soil rather than potting soil, or didn’t put enough perlite or amend it for drainage, or if there is not enough air and light getting the pot and your think the soil might been to moist for too long, then perhaps the roots are where to look next. Keep in mind that examining the roots can be open heart surgery—a sick patient is vulnerable during an operation. There is a risk of stress making the situation worse. So if you decide to go this way, be mindful of how you can mitigate stress during this process
I’m not sure on the soil mix as it was a gift from a coworker, But it feels like your run of the mill potting soil I’m going to the plant store tomorrow to pick up a better mix and to take a look at the roots as well as pick up some anti fungal. I put him in plant jail for tonight and pruned off the smaller leaves that are too far gone. Everyone else in my pod seems ok for now, but they will all get fungal treatments tomorrow.