Plantscaper suppliers are not able to educate their clients about the plants they are purchase because of time constraints. They can only do so much in educating their customers on the basics. If you are one of the people who have decided to own your own office plant, it is good that you learn a few things about pests and diseases that affect houseplants. This post strives to give you all the information that you need to keep your plant healthy.
Common diseases
If you are neglecting your houseplants, pests and diseases will wipe out your houseplants within a very short period of time. These do not only affect the flowers and leaves but also the roots. The most common diseases affecting the likes of dracaena include:
- Black leg
- Sooty mold
- Botrytis
- Root rot
- Powdery mildew
- Rust
- And a wide range of viruses
You should take some time to understand the aforementioned diseases. Learn of the signs and the best control methods. The experts in the wholesale nurseries will also be able to give you more information on how to deal with these diseases.
Common pests
Another thing you have to get ready for is the pests. These are tiny creatures that will cause the health of your houseplant to decline. The most common pests include the following:
- Aphids
- Whiteflies
- Caterpillars
- Thrips
- Cyclamen mites
- Scale insects
- Earwigs
- Mealy-bugs
- Root mealy-bugs
- Eelworms
- Red spider mites
Combating the pest and disease problem in good time is the key to avoiding problems to your houseplants. Here are some of the things you should consider doing.
- Buy healthy plants
This is the most important thing you need to do. When shopping from interiorscaper suppliers, you have to inspect your target plant keenly to ensure that it is pest and disease free. An infected plant will die on you and also infect your other healthy office plants.
- Shop from reputable suppliers
Not all growers take the health of their plants seriously. Some will sell you sick plants and claim that they are healthy. Before you start shopping, you need to understand what other people are saying about the plants and services being offered by a certain supplier.
- Water properly
Poor watering habits can cause pest and disease problems. This is because if you are not watering the right way, the health of your draceana will decline and it will be more vulnerable to diseases. Using the wrong water such as beverages will also lure pests to your plant. Liaise with your supplier to understand the right watering habits.
- Feed properly
Simply watering your houseplant will not be enough. The growing medium can only sustain the plant for so long. You need to add fertilizer. You should also repot your plant without waiting too long.
These points will help you take better care of your office plants. You should always inspect your plant for any problem. Check for curled leaves, yellowing leaves, leaves dropping prematurely, flower buds falling off before blooming, brown spots and blemishes on the leaves and slime on the clay pots. You must never be afraid to seek expert help from growers.