Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium)

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.

Aphids are small, soft-bodied, pear-shaped insects (1/16 to 1/8 inch long) that feed by sucking nutrient-rich sap from plants. They reproduce rapidly and can quickly weaken plants, causing distorted growth and transmitting plant viruses. Aphids come in various colors including green, black, red, yellow, brown, and gray. They secrete honeydew, a sticky substance that attracts ants and encourages sooty mold growth.

Fusarium is a soil-borne fungus that primarily attacks the roots and vascular tissues of plants. It enters through small wounds or stressed roots, is favored by warm temperatures and waterlogging, and then obstructs the flow of sap. Symptoms include yellowing, often on only one side of the plant, wilting even with moist soil, stunted growth, and, when cutting the stem, internal brown streaks. It frequently affects tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, basil, cucumbers, and zucchini, as well as ornamentals like carnations and cyclamen. In potted plants, it can manifest as root rot with a darkened crown.

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.