What causes stem rot?

What causes stem rot?

Stem rot is a disease caused by a fungus infection in the stem. Fungus that causes stem rot are in the Rhizoctonia, Fusarium or Pythium genera. Stem rot can readily infect crops that are in their vegetative or flowering stages. The disease can survive up to five years in the soil.

Can you fix stem rot?

Once root rot is identified, you must determine if the plant can be saved. If the entire root system has already become mushy, it is too late to save the plant. However, if some healthy, white, firm roots exist, try to bring the plant back to good health by replanting in fresh soil with good drainage.

How do you treat stem rot?

Treating Root and Stem Rot Remove the affected plants from the soil, and gently wash the roots under running water. Wash away as much soil as possible, and don't worry about any affected roots that fall off in the process. Try and be as gentle with the plant as possible while you're treating them, though.

Can I reuse old potting soil?

It's generally fine to reuse potting soil if whatever you were growing in it was healthy. But even if your plants seemed problem-free, or if you did notice pests or diseases popping up, it's best to sterilize the mix before reusing in it to avoid infecting next year's plants.

Can you sterilize soil with hydrogen peroxide?

Sterilizing your soil with hydrogen peroxide can have many benefits. It not only aerates the soil but also kills bacteria and fungal diseases such as root rot. ... Remember, when mixing up your hydrogen peroxide, less is usually best.

Can you put baking soda in soil?

Baking soda is alkaline and adding it to soil will reduce the acidity of soil. This less acidic soil produces less acidic tomatoes, which taste sweeter.