Potted plant diseases

Plant: Spider Plant

Term: Pot-bound

Spider Plant

• Genus: Chlorophytum• Indirect Light• Keep Evenly Moist• Tolerates low humidity• Grows best between 50 -75• Scale, spider mites, & whiteflies are

problems• Cut off babies & root them

Pot-bound

• A condition where the roots have outgrown their container and spiral around until all of the soil is displaced.

Disease and Insectscontrol pests by recognizing

and controlling them on the plant

Common plant pestsaphidswhite fliesmealy bugsmitesscale

Aphidssmall green insects with

piercing mouthscalled plant licesuck plant juices from the

plant

Aphidswork on stem and underside

of leavesleaves become sticky with

“honey-dew”causes growth of black sooty

mold

Aphidsleaves curl, disfigure, turn

yellowuse Orthene or insecticidal

sopa

White Flysmall white, winged, sucking

insectsworks on underside of leaves

White Flyheavy egg producersinfestation can occur quicklyeggs laid on underside of

plant leaves

White Flycause plant to turn yellowhave mottled appearance -

spottyWhite Flies will leave the plant

when the leaves are moved

Mealy Bugssucking insectwhite , woolly

mass, like a ball of cotton

works on the underside of the leaves

Mealy Bugssucking juices gives plant a

faded yellow appearancecontrol by swabbing the insect

with a q-tip dipped in alcoholremoves insect from plant

Mitessmall spider like insects on

bottom side of leavessuck juices causing plant to turn

yellowcannot be seen easily with the

naked eye

Miteshold a white piece of paper

under leaf and tap the leaveslook for spider like insects

moving on the paper

Miteswipe across the paper with

your fingerif mites are present, there will

be a red smearcontrol with Kelthane or

Orthane

Scalewhen mature, attack stems in

a clustersmall white gray lumps - oval

shapeplant turns yellow, loses vigor

Scalesticky sap appearance on

plantremove with soapy water spray with Malathion or

Orthane

Botrytiscommon diseaseleaves turn black and develop

a gray mold and will eventually rot off

Botrytisprovide good air circulationuse a fungicide - Benlate

Mildewcommon diseaseleaves get a heavy white

coatingfungicide - Benlate

Insecticidescan be purchased in most

storesread the label for applications

and directionsInsecticidal soaps are the

safest and least toxic