What Is Wrong With My Saguaro?

Are the leaves small, discolored, and drop early, clusters of honey-colored mushrooms may sprout at the base of the plant?

Do the leaves have any small circular or irregularly shaped dry spots which are gray to straw in color?

Are the buds and leaves covered with gray mold, stems are soft, may be rotted?

Are there brown to black spots or blotches present on the leaves?

Does the plant wilts and leaves and stems are discolored?

Do the roots and crowns have dark brown spots at the soil level?

Is the plant yellow and stunted, with roots that have swollen galls?

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

Are the leaves and twigs covered with small, armored insects?

Armillaria root rot is a fungal disease that cannot be effectively controlled once it has become established. Diseased or dead plants should be uprooted and removed. Planting resistant rootstocks is the most effective method of preventing the disease.

These symptoms indicate a fungal disease - Anthracnose. Keep plants dry when watering to prevent spread. Spray plants with copper when the first fruit develops if you have had problems in the past. Bordeaux mixture can also help to protect the plant from the disease.

Gray mold on flowers and leaves, followed by rotted stems are symptoms that indicate a fungal disease - Botrytis blight. Other symptoms include brown to black spots that may appear on leaves and petals. You can only prevent Botrytis blight disease by planting flowers in areas with good air circulation. Water plants sparsely. Infected plants should be removed. Spray weekly with a copper fungicide until the disease is under control.

Leaf spot diseases are caused by several fungi that thrive on moist leaf surfaces. Brown to black spots develops on the leaves of infected plants. These spots often come together to form larger patches of dead tissue. Pick off and discard infected leaves, and spray the vine foliage every seven to ten days with sulfur. Avoid wetting the foliage while watering the vines. Mulching around plants helps prevent fungi from being splashed up from the ground by rain.

These symptoms are most likely caused by Fusarium wilt. There is no cure for Fusarium wilt, so the infected plants should be destroyed. Do not plant new vines or any susceptible plants to Fusarium wilt in the same spot for several years.

These symptoms indicate fungal disease Phytophthora Root and Crown Rot. Phytophthora pathogens are favored by wet conditions, and the risk of disease can be reduced with good water management. The disease tends to affect plants in poorly drained areas, where susceptible plants are surrounded by standing water or saturated soil for prolonged periods. Provide adequate drainage and know the water needs of individual plants.

Yellow, stunted plants and roots that have swollen galls indicate root-knot nematodes. Other symptoms are plants wilting during bright, hot days. Prevent root-knot nematodes by applying chitin or introducing parasitic nematodes to the soil before planting. Solarizing the soil also helps in preventing root-knot nematodes.

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 the 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.

Small, armored insects on leaves and twigs are armored scales. These tiny, shelled insects often feed on the undersides of the leaves, causing an unhealthy appearance with yellowish blotches on the upper leaf surfaces. Scrape off minor infestations with your fingernail. Prune out badly infested growth, or use a soft brush and soapy water to gently scrub the scales off the stems. Control scales by spraying insecticidal oil during the growing season.

Mineral deficiencies can cause tip chlorosis or necrosis or cause foliage to discolor, fade, distort, or become spotted, sometimes in a characteristic pattern that can be recognized to identify the cause. When nutrient deficiencies occur, nitrogen and iron are the most commonly seen deficiencies. Apply only the mineral found to be deficient. Excess nutrients, on the other hand, cause symptoms like leaf tip dieback, marginal leaf chlorosis, necrosis (or burn), branch dieback, and pest problems. In this case, you should provide good drainage, and use good practices during fertilization and irrigation.