Defeating Disease in Your Container Garden

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Rich Binsacca

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Fungal diseases and other infections can spread rapidly if left untreated. Fortunately, signs of them affecting container plantings are readily detectable.

When it comes to plant diseases or fungal attacks, it’s usually just the symptoms that gardeners notice first – those telltale signs that say something just isn’t right. Whether it’s foliage with a little rust or fruit with some black spots, these are the clues that let a plant’s caretaker know it’s time to take a closer look to find out what’s wrong. Unfortunately, by the time symptoms are visible, enough damage may have already been done to warrant quarantine or removal of the plant.

In container gardening, such risks and hazards are less prevalent than in an open garden setting. Plant diseases are most likely to occur when conditions can’t support the nutritional needs of a plant. Because you control the soil content, quality and nutrients in a container garden, the natural infections and imperfections of open soil are greatly reduced. With virgin potting soil and good care practices, you can eliminate the vast majority of fungi and diseases that trouble plants growing in an open garden space.

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Isolation is an effective way to care for an ill plant while containing the problem and preventing a disease from spreading to your other container plants. You also can protect healthy plants from infection by putting them under cover in much the same way. Allow space between foliage and the cover to prevent condensed moisture from contacting the plant.

The fact that you can isolate an infected container makes taking care of the problem that much easier. By physically separating a diseased plant from its healthy neighbors, you can address the malady on a more controllable scale with a remedy that treats the specific plant without affecting others. In addition to isolating infected or sick plants, spacing your container plants far enough apart to let air circulate between them will go a long way to prevent disease – as well as keep a disease from spreading should it crop up. Keeping your garden tidy (sweeping up those fallen leaves, spent flowers and other debris) also reduces the chances of errant diseases from developing in and around your garden.

Of course, the best solution to plant disease is prevention. Healthy plants are less susceptible to disease, fungi or mold. So take a close look at what you buy, checking out the root systems and foliage of all plants. Also take the time to learn a bit about the plants you’d like to purchase. Research their susceptibility or resistance to certain diseases and find out how the diseases typically spread (through the soil, by pests, by pollination, etc.) and what you can do to prevent or discourage the problem.

Consider your water practices, as well. While dousing a plant from overhead may be easier, chances are you’re not only wasting the water that remains on the foliage, you’re likely promoting mold and mildew. And don’t forget about proper drainage – specifically, keeping drainage holes clean and clear. This lessens the chance of soggy soil, a breeding ground for diseases and fungi.

Warnings

Restrict access by children and pets to any areas of your garden treated by pesticides or fungicides until any health hazard has abated. These chemicals are hazardous to breathe or ingest and are a potential source of skin and eye irritation – they can even cause chemical burns in sensitive individuals. Avoid pouring out unused concentrate. Allow it to evaporate outdoors in a secure area instead. Clean and store all implements and protective clothing in a secure area (avoiding their use for any other purpose).
Be aware that different chemicals fight different diseases on different plants. Before buying or applying any chemical to your garden, be sure you’ve purchased the right one for the plant and condition you’re trying to treat. Always carefully read and follow all label instructions for choosing, mixing, applying, disposing and storing all garden chemicals, and always wear protective clothing, gloves and a respirator when applying garden chemicals.

Facts

Most garden experts agree, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is the preferred method of dealing with serious plant pests and disease. This practice, which calls for the least-toxic remedy first, escalates as needed until control is achieved. IPM dramatically reduces the need for high-impact pesticides and fungicides.
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Plant hybridizers and geneticists are constantly developing new plant cultivars and species that exhibit disease-tolerant traits. Home gardeners benefit when these plants become available, since many are vastly superior to earlier cultivars and are virtually disease-free.

Faqs

Q: Can I reuse the pot and soil of a plant that succumbed to a disease?
A: You can keep the container, but throw the potting soil in the garbage (not the compost pile). Before you replant your container, soak and sanitize it in a bleach-and-water solution. Let it dry thoroughly, then use fresh potting soil for any new plants.
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