Illnesses

The Best Garden Pesticides & Fungicides Of 2024

Whether you’re acting preventatively or dealing with an existing outbreak, you need the best garden pesticide & fungicide on hand to keep your plants safe and healthy in a worst case scenario.

While these types of products may have a negative connotation in certain communities, the hate is unwarranted - when used properly, pest & disease control products are entirely safe for you, the environment, and of course, your plants. We’ll cover this more in depth later on.

In this article, you’re also going to learn when & how these types of products should be used, and how you can do so safely.

Of course, we’re also going to cover the main topic of this blog post - the top insecticides & fungicides you can implement in your grow room or garden. 

We’ll help you weigh the pros and cons of each product, and consider variables such as plant & bug type, organic vs synthetic, & much more. 

How To Treat Tobacco Mosaic Virus

Tobacco Mosaic Virus is one of the plant illnesses that most growers never have to worry about depending on what they’re growing.

But, for those who do experience it, it can be detrimental to their grow. This is because its one of the few diseases with no real cure, making prevention of the utmost importance.

And if you experience it once, its likely it’ll return to your grow. That means you also need to know how to get rid of it and its presence from your garden even after you dispose of your sick plants.

We’ll teach you the symptoms of tobacco mosaic virus, our best tips for preventing it altogether, and what to do should you encounter it. First, we want to share some background information on what this disease is, and how it started.

Root Rot: How To Fix Root Rot

Wondering how to get rid of root rot? If your plants are wilting and you just can’t figure out why, this condition may be to blame.

This pesky disease presents symptoms similar to those you'd see if you underwatered.

But sadly, the root cause is typically the exact opposite - overwatering. Just about any kind of plant can suffer from root rot, but houseplants tend to be the most vulnerable.

You need to move quickly when you notice root rot signs. You will need sterilized scissors/shears, new potting soil, bleach, and a fungicide from your local nursery or garden center.

Quick Guide on How To Fix Root Rot

• Remove the plant from the pot and break off the soil from the root ball. Wash the plant roots under running water to clean the soil off.
• Use sterilized scissors to trim away rotting roots.
• Prune back the foliage of your plant. It’s heartbreaking but less foliage means the new smaller root system doesn’t have to work as hard and will have time to grow. Trim back the foliage at about the same rate as you had to remove roots (if you trimmed back ⅓ of the roots, trim back ⅓ of the foliage).
• Toss the rest of the original soil.
• Wash the pot with a bleach water solution to kill any fungus or bacteria.
• Dip the roots in a fungicide solution to prevent re-infection.
• Repot in new, clean potting soil.

Continue reading for the full guide and what root rot is and everything else you will need to know in order to identify and prevent it.

Damping Off Disease - Prevention & Treatment

Damping off disease can stop your growth before it even really has a chance to get started. It kills ruthlessly, attacking just about any variety of plant seedling. 

Though it most commonly affects plants grown indoors, this disease strikes indiscriminately in any environment. 

No plant is immune, either. But if you think your plants might be suffering from this frustrating condition, don't stress too much.

There are some simple steps you can take to attempt to restore your grow and still salvage a successful cycle. We'll cover how to prevent it in the first place, along with our top tips for treating it.

But before we get into all that, we need to answer the question, "what is damping off disease?".

Septoria Leaf Spot - Prevention & Treatment

If you have brown discolorations growing on the leaves of your plants, you may be encountering septoria leaf spot, also known as yellow leaf spot.

This unsightly plant disease is obviously cause for concern, but you don’t need to start stressing just yet. It is usually not fatal, but it can prevent your plants from flowering or producing to their potential. 

Luckily, we are here to help you identify, prevent, and treat septoria illness should it arise in your garden. Let’s start with some general information, though.

Verticillium Wilt - Prevention & Treatment

One of your many jobs as a grower is learning about and watching for plant illnesses, one of which is verticillium wilt.

This soil-borne root illness can wreak havoc on your garden, and doesn’t discriminate on the types of plants it infects - anything with roots is fair game.

Early detection of this fungus in your garden can be the difference between salvaging remaining plants and having to scrap the entire grow. 

We’ll teach you how to identify verticillium wilt before it’s too late, and share some ways to prevent it from ever coming to your garden.

We’ll also explain how to eradicate it if you do end up in a battle against it. But first, let’s begin by talking about what this fungus does.

Fusarium Wilt - Prevention & Treatment

Fusarium wilt is a detrimental plant fungus that can wreak havoc on your entire grow.

Treatment of this fungus has low success rates, making prevention crucial. But, if you aren’t familiar with this plant disease, how do you know what to look for? 

This isn’t as easy to detect as bud rot or powdery mildew, as the disease starts in the soil. But there are still some tell-tale signs you are dealing with an outbreak of fusarium rot. 

We’ll share some images to help you identify if you do in fact have this issue, and teach you everything you need to know about it.

We’ll also give you our best prevention methods, along with some last ditch options to save your crop if you suspect your grow is overrun. First, let’s start with the scientific definition.

Bud Rot - What It Is and How To Prevent It

One of the most dreaded conditions you can run into with your hemp plants is bud rot.

This is a fungus that attacks your flowers, and can ruin an entire harvest seemingly overnight.

Knowing what to look for is key, as early detection can be the difference between salvaging your harvest or chopping down and scrapping your entire grow.

Its also important that you know what causes bud rot so you can take steps to prevent it from happening altogether!

Powdery Mildew - Definitive Guide To Prevention And Treatment

One morning you step into your grow room to check your plants, and you notice something alarming - powdery mildew.

Seemingly overnight, little white splotches have appeared on the leaves of one of your plants.

You have found a case of powdery mildew, which is one of the most common fungal infections growers will experience.

If you are combating powdery mildew currently, don’t worry. We will explain how to eradicate it efficiently. 

But first, let’s discuss it in more detail, and explain how you can take steps to prevent it from infecting your plants in the first place.

The Most Common Grow Room Pests And Diseases

Insects and mites can really put a damper on your grow. Learn how to defeat each of these and what you can do to prevent them.