Showy Trailing Jade (Crassula sarmentosa)

Mealybugs are small, soft-bodied insects covered with a white, waxy, cottony material. They are common pests of houseplants and outdoor plants in mild climates. These sap-sucking insects feed on plant tissue, causing damage, stunted growth, and can lead to plant death if left untreated. They produce sticky honeydew which attracts sooty mold.

Spider mites are tiny arachnids (less than 1/20 inch long) related to spiders and ticks that feed on plant sap. They thrive in hot, dry conditions and can cause significant damage to ornamental and vegetable plants. During severe infestations, crop losses can reach 14% or higher as these pests disrupt vital plant processes including photosynthesis, carbon dioxide absorption, and transpiration.

Root rot is a serious fungal disease that affects the root system of plants, causing them to decay and die. It is primarily caused by overwatering, poor drainage, or soil-borne fungi such as Pythium, Phytophthora, Rhizoctonia, and Fusarium. The disease thrives in waterlogged conditions where roots are deprived of oxygen, making them susceptible to fungal infection.

Rhizoctonia solani is a soil-borne fungus that attacks stems, roots, and young seedlings. It thrives in warm, humid weather and in soil that stays wet or drains poorly. Typical signs include seedlings collapsing at the soil line (damping-off), sunken brown lesions near the soil on stems, brown rotting roots, wilting even when the soil is moist, and slow, stunted growth. In lawns, it can cause the well-known “brown patch” during warm, humid periods. Many plants are at risk, including vegetables (such as lettuce, beans, and brassicas), ornamentals, houseplants, and turfgrass.