Individual disease cards

Plant diseases split into simple treatment blurbs.

Each disease now has its own card with a local image, symptom checklist, organic treatment or management list, and prevention note.

Disease note: Fungal, bacterial, viral, pest, watering, and nutrient symptoms can overlap. Remove badly infected tissue, improve conditions, and avoid spraying stressed plants in heat or direct sun.

Common plant disease library

Search by disease, symptom, or treatment. Viral diseases usually have no cure; management focuses on removal and vector control.

Fungal disease blurb

Powdery mildew

Symptoms: White powdery patches on leaves, stems, and buds. Leaves may yellow, curl, or drop as infection spreads.

Organic treatment / management:

Improve airflow around the plant.
Remove the worst infected leaves.
Use neem oil, sulfur, or potassium bicarbonate according to label directions.
Avoid overhead watering late in the day.

Prevention note: Space plants properly, keep leaves dry, and avoid heavy nitrogen that creates soft crowded growth.

Fungal / bacterial disease blurb

Leaf spot

Symptoms: Brown, black, tan, or yellow-ringed spots on leaves. Severe infections can cause early leaf drop.

Organic treatment / management:

Remove infected leaves.
Water at soil level.
Use compost tea only as a supportive soil practice, not a cure-all.
Use copper or sulfur products only when appropriate and label-safe.

Prevention note: Reduce leaf wetness, sanitize pruners, and keep infected leaves out of compost if disease is severe.

Fungal / water stress disease blurb

Root rot

Symptoms: Yellowing, wilting, stunted growth, sour soil smell, and brown or black mushy roots.

Organic treatment / management:

Stop watering until the plant needs it.
Remove rotten roots if repotting.
Repot into fresh airy mix.
Use a pot with drainage and avoid oversized pots.

Prevention note: Use well-draining soil, water by soil dryness instead of a calendar, and never leave roots sitting in water.

Fungal disease blurb

Rust

Symptoms: Orange, yellow, brown, or rusty pustules, often on leaf undersides. Leaves may yellow and drop.

Organic treatment / management:

Remove infected leaves.
Increase airflow.
Avoid wetting leaves.
Use sulfur or copper sprays only when label-safe for the plant.

Prevention note: Water at the base, clean up fallen leaves, and avoid crowding susceptible plants.

Fungal / oomycete disease blurb

Blight

Symptoms: Rapid dark water-soaked areas on leaves, stems, or fruit. Plants may collapse quickly.

Organic treatment / management:

Remove infected plant parts immediately.
Do not compost badly infected material.
Use copper products preventively where appropriate.
Rotate crops outdoors.

Prevention note: Avoid wet conditions, space plants well, use mulch to prevent soil splash, and choose resistant varieties.

Oomycete / fungal-like disease blurb

Downy mildew

Symptoms: Yellow patches on upper leaf surfaces with gray, white, or purple fuzzy growth underneath.

Organic treatment / management:

Remove infected leaves.
Improve airflow.
Water in the morning at soil level.
Use copper products preventively if appropriate.

Prevention note: Keep foliage dry overnight and avoid crowding in humid conditions.

Bacterial disease blurb

Bacterial leaf spot

Symptoms: Small dark water-soaked spots with yellow halos. Leaves may dry, tear, or drop.

Organic treatment / management:

Remove infected leaves.
Avoid overhead watering.
Disinfect tools.
Use copper sprays only as directed and mainly as prevention.

Prevention note: Start with clean seed or healthy plants, avoid handling wet foliage, and increase spacing.

Bacterial disease blurb

Fire blight

Symptoms: Blackened shoots, flowers, and leaves that look scorched. Shoot tips may hook downward.

Organic treatment / management:

Prune infected branches during dry weather.
Sterilize tools between cuts.
Remove infected material from the area.
Avoid high-nitrogen feeding that creates tender growth.

Prevention note: Choose resistant varieties, prune for airflow, and avoid pruning during wet active infection periods.

Viral disease blurb

Mosaic virus

Symptoms: Mottled light and dark green leaf patterns, distortion, stunting, and weak growth.

Organic treatment / management:

There is no cure for infected plants.
Remove and discard infected plants.
Control aphids, whiteflies, and other vectors.
Sanitize tools and hands.

Prevention note: Use virus-free seed or starts, control insect vectors, and do not propagate from suspicious plants.

Viral disease blurb

Tomato yellow leaf curl virus

Symptoms: Leaves curl upward, turn yellow, and plants become stunted. Fruit yield is reduced.

Organic treatment / management:

There is no cure once infected.
Remove infected plants.
Control whiteflies.
Use insect exclusion netting where practical.

Prevention note: Use resistant varieties, manage whiteflies early, remove weeds that host vectors, and keep the garden clean.