Possible root rot
#Avocado hey guys so this is the third time I’ve replanted my avocado plant and I still think it has root rot i keep thinking I got all the bad roots but it keeps coming back does anyone have tips??
Thank you!
Thank you!
6
Hi! Make sure the pot has great drainage. I’d also maybe go way down on pot size, the pot only needs to be 1-2” bigger than the entire root ball. Finally, if you have to repot again (I’m so sorry!) spray the roots with hydrogen peroxide and then douse the soil with #deathbycinnamon as it’ll help keep the bad bacteria away. You can also water the plant with hydrogen peroxide and water, but I don’t know what the ratios would be!
Here is the root rot treatment but you cannot skip any steps or it will not work and keep returning.
I can also tell by looking at your soil it is much too heavy.
Add aeration and use a much smaller pot only 1 inch bigger than your root system. Aim for 50% aeration with perlite and or bark it really helps.
Since it's a recurring issue, I suggest a ceramic or porcelain pot it will really help you to avoid rot in the future.
1. Remove from your pot, to check the roots. If there is anything brown black or mushy you have rot and will need to cut it all off. Keep only the healthy roots they will be whitish in color
Now root rot comes from a bacteria that forms in your soil and then attacks your plant. So treatment is absolutely necessary.
2. Cut off all affected roots soak what is left in:
1 part peroxide + 3 parts water and leave in the peroxide mix to soak for 5 minutes this will kill off the remaining bacteria. It will bubble pot and fizz this is good it’s killing the bacteria.
3. Next is soil the best choice is to throw it away. It’s safest. Or bake it for 1 hour in a 200
Degree oven, not the greatest because it REALLY stinks. But it’s effective. Or the most risky way is to thoroughly flush your soil out with your peroxide mix twice! You need to be very careful and do it thoroughly because if even a teeny bit of bacteria is left your rot will come back.
4. Now the pot, it also has that pesky bacteria you must scrub it out with soapy water very well and then also scrub it down with the peroxide mix.
Now you can plant her again. Be sure to add some perlite to your soil for aeration. This will help oxygen reach those roots and avoid bacteria growth in the future.
I can also tell by looking at your soil it is much too heavy.
Add aeration and use a much smaller pot only 1 inch bigger than your root system. Aim for 50% aeration with perlite and or bark it really helps.
Since it's a recurring issue, I suggest a ceramic or porcelain pot it will really help you to avoid rot in the future.
1. Remove from your pot, to check the roots. If there is anything brown black or mushy you have rot and will need to cut it all off. Keep only the healthy roots they will be whitish in color
Now root rot comes from a bacteria that forms in your soil and then attacks your plant. So treatment is absolutely necessary.
2. Cut off all affected roots soak what is left in:
1 part peroxide + 3 parts water and leave in the peroxide mix to soak for 5 minutes this will kill off the remaining bacteria. It will bubble pot and fizz this is good it’s killing the bacteria.
3. Next is soil the best choice is to throw it away. It’s safest. Or bake it for 1 hour in a 200
Degree oven, not the greatest because it REALLY stinks. But it’s effective. Or the most risky way is to thoroughly flush your soil out with your peroxide mix twice! You need to be very careful and do it thoroughly because if even a teeny bit of bacteria is left your rot will come back.
4. Now the pot, it also has that pesky bacteria you must scrub it out with soapy water very well and then also scrub it down with the peroxide mix.
Now you can plant her again. Be sure to add some perlite to your soil for aeration. This will help oxygen reach those roots and avoid bacteria growth in the future.
Also, I'm going to make people mad here. I'm going to start pointing out the fact that cinnamon will NOT help or prevent root rot.
It has been PROVEN to be ineffective at killing bacteria.
Yes it has antifungal properties. But it does NOT kill bacteria and bacteria is the cause of root rot 99% of the time.
It won't even work for fungal issues unless you were to dump very large amounts into your soil. It just does not work. The amount you would need to put in your soil for fungal issues would likely harm your plants.
