Plants covered in this : All succulents including Adeniums and Cactii
Monsoon is the testing time for all succulent family plants, especially in places such as Delhi NCR where in addition to heat, humidity is also very high. This makes this most optimum weather for fungus attacks on plants.
Signs of fungus attack-
Leafs suddenly drooping off Plants almost wilting within a couple of days Leafs dropping off, withering or shrinking Stem or caudex becomes soft Caudex or stem feels pulpy or sap oozes out.
Preventive Steps (before the plant shows such signs)
1. Watering - Do not over water, humidity is high hence there is ample moisture in the weather.Water also does not vapourize easily. Best way to water is to check the soil in the pot at one inch depth, if it's wet do not water. Do not water fixing a timetable, do not treat these plants similar to ornamentals or other varieties. Water when needed and water fully till it comes out of the base of the pot.
2. Soil or potting mix - Second most important cause is potting mix, red soil garden soil do not make it easy for the succulent plant to grow. Succulent need porus soil which drains away water and gives ample space for the roots to grow. Use cinder , sand, pumice bases soil mix where the coarse content should be 60-70% of the potting mix. Sieve the coarse content (sand, cinder or pumice) with a mosquito net, discard what comes out. Use only what is left on top. It's best to avoid soil all together. Kindly also note that potting mix combination differs for different plants, it will be a good idea to know your plant and its requirements.
3. Sunlight - do not shift plants from shade to full sun, from AC rooms to terrace suddenly. Sunlight requirement varies from plant to plant. As a general rule,50 percent sun cut is the best sunlight required.
4. Placement : Stuffy places should be avoided.Air circulation is very much needed. These plants do not do well if air circulation is not there.
5. Fungicide - spray and Watering of any good fungicide is very much needed. Mix 2 gram in a liter of water and spray as well as water well every two weeks.
6. Growth and nourishment - NPK 20-20-20, or NPK 19-19-19 should be given every 15 days along with fungicide. Mix 2 gram of fungicide with 2 gram of NPK in a liter of water and spray as well as water every two weeks.
7. Micronutrients - These are also essential for the growth of the plant. Buy any micronutrient powder give only one gram in a liter of water, once a month.
What to do if the plant is already under fungal attack :
1. For big plants such as adeniums
Uproot the plant, check for any rot setting in, chop off or scoop off the rotten part till clean parts are visible. Apply fungicide on the cut part and leave it to dry under shade for a week or so. Repot again after a week.
2. Succulents such as sedums with soft leafs-
Uproot the plant, wash it well, discard old potting mix. if any part is rotten or rotting chop off that part. Treat the plant with fungicide by dipping the whole plant for 15 min in fungicide solution (5 gram in a liter of water) smear fungicide on the cut parts. Keep in shade for a day or two and then repot. Some leaf and stems could also be used for propogating new plants.
Extra Care
1. Make extra holes at the base of the pot for water outlet.
2. Fill almost 1/5 th of the pot with broken pieces of terracotta pots
3. Adding small pieces of charcoal (5-10 percent ) also works well for plant
4. Fill the pot upto the brim after repotting the plant, do not leave any space. Top up the pot with decorative stones, stone chips etc so that the potting mix does not over flows during watering.
5. If your place floods during rains keep the pots on a raised platform
6. In case net has been tied to cut out sunlight,the net should be tied very tightly over the area. Dripping water will surely damage the plants.
7. If the place is not very well ventilated it's a good idea to have a fan or exhaust installed. Switching the fan post watering for a couple or hours will save the plants.
8. NPK and micronutrients should be avoided during dormant times as plant does not need them. Different varieties of succulent have different dormant times.