Crucial Warning Signs Your Garden Wants You To Notice
Although gardening can be a rewarding hobby that bears a wonderful assortment of fresh, healthy fruits and vegetables, it isn't easy. Plants are fragile and finicky at the best of times, but the unfortunate reality is that there is no shortage of threats making matters worse.
Although some of the issues a plant can experience are easier to deal with than others, most of them can lead to a plant's total ruination when left unchecked. That's what makes the telltale signs of these problems so important to identify. Of course, it's always nice to have a little help in knowing what to look for.
Wilting is often a soil problem
According to the University of Maryland Extension, plants wilt when their roots are unable to circulate enough moisture between their stems and leaves. Although this may sound like it would only occur when the soil is too dry, the reality is a little more complicated.
During brief wilting periods, on hot days, plants will often wilt because more water is evaporating than their roots can supply. This problem can correct itself, but that's not so true when the soil is either too dry or the plant is being overwatered, like in this photo.
A stressed plant may curl its leaves
According to the OSU Extension Service, a common reason why a plant's leaves may start curling is heat stress. This is a mitigating response for the plant, as rolling leaves reduces their surface area. It also coincides with a closing of the "pores" in the leaf, called stomata.
These two responses are intended to prevent moisture loss in the plant. Since this heat is either present in the soil or influenced by a harsh light source, watering, mulching, and shade cloths are common remedies to keep the plant moist and healthy.
Yellowing leaves can mean so many potential things
As the Intermountain Farmers Association association explained, the most common cause of yellowing in plant leaves is either dehydration or overwatering. In the former case, the roots can't supply the plant with enough moisture. In the latter case, the soil is too flooded to oxygenate the plant properly.
If neither of these factors is the problem, the environment around the plant may either be too cold or lacking in sunlight. If it's a partial shade plant, too much sunlight is also a possibility. If none of these factors are at issue, it's likely a nutritional deficiency.
A big brown spot is the sign of an even bigger problem
In cases where a large, brown spot with a yellow outline appears on a leaf like this, it may not be as simple as dryness. According to the Food Gardening Network, these conditions may be an unfortunate sign of blight.
Although preventing blight can sometimes be as easy as avoiding physical contact when they're wet to curtail the spread of bacteria, there's little that can be done for a plant that's already affected. Often, the only option is to destroy it and hope the blight doesn't spread to others.
If a leaning plant is well-lit, there are other problems
Typically, a plant's lean will be the result of it growing towards a light source, as plants are naturally wont to do. However, Richard Cheshire and Richard Hull from Patch Plants told Stylist that this isn't the only reason a plant may look like this.
In the case of this photo, it could be the result of dense foliage, and the plant may require a bamboo stake to keep it upright. However, another common problem is that the roots are too loose in the soil, which requires either soil firming or repotting.
Roots should be white, rather than brown
Although root rot tends to look more dramatic in larger trees, it has similarly destructive implications for smaller plants and spells doom for them. However, this is a problem that is salvageable when caught early, which makes the work of identifying signs of root rot important.
In this photo, both brown roots and white roots are present in these snake plants. According to Pennington Lawn And Garden, brown roots are likely rotting and should be removed so the white roots can safely flourish, if possible.
Roots should be firm, rather than mushy
Although the color of roots can be helpful in identifying root rot, the texture and integrity of those roots are an even more important indicator. According to Pennington Lawn And Garden, the firmness of a root is an important quality of its health.
That means that mushy, squishy roots are exceedingly likely to be rotten. Since root rot is typically caused by runaway fungal infections in overly soggy soil, the condition is often characterized by a foul odor as well.
Holes can be a sign of unpleasant invaders
According to Pennington Lawn And Garden, one of the more common reasons why a plant may have a bunch of holes in its leaves is that insects treat it like a buffet. If the holes vary in size and have jagged outlines, it's possible that caterpillars, earwigs, or beetles could be the culprit.
However, there's a different invader chewing through the plant if those holes are focused toward the leaf's center and are large, oddly shaped, and smooth. In such cases, slugs or snails are more likely to be the problem.
Some holes aren't caused by bugs
As Pennington Lawn And Garden explained, some holes differ from the ones made by bugs and can be identified by the brown or yellow halos around them. Those halos originate from the fact that those holes were once spots before their centers fell out.
What causes these holes all starts with overcrowded plants, inadequate air circulation, and habitually wet leaves. That's because these are ideal conditions for the fungal infections that caused the spots, which deteriorate into holes over time.
These spots are a sign of disease
According to the University Of Minnesota Extension, the majority of diseases that can cause brown spots with yellow halos on a plant's leaves are fungal in nature. However, some of them start with the introduction of certain bacteria strains and other pathogens.
When these spots affect enough of the leaves' surface area, they can stunt a plant's growth and make it more vulnerable to other pests by interfering with photosynthesis. They're of particular concern when they start causing leaf loss.
