Areca palms are popular houseplants that bring a fresh, tropical vibe to any interior landscape. Also known as butterfly palm or bamboo palm, the areca palm is particularly suitable for indoor gardening due to its tolerance for low light.
However, root rot disease can quickly spoil the beauty and vigor of this unique plant. Overwatering is the main culprit behind this condition, and without your early intervention, the disease will continue to spread until the entire plant collapses and dies.
Areca palm root rot should never be taken lightly. Timing is critical to prevent further damage and save your plant from dying. As such, early diagnosis and prevention are your best tools to save your areca palm from this disease.
What causes root rot in areca palms?
Root rot is a common disease that causes a plant’s roots to decay and die. However, the problem does not occur overnight. Root rot is usually the result of long-term exposure to waterlogged soil, which creates favorable conditions for fungal growth. Standing water also fills in the porous spaces in the soil, thus inhibiting the supply of oxygen to the roots.
Unfortunately, root rot can often be tricky to diagnose, especially for those new to the gardening world. The earliest signs of this disease are hidden under the soil, and more often than not growers will misdiagnose the issue as underwatering. Affected plants tend to display browned, wilted, and dying foliage, similar to the signs of a water deficit issue. Without properly understanding the underlying causes, your normal reaction might be to give the plant more water, which of course will only make the problem worse!
If you are baffled as to why your areca palm is struggling with root rot, here are the most common causes you should look into:
- Overwatering
- Poor drainage
- Wrong pot size
Overwatering induces root rot by creating flooded conditions around the plant’s root zone. While these tropical houseplants prefer slightly moist soil, giving them more water than they need can have detrimental effects on their roots. Waterlogged soil inhibits the roots’ respiration, and oxygen-starved roots will slowly start dying and attract soil-borne pathogens that speed up the decomposition process.
Additionally, both compacted soil and pots without drainage holes will prevent excess water from draining efficiently, which also causes waterlogged conditions. So, perhaps you are not actively overwatering your areca palms, but your pot tends to hold too much water every time you water your plants. Eventually, the lack of proper drainage will cause pooling water at the bottom of the pot and create the same problem as overwatering.
Using the wrong pot size for your plants can also emulate an overwatering issue. Pots that are too large for your plants will have more room for excess water to collect. Pots that are too small, meanwhile, can cause the plant to become root-bound, which also makes it vulnerable to root rot.
What are the signs of root rot in areca palms?
There are several tell-tale signs that could help you identify root rot in your plants. Here are some of the above-ground and below-ground symptoms you can look out for:
1. Browning leaves
Brown leaves are one of the classic signs of root rot disease. Areca palms develop these unsightly discolorations starting from the leaves near the base of the plant. As the disease progresses, the number of brown leaves increases, all the way up until the entire plant collapses.
2. Yellowing leaves
Overwatering and root rot can also cause your areca palm’s leaves to turn yellow. Soil nutrients, water, and oxygen are important ingredients for photosynthesis, a process that keeps the leaves bushy and green. But without healthy roots, the plant’s water and nutrient uptake is compromised; hence the yellowing leaves.
3. Wilting and drooping
Wilting and drooping are signs of a lack of moisture. Although these symptoms are prevalent in underwatered plants, overwatering can also cause the same symptoms. This is because damaged roots limit the plant’s water absorption.
Water is essential to maintain turgor pressure within the tissue of a living plant. It keeps the leaves and stems looking plump and firm. Unfortunately, rotten roots can no longer meet the water demands of the entire plant, which is why it will wilt and droop.
4. Stunted growth
Plants rely on soil nutrients and water to thrive. The role of the roots is to distribute nutrients and moisture to parts of the plant above ground. But, if most of the roots are damaged, your areca palm will not receive adequate nutrition. This results in stunted growth, especially in plants that are severely affected by root rot.
5. Dark, mushy roots
The most surefire way to detect root rot disease is to take the plant out of its pot and get a closer look at the roots. Healthy roots should be white and firm, while roots that look dark, soft, and mushy are indicative of a rotting problem.
6. Foul smell from the soil and roots
All rotten organic matter produces a stench. If your areca palm is struggling with root rot, you will most likely smell the evidence, even on the surface of the soil. Root rot generally emanates a slightly sulfurous or swamp-like odor – and the stronger the smell, the more damaged the roots are likely to be.
How to save your areca palm from root rot
Saving an overwatered areca palm might seem an impossible mission, but do not lose heart! Time is of the essence, especially since root rot can spread pretty quickly. Early intervention is key to rescuing a dying plant and preventing further damage to the roots.
However, if most of the roots have already rotted, then your plant is probably beyond saving. Diseased plants should be discarded right away to prevent fungal pathogens from infecting the rest of your houseplants.
So, if you think your areca palm is showing signs of root rot, you need to confirm it right away and apply the necessary solutions to rescue it. The steps below should guide you through saving an areca palm with early signs of root rot:
1. Stop watering and unpot the plant
Allow the soil to dry thoroughly for a few days and check how your plant responds. This will prevent further possible damage to the roots. However, you might still need to repot your areca palm to make sure that the disease does not progress. Unpotting will also help you get a closer look at the roots and assess the damage.
2. Clean the roots
Once you have taken your plant out of its pot, clean the roots under running water to remove all the soil. Ideally, you should be able to see more healthy roots than rotten roots. Using a clean pair of pruning shears, trim any dead roots you see and discard them right away. Do not reuse the soil or trimmed plant parts in your garden.
3. Disinfect the roots
Once the roots are clean, you can apply a fungicide or hydrogen peroxide solution to kill any remaining pathogens. This step is important to prevent the fungal root rot from resurfacing after your plant is repotted. Soak the entire root system in a basin or bathtub containing the solution, and then leave your areca palm on old newspapers to dry before repotting it.
4. Sterilize the pot
Do not reuse your pot without cleaning and sterilizing it thoroughly. You can use hydrogen peroxide or a light bleach mixture to kill any soil-borne pathogens in the container. Washing the pot with soap and water should be your first step to remove any leftover soil or dirt. Then, soak the containers in the hydrogen peroxide or bleach solution for up to ten minutes. Afterward, leave the pot in a sunny spot to dry completely.
5. Prune the dead leaves
Any brown or yellow leaves are not going to return to their healthy color, so they are best trimmed off so the plant can focus all its energy on new growth. Just remember to use sterilized scissors or pruning shears to remove the dead leaves.
6. Repot the plant
Repotting is the final step in saving your overwatered areca palm. Make sure that you are using the right pot size – preferably about two inches wider than the root ball. The pot should also have enough drainage holes for excess water to escape easily.
Choosing well-draining soil is also important to prevent any future root rot. Choose a potting mix that contains porous soil and peat moss or sand. You can also use shredded bark or leaf mold to improve aeration and enrich the soil.
Conclusion
Root rot can seriously damage your lovely areca palms. Waterlogged soil and fungal pathogens are the main culprits behind the roots’ deterioration, so in order to protect your plants from these issues, make sure to avoid overwatering and use pots and soil with excellent drainage. Being aware of the symptoms of root rot and the appropriate solutions is also of utmost importance, so you can take action right away should your houseplants contract the disease.
Image: istockphoto.com / KIHWAN KIM