What to do if the roots of Michelia sempervirens rot

1. Treatment measures for less serious cases

As mentioned before, if the situation is not very serious, then you just need to adjust the surrounding environment. Generally speaking, root rot is mostly caused by too much water. The same is true for this plant. It does not like water accumulation. If too much water is given at one time and it cannot be drained away, it will easily cause root rot. So, first of all, you have to adjust the moisture. After the roots have rotted, you can stop watering for a while. After the symptoms have eased, slowly start watering. In addition to this, you can also take some measures such as loosening the soil to effectively promote the respiration of the plant roots.

2. Measures for more serious situations

If the symptoms are particularly severe, the above methods alone may not work and special treatment is required.

First, we need to prepare fermented and sterilized sawdust as the substrate. Then, rinse the roots as clean as possible. At the same time, try to prevent the liquid from flowing out of the rotten roots from contaminating other parts of the root system. After rinsing, you can cut off the rotten parts, and then apply an appropriate amount of wood ash (or sulfur powder) on the wound for disinfection. Afterwards, place it in a cool place to dry for a while. After drying, put it into the substrate we prepared earlier.

Post-management is also very important. Cover the entire plant with a plastic bag to ensure appropriate moisture levels. Then sprinkle KH2PO4 solution on the leaf surface every three to four days. This is done to encourage it to take root. Generally speaking, it will take about half a month for new roots to grow.