Vinegar isn't just for French fries
After Reddit user midnightword washed some home-grown potatoes for dinner, she noticed that they still seemed a little dirty and introduced a mixture of water and vinegar to them. Not long after, these little stowaways came wriggling out of them.
In all likelihood, these are millipedes. And if it makes anyone feel better, they're technically more closely related to shrimp and lobsters than they are to insects. Still, this is a good trick to remember if the thought of eating them remains repulsive.
These yellow patches are bleached and that's important
When a leaf shows a pattern of yellow discoloration in streaks or patches, it can sometimes be a sign of sunburn. According to Better Homes And Gardens, this is particularly likely when only the leaves at the top of the plant start turning yellow out of season.
If the leaves closer to the roots aren't affected, that typically confirms it. If the sunburn is severe enough, the edges of those leaves might also turn brown and crispy. If leaves get sunburned, the only treatment is to cut them off and let the plant replenish them while staying away from the harsh light responsible.
Little black spots like these can be an environmental sign
As the University Of Illinois Urbana-Champaign explained, black spots on a plant's leaves can be a little hard to diagnose. Although it's true that they're often the result of a fungal infection, it's also possible that the plant is experiencing frostbite.
Although fungal infections can spread fairly quickly, frostbite seems a little more likely if these spots appear overnight and are accompanied by black leaf edges. They're also the result of a fairly mild case, as more severe ones can often either leave entire leaves black or result in total leaf loss.
Extreme leaf curling can have several possible causes
Although heat stress is a common reason for leaf curling, it's possible even in mild conditions for various reasons. According to the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, there are several possible culprits if the plant isn't a peach or nectarine tree, as these are susceptible to peach leaf curl.
In wet spring conditions, it's not necessarily a worry if the curling happens to a tomato, eggplant, or pepper plant. Otherwise, it's likely that either an insect infestation or the presence of drifting herbicides used on other people's properties caused the curling.
If leaves are yellow and wilting, that's not a good sign
According to the University of Florida, the first sign that bacterial wilt has taken root in a plant involves the youngest leaves at the edges of branches wilting at the hottest time of day. The effects may seem mild at first and appear to improve overnight, but it's a trick.
When a plant is in the throes of bacterial wilt, the edges of its leaves will either wilt or curl, and the leaf will mostly yellow. Unfortunately, bacterial wilt can't be cured, and the only management strategy is to destroy the affected plant and prevent its further spread.
Believe it or not, those are bugs
After a long period of dealing with a serious infestation on their schefflera plant, Reddit user damped-HO had some wisdom to impart about scale insects. First, they cautioned gardeners to watch for sticky sap on the leaves or below the plant, is this is the first sign of their presence.
From there, it's important to watch for little solid spots like the ones shown here because these are actually the bugs themselves. Although the threat isn't yet gone for them, they've been controlling it by applying soapy water to each leaf using a toothbrush and spraying with a neem oil solution afterward.
Growing tomatoes should not have brown or black bottoms
According to Wisconsin Horticulture, darkened tomato bottoms like this are an intermediate sign of blossom end rot, which can also affect pepper fruits, squash, and eggplants. Eventually, the bottoms of these fruits rot away entirely. The cause? Typically, there is a lack of calcium in the fruit.
Although this can be caused by a calcium deficiency in the soil, it's more likely that droughts, waterlogged or cold soils, extreme changes in soil moisture, root damage, or the overabundance of ammonium, potassium or magnesium are preventing the plant from harnessing it properly.
Scorched edges on leaves are an unnatural sign
According to Pennington Lawn And Garden, brown and burnt-looking edges and tips on leaves are a sign of a problem called fertilizer burn. This occurs when plants receive more fertilizer than they can process, which inhibits their ability to sustain their lives in other ways.
When soil has an overabundance of fertilizer, the salts from the additive have a way of diverting water in the soil away from plant roots. Although the symptoms differ slightly from drought, the results are often the same, and the brown discoloration spreads to the leaves until they die.
If a plant looks sprinkled with sugar, it's not sweet
According to the Canadian government's Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food, powdery mildew can affect any shaded plant experiencing heavy humidity but typically affects lilac, caragana, crabapple, chokecherry, and rose plants the most. The mildew is a fungal infection that typically spreads quickly in wet conditions, as the relevant spores are carried on the wind.
As the province of Manitoba's official website added, most powdery mildews don't result in the death of plants and sometimes appear not to cause any adverse effects beyond unsightly aesthetics. However, it can stunt growth and crop yields by impeding photosynthesis.
If leaves aren't supposed to be purple, the soil is off
According to the University Of California's Integrated Pest Management Program, leaves can sometimes exhibit purple veins — especially on their undersides — and turn purple entirely when they get older.
Although this is sometimes due to the presence of certain herbicides, it's more likely to be a phosphorous deficiency in the soil. This is often treated by adding a fertilizer like ammonium phosphate. Although chicken manure is sometimes used for this purpose, it's not recommended because the high salt content can lead to fertilizer burn.
