Articles
Christmas Cactus Diseases
Informational table showing disease name, symptoms, pathogen/cause, and management of Christmas cactus diseases.
Updated:
November 16, 2023
Disease | Symptoms | Pathogen/Cause | Management |
---|---|---|---|
Basal Stem Rot | At the soil line, a brown spot forms. As the tissue dies, it becomes tan and falls away, removing tissue from the edge to the heavy center vein tissue. | Fusarium oxysporum | Do not injure plants at the soil line. Apply a fungicide to protect healthy plants. |
Botrytis Blight | Flowers die and become covered with gray fungal growth. Under very high humidity conditions, stems may be attacked. | Botrytis cinierea | Heat and ventilate to maintain low relative humidity in the greenhouse. Apply a fungicide to protect healthy plants. |
Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus | Plants may be symptomless or may be yellowed, spotted, or wilted. | Impatiens necrotic spot virus | Holiday cactus can be symptomless carriers of this virus and serve as a source of this virus for other plants in the greenhouse. Destroy plants with unusual symptoms. Maintain strict thrips control throughout the year. |
Phytophthora Root Rot | Roots rot and plants turn gray-green, wilt, and die. | Phytophthora parasitica | Plant in pasteurized potting mix. Discard infected plants. Apply a fungicide to protect healthy plants. |
Pythium Root Rot | Plants wilt and die. | Pythium spp. | Plant in pasteurized potting mix. Discard infected plants. Apply a fungicide to protect healthy plants. |
A cladode of a Christmas cactus (Sclumbergera spp.) with a brown spot on the lower right. Part of the spotted tissue has died and dropped off. The remaining brown tissue has concentric circles of darker brown