Prevention of Black Rot Disease in Succulents
Today, I will elaborate on the topic of succulent plant knowledge from the Flower Clinic, focusing on the prevention of black rot disease in succulents. Let's proceed with the introduction by the editor.
Black rot disease in succulents does not necessarily occur only in summer; it can also happen in other seasons, though it is less likely and not as rapid or widespread as in summer. The prevention of black rot disease in succulents is crucial. Although it may be done as well as possible, it cannot completely prevent black rot. However, proper preventive measures are better than frequent occurrences or large-scale black rot.
Let's take a look together at the necessary preventive measures for black rot disease in succulents.
1. Choose succulents that are less likely to die:
This point may be a bit ambiguous, but it is true that common plants tend to have stronger vitality. For example, the legendary "Little Red Coat" is a type of succulent I have never dared to buy, as it is prone to dying even without black rot, and is known as "Summer Must Die." Conversely, plants like "Winter Beauty" are common and generally thrive without much care. There are also succulents like the "Twelve 卷" that rarely attract pests and are loved by many. Of course, this is not to say that everyone must choose to buy such succulents; it is fine to buy even the most delicate ones if you are prepared to lose them. The resilience and resistance of succulents to external dangers vary. This is a matter of personal opinion.
2. Choose soil with good breathability and water control:
Most of the mixed succulent soil available on the market claims to have a high particle content, but in reality, it is often of poor quality and made to cut costs. Mixed succulent soil not only has a high soil density but also absorbs water that is not easily dispersed, leading to compaction over time, poor watering, and the growth of fungi and pests. Over time, this can cause the roots to be suffocated, and combined with bad weather, succulents can die from such soil. Black rot easily occurs in dense soil, leading to root damage and waterlogging with wounds, allowing fungi to take advantage and cause black rot. Therefore, experienced succulent growers find that using a high proportion of particle soil, or even all-particle soil, can significantly reduce the mortality rate of succulents under normal care and weather conditions. This is because particle soil, especially 6-12mm particle soil, has larger gaps between particles, allowing for sufficient air circulation and the removal of excess water. The best particle soil is Akadama, and the most economical is volcanic rock. Using more particle soil can better prevent factors that cause black rot.
3. Always place drainage materials at the bottom of the pot:
Usually, we choose materials like ceramsite or cobblestone to line the bottom, which effectively removes excess water, increases air circulation and water evaporation space inside the pot, and prevents black rot under conditions of high temperature and humidity. Without drainage materials, there is a greater chance of black rot occurring.
4. Try not to mulch or use particle soil for mulching:
Using particle soil for mulching is essentially the same as using soil, only for appearance and to keep soil from floating. I recommend using Akadama. Some people use白石子 (white pebbles) for mulching, which is not a good choice as they are not breathable, hold moisture in the soil, and can cause root rot and subsequent black rot. Moreover,白石子 mulching does not allow you to see the moisture level of the soil, which I personally find very unsuitable. Using non-breathable materials for mulching increases the chance of black rot.
5. Choose pots with many holes and pots with breathable walls:
Most people pursue appearance, using glazed pots, semi-glazed pots, fully glazed pots, porcelain pots, plastic pots, or metal pots, which actually have the worst breathability. Pots with moderate breathability include clay pots and gypsum pots, while better options are unglazed pots and concrete pots. The more holes and the more breathable the pot, the better the prevention of black rot. Pots with many holes not only increase breathability but also help to flush pests and their eggs out of the pot when watering (of course, if the soil is mixed and prone to compaction, the effect is certainly not good). If considering economic costs, white basins are the most suitable, as they have many holes. If the budget allows, unglazed pots are the best. Using pots with few holes and non-breathable containers increases the chance of black rot occurring.
6. Specific watering times:
Under normal watering intervals, the timing of watering should be adjusted according to the season. In summer, it is recommended to water after 8:30 PM. In winter, it is recommended to water in the afternoon. Also, avoid soaking the pot and try to water thoroughly, as thorough watering can flush out some fungi, pests, and their eggs (of course, if the soil is mixed and prone to compaction, the effect is certainly not good). This step can prevent succulents from rotting due to moisture or freezing, preventing black rot from occurring.
7. Regularly sterilize and control pests:
No matter how skilled a grower is, fungi and pests are inevitable, and there will always be a few. Even one or two, or an egg, can be a隐患. When pests bite through the succulent, fungi enter through the wound and directly attack the plant until it rots. Therefore, preventing fungi and pests is very important. We should not wait for fungi or pest outbreaks to deal with them, as this can be very passive and may increase the extent of damage to the succulents. Regularly adding fungicides and pesticides to the water when watering can prevent the occurrence of black rot.
8. Try to have one plant per pot:
This is a difficult task for many, possibly due to a lack of pots, leading to plants being planted together. Therefore, everyone should try their best. The occurrence of black rot is contagious, but this contagion is limited to succulents with wounds (that is, if two plants are placed together, one has a wound and black rot, while the other is healthy and free of pests like scale insects, and they are not disturbed, the plant with black rot will eventually wither and die, while the other will remain healthy). However, black rot is usually caused by scale insects biting the roots of succulents, creating wounds. Scale insects will not just bite one plant in a shared pot; they will spread to other succulents. Whether they are bitten quickly is another matter, but this means that black rot fungi will attack all succulents with wounds or waterlogged wounds, so plants in shared pots are all at risk. Therefore, having one plant per pot is based on this, and regular fungicide and pest control is necessary to effectively prevent black rot.
9. Do not injure the succulents:
Besides pests, sometimes inserting a stick into the soil or pulling out and replanting the succulent can injure the roots and create wounds. Therefore, try not to injure the succulents themselves. Without wounds, fungi cannot enter, thus successfully preventing the occurrence of black rot.
The above shares all the content on the prevention of black rot disease in succulents. Have green plant enthusiasts understood this?