What Is Wrong With My Tradescantia?

Are the flowers covered with gray mold, leaves may be blotched or discolored?

Are there any small, angular, gray-brown spots with defined darker red-brown margins on leaves?

Are there any rust-colored spots on foliage?

Are the leaves mottled with dark green?

Are the leaves yellowing, wilting and, dying?

Are the leaves curled or distorted?

Do the leaves and stems have white, cottony clusters on them?

Do the leaves have reddish to brown lines on them?

Do the leaves have large, ragged holes?

Gray mold on flowers is probably caused by fungal disease - Botrytis blight. You can prevent Botrytis blight disease by planting in areas with good air circulation. Water plants sparsely. Severely infected plants should be removed. Spray weekly with a copper fungicide until the disease is under control.

These symptoms indicate fungal disease - Septoria leaf spot. Remove and destroy infected plant debris. Don't handle or brush against plants when they are wet. Rotate plantings. Remove weeds growing nearby.

Rust-colored spots on foliage indicate a fungal disease - Rust. Provide good air circulation around plants by thining them. Avoid making leaves wet when watering. All infected leaves should be removed. Spray leaves with sulfur early in the season to prevent rust or to treat mild infections.

Mottled or streaked leaves are caused by Mosaic Virus. There is no cure for infected plants. Remove and destroy all flowers that have the symptoms of the mosaic virus. Mosaic virus is spread by aphids, so the best way of preventing the disease is to control these insects.

Yellow leaves that wilt and die usually indicate Root rot. Several pathogens cause root rots of seedlings as well as mature plants. Poorly drained, overly wet soil promotes rot so choose well-drained sites and add organic matter to improve drainage. Remove and destroy infected plants. Solarize the soil before replanting.

Distorted leaves are caused by aphids. These tiny insects cluster under leaves and on growing tips where they feed on plant sap. Control them by washing them off the plant with water spray and by introducing their natural predators. Insecticidal soap should be used with severe infestations.

White, cottony clusters on leaves and stems are caused by mealybugs. These tiny insects are covered with a fluffy white coating. They feed by sucking plants sap. They produce sticky substance honeydew which makes leaves sticky. You can control them by washing them off the plant with water spray. Insecticidal soap should be used with severe infestations.

Reddish to brown lines on leaves are caused by thrips. Thrips are tiny, yellow to black flying insects. They hide under leaves and inside flowers. Severely infested plant parts should be pruned off and destroyed. Control thrips by introducing lady beetles or lacewings. Insecticidal soap helps in severe infestations.

Large, ragged holes on the leaves are caused by slugs and snails. Slugs and snails feed on the plant leaves usually at night. To control slugs and snails use diatomaceous earth around your plants. You can also handpick them during the night or use shallow dishes filled with beer as a trap.

If the leaves of your tradescantia are discolored, and a fine webbing is present the culprits are spider mites. Hose off plants when symptoms first appear. A strong stream knocks mites off plants and may give control. Introduce predatory mites. For severe infestations, spray plants with insecticidal soap or pyrethrin.