This white wax means big trouble for any plant
Not to be confused with the powdery mildew that comes with fungal infections, this problematic paste is more likely to form in clumps and resemble cotton. Once it's spotted, action needs to be taken quickly because it's a sign of a mealy bug infestation.
According to University of Maryland Extension, that's both because the bugs can kill plants by sucking their sap and by introducing black mold through their secretions. While a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol can control light infestations (watch the leaves), insecticides are often necessary for heavier ones. If that fails, it may be too late.
Plants can get pale when they're sick too
When plants are deficient in a certain nutrient, it tends to show on their leaves. And perhaps one of the most common nutrient deficiencies can show itself in a fairly subtle way. That's why it's important to pay attention to a plant's shade of green.
After all, there's a reason why its leaves may seem paler than usual. If the leaves turn a yellowish shade of green, Iowa State University explained that it's often a sign of a nitrogen deficiency.
There's nothing that can be done about this
According to Wisconsin Horticulture, bacterial soft rot starts as an unexplained wet spot that gets softer and mushier as time goes on. As the problem advances, bacterial soft rot is characterized by cream or black discoloration, discharges from those soft spots, and a deeply unpleasant odor.
Bacterial soft rot is often seen in vegetable crops, and it causes more crop loss than any other bacterial disease. Unfortunately, there is no treatment for this, so the only management strategy is to prevent it by ensuring the soil is well-drained of excess water and rich in calcium.
Sometimes, the weirdest-looking signs are false alarms
Although most of the plant manifestations shown on this list are signs of serious problems, there's one big exception that looks dramatic enough to cause concern among inexperienced gardeners. Some tomato plants (especially heirloom tomatoes) will end up sprouting a web of small, fleshy growths that can look like bumps or little legs.
According to the University Of Maryland Extension, these are called adventitious roots, and despite their appearance, they're usually harmless to a plant. At worst, they're a sign of some minor environmental stresses, but they're more influenced by plant genetics than anything. They're also found on pepper plants and rosemary.
These aren't insects, but they're a sign of them
According to the University Of Minnesota Extension, aphids are one of the most common insects to end up on plants and most of the time, they're nothing to worry about. However, extreme aphid feeding frenzies can result in curled, yellow leaves and stunted plant growth.
This means that when tiny white shells like these and sticky honeydew patches are found on plants, it's worth keeping on eye on it. The shells are their shed exoskeletons and the honeydew is the byproduct of them feeding on the plant's sap.
Little white dots on leaves can soon turn into this
According to the University Of Maryland Extension, leaves can sometimes take on little white dots called stipples, which are usually signs that those leaves will end up tattered soon. That's because they indicate that squash bugs have been feeding on a plant.
They're typically a problem when growing squash or pumpkins, but squash bugs can also affect crop yields and plant growth when raising cantaloupe, cucumber, gourds, and watermelon. Neem oil has proven effective against hatched bugs, but sections of leaves with eggs on them need to be torn out to prevent further infestation.
This isn't as dire as it looks, but it's usually unwelcome
When black patches form on leaves like this, that usually indicates the presence of sooty mold fungi. As scary as that sounds, the Royal Horticultural Society notes that this mold typically doesn't attack the plant directly but can inhibit growth by getting in the way of photosynthesis.
It's usually not difficult to get rid of with lukewarm water, but that's not a permanent solution, as sooty mold is always a symptom of a different problem. Typically, its presence suggests that sap-eating insects like aphids have been feeding on a plant.
If this web forms on a plant, it's probably not a spider
According to the University Of Minnesota Extension, leaves that feature webbing alongside the stipples and spots that come with other insect infestation are likely being fed on by spider mites. These are a common problem for houseplants, and they're attracted to warm, dry environments.
Although a plant may need to be thrown out if the infestation is severe enough, spider mites can often be controlled by moving the plant to a cooler room, watering when the top half-inch of soil is dry, and repeatedly spraying the leaves with lukewarm water. Insecticides are also an option for heavier cases.
Leaf drop can be tricky to diagnose
According to Pennington Lawn And Garden, there are many potential reasons why a plant could be losing many of its leaves. Dramatic shifts in lighting, temperature, wind, or humidity can have that effect if the leaf loss is sudden, while both overwatering and underwatering can cause the problem if it's more gradual.
Aside from these common reasons, leaf drop can also be the result of nutritional deficiencies, insect infestations, or fungal infections. However, each of these problems has its own specific, aforementioned symptoms.
Fluid-filled blisters on plants mean they're overwatered
According to Wisconsin Horticulture, these grey blisters on this plant are called edema and are filled with fluid that was absorbed through the plant's roots. In cases where that absorption happens faster than water can evaporate through the leaves, edema is a likely result.
For the most part, edema is more of a cosmetic problem than something that adversely affects a plant's health. However, severe enough cases can ruin a greenhouse crop, so plants featuring edema should be watered less frequently and specifically in the morning.