How To Get Rid of Botrytis
About Botrytis
Botrytis cinerea is a fungal infection that feeds off of dying leaves on houseplants, herbs, vegetables, flowers, and more. This fungal disease spreads very fast and it can be difficult to get rid of. Botrytis spreads in the water and in the wind, meaning it can start infecting other plants in your garden rather quickly. This pest and disease care guide will walk you through getting rid of botrytis for good.
Identifying CHANGE
Botrytis is a fungi that causes gray mold on plants. It appears as a gray or brownish fuzzy growth on plant material and can cause plant death. To identify it, look for gray or brown fuzzy growth on plant stems, leaves, or fruit. It is often found in damp, humid conditions and can be controlled through proper ventilation, sanitation, and the use of fungicides.
Accessing Plant For Damage
Browning leaves, flowers, and produce.
Wilting, Discoloration, and spotting.
Dropping leaves, fruit, vegetables, flowers, etc.
Methods to Getting Rid of CHANGE
The best treatment involves cutting of the infected parts of the plant. Follow these steps to effectively get rid of botrytis for good.
Step One: separate infected plants from healthy ones. If the infected plants live in the ground consider staking them.
Step Two: grab a pair of sanitized shears to avoid the transmission of botrytis to different areas of the plant or other plants in your garden.
Step Three: cut off any yellowing, browning, spotting, wilting, or infected leaves, flowers, produce, stems, etc. If more than 50% of the leaves are infected, spread out the pruning over a few days to avoid shocking the plant. If your plant produces vegetables, fruits, or herbs, you will need to throw the plant out entirely as anything it produces will also be impacted.
Step Four: water the plant to avoid stunted growth and keep a close eye to make sure the fungal infection does not come back.
WARNING: some pesticides are known to be toxic if ingested, absorbed through the skin, or inhaled. It may cause moderate eye or skin irritation. Always read labels of the products you are using the proper safety equipment.
Prevention
Botrytis travels the fastest in environments that are high in moisture. If your plants have this fungal infection, reduce the amount of moisture in the air by investing in a dehumidifier. There are also different types of preventative fungicide that will help deter the development of botrytis.
Frequently Asked Question’s
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There are minimal studies that claim whether or not botrytis is harmful to humans. To be on the safe side, it is probably not a great idea to ingest something of this nature. Consult your doctor or a medical professional about whether or not botrytis is harmful.
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Hydrogen peroxide will not kill botrytis, but it is a great measure to take after treatment to prevent the infection from returning. Spray down the infected areas with hydrogen peroxide after each treatment to kill spores.
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When it comes to produce, botrytis will likely kill the plant entirely. Do not ingest any food from a plant that has had a botrytis fungal infection. Contact a medical professional if you have any additional questions about botrytis.
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Botrytis spreads by water and through the wind. It spreads incredibly fast and could destroy your entire harvest within weeks.