Stem or root rot is a serious problem that can affect any plant, including the Dracaena. Just the term “rot” itself conjures up thoughts of a plant that is decaying. But how to fix Dracaena plant stem or root rot?
How to fix Dracaena plant stem or root rot will require removing the plant from its pot, getting rid of all the dirt, removing damaged roots, and then repotting the plant in fresh soil. Keep in mind that this may not cure the problem, but it is the only method to try to save the plant.
In many cases, however, a Dracaena plant with stem or root rot cannot be saved and must be destroyed.
Causes Of Root Rot In Dracaena
Root rot is a serious and typically fatal disease that can affect any plant. To make matters even worse, it is not uncommon. The good news is that root rot is also preventable.
Overwatering and poor soil drainage are the two most common causes of root rot in Dracaena. While this plant is semi-tropical, allowing its roots to stay soggy will increase the chance of root rot occurring. Once the rot has set in, trying to save the plant can be extremely difficult.
How To Treat And Save A Dracaena Plant From Root Rot
Root rot is not something you want to mess around with. It will quickly kill just about any plant that it infects. Even if you catch it early enough, the infected plant can still succumb to the rot.
To save a Dracaena from root rot, remove the plant from its pot and rinse the soil off the roots. Remove any rotted, damaged, or dead roots with a pair of pruning shears. Disinfect the old pot or use a new one with drainage holes at the bottom. Plant the Dracaena in the pot with fresh soil.
Remember that you could still lose the Dracaena even after properly repotting the plant. This is because, once rot sets in, the chances of saving the plant are slim. That is why it is vital to prevent root rot from occurring in the first place.
Dracaena Stem Turning Brown
Dracaena stems turning brown isn’t a good sign, but that doesn’t mean the problem has reached the rot stage just yet.
When Dracaena stems start turning brown, it is a sign that the plant is being overwatered. Since overwatering and root rot go hand-in-hand, this could potentially be the first symptom associated with rot.
To try to save the Dracaena, immediately stop watering the plant and do not water again until the soil has dried out. If the plant has been continuously overwatered, remove it from its pot, gently get rid of all the soil, rinse the plant’s roots under running water, and then snip off any rotted roots. Once this has been done, you can repot the Dracaena in a clean and sterilized growing container with fresh, well-draining soil.
Dracaena Black Stem
Black stems on a Dracaena plant are not something to ignore. If you see black stems on your plant, immediately quarantine the plant away from other houseplants until you have a chance to decide what to do.
A Dracaena with a black stem is a sure sign that the plant is starting to rot. This occurs when the plant has been weakened and deadly microorganisms have begun to infect the plant. Overwatering, poor growing medium, wounds, and even insect infestations can all weaken your plant.
Unfortunately, not much can be done once a Draceaena starts to develop black stems. Trying to get rid of rot is an extremely difficult task and most people will have to destroy the plant. You can try to remove all the soil and damaged roots, and plant the Dracaena in a sanitized pot and clean soil. But the chances of the plant surviving are still slim.
Dracaena Stalk Turning Yellow
Plants cannot verbally communicate to use when something is wrong, but that doesn’t mean they don’t let us know in other ways. The way their foliage and stalks look, for example, can be a good indicator of whether the plant is healthy or not. When a Dracaena stalk starts turning yellow, for example, it is the plant’s way of telling you something just isn’t right.
When your Dracaena stalk is turning yellow, you know that the soil moisture is too high. While this can be caused by poor soil drainage, the most common cause is overwatering the plant. The Dracaena does like damp soil, but overwatering will quickly kill the plant.
Immediately stop watering the plant and let the top two or three inches of soil dry out before watering again. If you keep overwatering the plant, rot will occur and your Dracaena will die.
Dracaena Soft Stem/Dracaena Wrinkled Stem
Dracaena stems are erect and strong, able to withstand the weight of the plant’s large leaves. So when the stem starts to become soft and wrinkled, you know your plant isn’t feeling the best.
Overwatering will cause your Dracaena to experience a wide array of symptoms, including causing the stem to become soft and wrinkled. As the rot progresses, the infected parts of the stem will start to discolor and die.
In most cases, you won’t be able to save the Dracaena plant. You can, however, take cuttings from the top of the plant as long as it is healthy and not yet affected by the rot. These healthy cuttings can then be used to propagate your Dracaena.
Dracaena Bark Peeling
Peeling bark is not a good sign of any houseplant. But what does it mean when the bark on your Dracaena plant starts to peel?
We at Plants To Trees first published this article on November 4, 2022. Copyright protected.
Bark peeling is caused by overwatering. While this is a preventable problem, once the bark starts peeling, saving the plant is usually not possible. You can, however, try to save the Dracaena by repotting the plant in a clean container with fresh soil.
Causes Of Stem Rot In Dracaena
Stem rot is no laughing matter. This serious disease can cause a once healthy Dracaena to quickly take a turn for the worst. Knowing what causes this problem can help you keep stem rot at bay.
Stem rot in Dracaena plants is caused by fungal or bacterial pathogens that typically form when the plant is overwatered or growing in soil that doesn’t drain properly. Stem rot can also occur when fungal or bacterial pathogens gain entry into the plant through a wound.
How To Treat And Save A Dracaena Plant From Stem Rot
Once the symptoms of stem rot start to appear on the Dracaena, trying to save the plant can be an uphill battle. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to combat the rot and restore your Dracaena.
To treat a Dracaena with stem rot, remove the entire plant from its container and rinse the soil away from its roots. Use a sterilized pair of pruning shears to trim off the roots that are rotting, damaged, or dead. Wash and sterilize the container before replanting the Dracaena with fresh soil.
The article owner is Plants To Trees dot Com and this article was first published on November 4, 2022.
Once the Dracaena has been repotted, you can apply a fungicide to increase the likelihood of the plant surviving. Keep in mind, however, that the fungicide will need to be tabled as “for treatment of rot” and you should follow the application instructions that are listed on the label.
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PlantsToTrees.com is the owner of this article and we first published this on November 4, 2022.