For root rot it will absolutely do nothing except smell nice!!!
Please, everyone do your research. I have not said anything about this in the past because I feel bad to let people know they are not helping anything. But I also would like to prevent the sharing of unproven treatments.
It has been PROVEN to be ineffective at killing bacteria.
Yes it has antifungal properties. But it does NOT kill bacteria and bacteria is the cause of root rot 99% of the time.
It won't even work for fungal issues unless you were to dump very large amounts into your soil. It just does not work. The amount you would need to put in your soil for fungal issues would likely harm your plants.
For root rot it will absolutely do nothing except smell nice!!!
Please, everyone do your research. I have not said anything about this in the past because I feel bad to let people know they are not helping anything. But I also would like to prevent the sharing of unproven treatments.
@SuperbRaspfern thank you! I appreciate it when I repotted it last time all the roots looked brown however I thought they were good because I thought only back roots have root rot do you think my plant could be dead?
It could be, but it looks like it is trying to branch out at that spot in the middle above the
Previous cut.
If your tree had strong roots I would suggest cutting the top off to encourage new growth. But with the condition of the roots right now you might lose it by doing that.
I have 2 suggestions that I would try if it was mine. If you're up for a gamble and a last ditch effort.
1. Treat the bottom with the peroxide water combo and then place it in a vase. Keep the water clean. Since she is weak right now you want the water very clean. I would give her clean water daily.
2. Spagnum moss. Put some damp moss on the bottom of a bucket. Wet the moss and the ring out the moss before placing it in. Then place the bottom of the tree in the bucket. Cover the top with Saran Wrap to lock in the moisture. But leave a hole around the tree trunk. You will need the covering to keep humidity in the moss.
Keep the moss slightly damp like it feels when you first put it in by misting not watering.
There are good and bad things about both.
Water is familiar to most people so is not as scary but the roots that grow in water are more fine and delicate. So when you transition it to soil there is a period of time where it has to adjust and grow thicker roots before it will start growing again.
Sphagnum is scary to some people because they are not used to it. But the roots that grow will be thick and hearty. You will have to be careful not to overwater moss holds a lot of water so you never want to overwater. That's why I say mist instead of water. It's less likely to overwater. The roots that form this way will instantly be able to transition over to soil there will be no delay.
If these ideas sound overwhelming you can plant her in soil again. But after what she has been through I think one of the top 2 would be the most effective at bringing her back.
Previous cut.
If your tree had strong roots I would suggest cutting the top off to encourage new growth. But with the condition of the roots right now you might lose it by doing that.
I have 2 suggestions that I would try if it was mine. If you're up for a gamble and a last ditch effort.
1. Treat the bottom with the peroxide water combo and then place it in a vase. Keep the water clean. Since she is weak right now you want the water very clean. I would give her clean water daily.
2. Spagnum moss. Put some damp moss on the bottom of a bucket. Wet the moss and the ring out the moss before placing it in. Then place the bottom of the tree in the bucket. Cover the top with Saran Wrap to lock in the moisture. But leave a hole around the tree trunk. You will need the covering to keep humidity in the moss.
Keep the moss slightly damp like it feels when you first put it in by misting not watering.
There are good and bad things about both.
Water is familiar to most people so is not as scary but the roots that grow in water are more fine and delicate. So when you transition it to soil there is a period of time where it has to adjust and grow thicker roots before it will start growing again.
Sphagnum is scary to some people because they are not used to it. But the roots that grow will be thick and hearty. You will have to be careful not to overwater moss holds a lot of water so you never want to overwater. That's why I say mist instead of water. It's less likely to overwater. The roots that form this way will instantly be able to transition over to soil there will be no delay.
If these ideas sound overwhelming you can plant her in soil again. But after what she has been through I think one of the top 2 would be the most effective at bringing her back.
Don't be afraid to cut ALL of the brown roots off you will need to to help it. If you are left with little or even none it's okay. She should be able to grow new ones with the methods above.