The brown lesion on the end of the stem was filled with a smelly mucas substance before I removed it from the main plant. It looked like it could be a bacterial problem, but I'm too inexperienced to know for sure. The problem with the leaves has only appeared on a few leaves so far. Is there any hope?
Thanks for any help you gan give.
Plants: 6 | From: Powell, WY | Registered: Feb 2006
| Seeded: 71.36.1.59
posted
At the end of the stems, is there any odor when you pull them off? These plants are notorious for people over watering and getting bacterial rots like erwinia.
* * * * The Buglady Suzanne Wainwright-Evans, www.bugladyconsulting.com Educating the world... one bug at a time Plants: 435 | From: PA | Registered: Jan 2004
| Seeded: 152.163.101.7
posted
Oh yeah, it smelled awful. I tossed the stem out and removed the soft lesion area from the main stalk. It practically fell off. I wiped off all the residual goop and separated it from the other plants. I haven't watered since the discovery and the wound dried out and shriveled up. http://www.forgottenarchive.com/img/scar_1.jpg New leaves have opened up in the last few days and they all appear healthy. http://www.forgottenarchive.com/img/new_leaf_1.jpg But I've got a little bud on there thats a bit discolored and on the soft side. http://www.forgottenarchive.com/img/bud_1.jpg As you can see the plant is still in the plastic greenhouse pot. It's root bound and the guy at the greenhouse said not to transplant it until spring. He also talked as though it needed to be watered often so I was lightly watering every few days. I also mist the plants every day because the air is so dry. In retrospect, it seems pretty certain that I was over watering. It probably did require watering often in a greenhouse. I'm basically wondering what steps I should take. Should I remove the affected leaves and bud? Is it safe to return it to the window near the other plants?
posted
well the foliage almost looks sunburned too. Be carefully moving it back to the sun. Plants sunburn like people do.
Make sure any tools that you use on the plant you clean with alcohol, to kill the pathogens. also wash you hands because you can spread plant diseases too.
With misting, that can be promoting the pathogens, they typically like dry foliage. Humid air but dry leaves.
I doubt the plant will ever be cured of the pathogen but you need to make you plant as healthy as possible. Being root bound is not going to help. Don't over feed it but do provide some food.
The "stink" is a bacteria called erwina, very common on dieffenbachia.
Get a water meter to know when to water....
so keep the plant dryer, keep the plant healthy, remove infected parts and keep things sterile.
if this does not work, get a new plant.
* * * * The Buglady Suzanne Wainwright-Evans, www.bugladyconsulting.com Educating the world... one bug at a time Plants: 435 | From: PA | Registered: Jan 2004
| Seeded: 205.188.116.9
posted
Thanks for all your help. My only guide was internet articles and they were pretty vague. So it's forever a quarantined plant?
Plants: 6 | From: Powell, WY | Registered: Feb 2006
| Seeded: 71.36.1.59
posted
no, don't need to quarantine. Just water less and don't share stuff between plants. Like if this plant dies, get rid of soil and the pot.
Just try to keep dryer and under minimal stress.
* * * * The Buglady Suzanne Wainwright-Evans, www.bugladyconsulting.com Educating the world... one bug at a time Plants: 435 | From: PA | Registered: Jan 2004
| Seeded: 205.188.116.9
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