Northern Lights Plant Dying – Damping Off, Root Rot, or Something Else?

[Eugen.Eichelmann]

Hello Farmers!

I'm having problems with one of my Northern Lights plants. First of all, I didn't come here to save the plant (it might be too late for that), but rather to learn more about this disease.

The leaves are hanging and twisted; some are yellow, others have turned brown and look burned. Growth has stopped completely. The stem right below the soil surface has turned brown and become very thin (as shown below).

My best guess is damping-off disease, but it could also be root rot or an insect issue. I have five other plants that were treated similarly, and none of them have any problems like this. The sick plant's pot might have slightly worse drainage than the others.

I've attached pictures of the affected plant and another picture of a healthy Northern Lights plant for comparison. If needed I could provide further information.

What do you think the problem might be? Again, if it isn't fixable anymore, that's okay. I'm primarily looking to learn more about what could have caused this.

And should I be worried that adjacent plants could also become infected?

 

[GNick55]

how often do you water?

 

[Eugen.Eichelmann]

how often do you water?

I water whenever the top 5 cm of soil have dried out, so depending on the weather, about every 3–4 days.

 

[GNick55]

well looks to be watered too frequently with not enough dry back,..
outdoors,.. what has been the temps?

 

[Eugen.Eichelmann]

well looks to be watered too frequently with not enough dry back,..
outdoors,.. what has been the temps?

Temps have been between 12 °C at night and 25 °C during the day over the past few days. Overwatering could be a problem, although I would wonder why the other plants, which have been watered similarly, are not showing any symptoms. Btw they grow on my balcony, idk if its important.

 

[GNick55]

Temps have been between 12 °C at night and 25 °C during the day over the past few days. Overwatering could be a problem, although I would wonder why the other plants, which have been watered similarly, are not showing any symptoms. Btw they grow on my balcony, idk if its important.

the other ones could handle it,. 12 is kinda cold and not good if its a few nights in a row,..

 

[GNick55]

the other ones could handle it,. 12 is kinda cold and not good if its a few nights in a row,..

 

[Eugen.Eichelmann]

View attachment 2679882

Thanks a lot for your responses! Watering a little too much might very well have been an issue. My weather app says the last three days the temps have been at least 55 °F but on my balcony it does not get quiet as cold. The days before have been a little colder, maybe the plant is still in shock from that. I thought the thin brown stem below soil surface might be an important symptom but I dont have much of an expertise haha. Your plants look great btw!

 

[GNick55]

Thanks a lot for your responses! Watering a little too much might very well have been an issue. My weather app says the last three days the temps have been at least 55 °F but on my balcony it does not get quiet as cold. The days before have been a little colder, maybe the plant is still in shock from that. I thought the thin brown stem below soil surface might be an important symptom but I dont have much of an expertise haha. Your plants look great btw!

that stem rot is damping off,. so really the cold and possibly the watering with that one plant was too much for it to handle,.. otherwise if the others are fine than your good, no worries of pest or disease,..
what kind are you growing?

 

[GNick55]

are those pots on the cement floor? as the cement balcony probably got/gets cold at night as well,..

 

[Gmix]

Must admit overwatering was the first thing popped into mind. Then when you mentioned how cold it’s got it does explain why it looks like it does.

 

[Eugen.Eichelmann]

are those pots on the cement floor? as the cement balcony probably got/gets cold at night as well,..

The other plants are doing really well, one is about four times as big as the affected one, altough they are the same age. Here Im growing Nothern Lights and Special Kush. The pots are not on cement floor, they are on a wooden bench above a wodden floor. The balcony is a "loggia" so its very close to the house and sheltered from the wind.

 

[Eugen.Eichelmann]

Must admit overwatering was the first thing popped into mind. Then when you mentioned how cold it’s got it does explain why it looks like it does.

Thanks for your expertise! This in combination with the slightly worse drainage system of the affected plants pot might very well be the reason.