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Christmas Cactus Diseases

Name: Christmas Cactus Diseases
SKU: ART-3528

Informational table showing disease name, symptoms, pathogen/cause, and management of Christmas cactus diseases.

Updated:

November 16, 2023

Table. Christmas Cactus Diseases
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.