Diseases and Problems with Plants
Various types of disease, problems, fungus, and molds can happen in the greenhouse. Even with efforts to periodically sterilize and clean, these disorders can take root anyway. These diseases and problems are generally caused by new types of plants, soils, mixtures, etc., brought into the greenhouse.

Posted Thursday, April 6, 2006

To help you identify more problems in the greenhouse and with your plants, I am going to tell you more about some of the more common problems.

Rust is a funny name for a problem with a plant, makes you think about metal rusting, but often in the greenhouse, in the sun room or even in the outdoor gardens, you can have problems with rust on your plants. Rust is a disease that will create raised rings on plants that are naturally brown or black.

The rings on your plants are called spores, penetrating the tissues of the plant leaves and stems making the problem even more difficult to fight. To prevent the problem from spreading further you are going to have to remove the leaves that are infected, or a portion of the plant that is infected. Use fans and increase ventilation in the greenhouse to keep rust from starting again.

Viruses are another thing that can attack plants in the greenhouse or in the sunroom. Viruses can be carried by you, by your pets, in the air, on things or in the soil that you bring into the greenhouse without realizing it. Viruses will damage your plants.

How can you tell if you have a virus in the greenhouse? If you find plant that are deformed or streaked, sometimes with leaves that are different shades on some portions than on others. If you've been able to rule out all other possibilities then you most likely have a virus. A virus can mutate the plant easily without your realizing it. The best treatment for plants that are infected with a virus is to get rid of and burn them before your other plants are infected.

Black leg is another plant problem. If you are working with cuttings you may have experienced this problem before. Black leg happens as the stem or the base of the plant is black in color and soft; too soft to hold the plant up any longer.

What causes this? The plant tissues become infected and the soil is cold and moist, keeping the problem spreading until the plant no longer can support itself. Cut away the infected black portions and try rooting the plant again for the best possible results.