How to save a bottle palm with root rot? A few remedies to teach you
The bottle palm (Beaucarnea recurvata) is a very peculiar plant. Its leaves and stem are long and slender, but its base is very large and swollen, just like a bottle for holding wine. The bottle palm has fairly wide uses: it can be grown in a flowerpot as a small potted plant, and it can also be grown in medium or large pots as a decorative potted plant for halls, meeting rooms, shopping malls and other places. Sometimes the bottle palm develops root rot. So why does a bottle palm that has been growing well suddenly get root rot? Below, Qinnong Net will combine the causes of root rot to explain how to save a bottle palm with root rot.
In fact, when the bottle palm develops root rot, most cases are caused by inadequate care methods. Root rot truly caused by problems with the plant itself is relatively rare. Here, Qinnong Net mainly summarizes three causes for everyone, and you can compare them with your own growing methods.
1. Excessive fertilization
With roots that large, it is easy to think that this plant uses them to store nutrients and water. So fertilizing it is a bit different from fertilizing ordinary plants. If too much fertilizer is applied, it cannot absorb that much, and the fertilizer accumulates in the soil. If the concentration is too high, it may poison the plant's roots and cause root problems. When the roots have problems, fertilization should be stopped. Once the roots have problems, their absorbing capacity itself drops a great deal. Applying fertilizer and water at this time is undoubtedly adding insult to injury for the plant.
2. Overwatering
Some plants develop root rot because of overwatering, which creates waterlogging and leads to root rot. The bottle palm is no exception. This plant itself is a very drought-tolerant plant, so too much water is completely harmful and not beneficial to it. Long periods of high moisture erode the plant's roots, and the root crown is very prone to rotting. Therefore, watering should normally be controlled, and be careful never to let the soil in the pot become waterlogged. On rainy days, it must absolutely not be left out in the rain, also to prevent waterlogging. If it does get rained on and the excess moisture is not removed in time, after a period the plant's root crown will definitely begin to turn black and rot.
3. Root rot caused by pests and diseases
When roots have problems, it may be that the plant is sick. There is a type of bacterium that erodes its root crown, causing the roots to turn black and rot. At this time, we should discover it in time and treat it early. In the early stage of the disease, dilute agricultural streptomycin at 1:1000 and spray it on the affected parts of the plant, or water with 65% Dexon diluted at 1:800, which has a very good effect.
4. How to handle it after root rot
After discovering root rot on a bottle palm, first pull the roots out of the soil and observe the extent of the rot. If the root rot is not serious, it can still be rescued. At this time, cut off the rotted parts of the roots; you can cut off a bit more to prevent any rotted roots from remaining, then wash the whole root clean and place it in a cool place to dry for five or six days. Then you can soak it in a rooting agent and replant it in the pot.
The above is the relevant content that Qinnong Net has introduced to you about “how to save a bottle palm with root rot”. The bottle palm is originally a tropical foliage plant, but it is relatively cold-tolerant. In southern regions it can be cultivated in the open ground, and it can safely overwinter above 0°C. In northern regions, it should be grown in pots so it is easy to move indoors.