Root rot in Erica? - Ask Extension
Hello! I think this Erica plant might be experiencing some root rot? What do you think?
Thanks so much,
Rachel
Knowledgebase
Root rot in Erica? #813200
Asked October 04, 2022, 5:29 PM EDT
Hello! I think this Erica plant might be experiencing some root rot? What do you think?
Thanks so much,
Rachel
Clackamas County Oregon
Expert Response
Hi Rachael- Yes, it certainly looks like your erica plant may have root rot. Did it get more water than the others in the line? Was it stressed in some other way? Do you know how old the plants are? These plants should live 30-40 years so unless it is that old, it will probably die from this root rot (see attached article).
If you want to try to take it out before the others are infected, be careful not to contaminate the roots of the healthy plants, and try to do it before we get rain which could spread the rot to the other plants.
https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-disease/erica-sp-heath-root-rot
Thanks for your good picture and sorry it's not better news.
If you want to try to take it out before the others are infected, be careful not to contaminate the roots of the healthy plants, and try to do it before we get rain which could spread the rot to the other plants.
https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-disease/erica-sp-heath-root-rot
Thanks for your good picture and sorry it's not better news.
Hi Rhonda!
Sorry for the slow response on my end! This is a plant at my client's home and the only thing she can think of is that maybe the erica on the end got more water than the rest while she was watering a maple nearby. It might be a really old plant according to its size. I will advise her to take this erica out and see if it can be stopped from spreading to the others. Thanks again, Rhonda, and have a good evening!
Best,
Rachel
Hi Rhonda!
Is there a way to tell that this could be root rot vs old age? Thank you!
Best,
Rachel
Hi Rhonda!Sorry for the slow response on my end! This is a plant at my client's home and the only thing she can think of is that maybe the erica on the end got more water than the rest while she was watering a maple nearby. It might be a really old plant according to its size. I will advise her to take this erica out and see if it can be stopped from spreading to the others. Thanks again, Rhonda, and have a good evening!Best,Rachel
Hi Rachael- Since we don't know how old the plant is, and the ones next to it seem fine, you can cut it back to 8 inches and see if it regenerates itself into a healthy new bush. This would have been done by fire in a natural setting so you don't really have anything to lose, as long as the bush next to it stays healthy!
Worth the experiment not to lose an established erica.
Good luck,
Worth the experiment not to lose an established erica.
Good luck,
