Disease

Bacterial soft rot

Mushy, foul-smelling rot of stems, bulbs and tubers.

What you'll see

• Water-soaked spots that quickly turn soft, sunken and mushy.
• Tissue collapses and oozes, with a strong foul smell.
• Stems turn brown and mushy near the soil line; cuttings, bulbs or tubers rot.

Why it happens

Bacteria enter through wounds and dissolve the tissue, worst in warm, wet conditions with little air.

How to fix it

1. There is no cure: remove infected plants or parts right away, and bin them.
2. Clean your tools with 70% rubbing alcohol and wash your hands after handling them.
3. Dry things out: water less, improve drainage and increase air flow.

Keep it from coming back

• Avoid wounding plants, and don't overwater or crowd them.
• Use healthy cuttings, bulbs and tubers.
• Store bulbs and tubers cool, dry and well aired.

Sources

• University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension: Bacterial soft rot
• UC IPM: Bacterial soft rots, leaf spots, blights, wilts
• UC IPM: Houseplant problems

General guidance, not a diagnosis. For valuable, edible or outdoor crops, check with a local extension service or plant expert. Use any product exactly as its label says, and keep children and pets away while it dries.