What Is Wrong With My Stevia?

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

Are the seedlings dying?

Are there any small, round reddish brown spots with white to grey centers on the upper surface of the leaves?

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

Are the leaves yellowing, wilting and, dying?

Are the leaves curled and distorted?

Do the leaves have large, ragged holes in them?

Are the leaves covered in coarse stippling and may appear silvery?

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.

If the seedlings are dying the probable cause is a damping-off disease. Damping-off is caused by various soil fungi. Damaged seedlings can't be healed so, the best course of action is to remove them. To prevent damping-off let the soil surface dry between waterings, thin seedlings to avoid overcrowding, and do not add nitrogen fertilizers until plants have developed leaves.

These symptoms indicate Alternaria leaf spot. This disease is worse in warm, wet, or very humid weather. Spray infected plants with copper and/or sulfur to prevent further disease development. Plant only pathogen-free seed from a reputable nursery.

These symptoms indicate fungal disease - Septoria leaf spot. This disease is most severe during rainy seasons in closely planted gardens. It usually appears when the plants begin to set fruit. Remove and destroy infected plant debris. Don't handle or brush against plants when they are wet. Rotate plantings. Remove weeds growing nearby.

Yellow leaves that wilt and die usually indicate Root rot disease. 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 and curled leaves are caused by aphids. These tiny insects cluster under leaves and on growing tips where they feed on plant sap. Leaves, stems, and buds get distorted and later leaves and flowers drop from the plant. You can control them by washing them off the plant with water spray. Insecticidal soap should be used with severe infestations.

Large, ragged holes in 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.

These symptoms may indicate thrips. Thrips are tiny, yellow to black flying insects. Severely infected plant parts should be removed and destroyed. Control thrips by introducing lady beetles or lacewings, their natural predators. Insecticidal soap helps in severe infestations.

If your plant has yellow leaves and stunted and tiny insects are present, the culprits are whiteflies. These tiny, mothlike flies and their larvae feed by sucking plant juices. Whiteflies secrete honeydew, a sugary substance that makes leaves sticky to the touch. Control whiteflies by eliminating garden weeds and by introducing green lacewings in the garden. Spray infested plants with insecticidal soap every 3 days for 2 weeks.