Bacterial Soft Rot of Houseplants
Dickeya chrysanthemi
Houseplants (general)bacterial
An aggressive bacterial disease that turns stems and rhizomes into a foul-smelling mush.
Symptoms
Rapid, mushy, foul-smelling collapse of the stem base, crown, or rhizome, often spreading quickly through the whole plant once established.
Cause & development
A documented cause of collapse in Dracaena and Peace Lily among other succulent-stemmed houseplants. EPPO code DICKCH.
Favorable conditions
- •Wounds from handling, pests, or overwatering-weakened tissue
- •Warm, wet conditions
- •Contaminated tools or potting mix
Management
- 1Remove and discard the entire affected plant promptly
- 2Sanitize tools between plants
- 3Avoid overwatering and wounding stems/rhizomes
- 4Improve airflow and reduce humidity around the base
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