Propagation on pothos
What's Happening
All cuttings taken from an infected mother plant inherit systemic pathogens (fungal or bacterial) present in the vascular tissue. Phyllosticta, Pseudomonas, and other pathogens colonize stems and propagate through cuttings even when leaves appear healthy. Water droplets from misting or poor air circulation accelerate spread between cuttings in propagation setups where plants are clustered closely together.
How to Fix It
- 1
Inspect mother plant carefully: look for spots, discoloration, or lesions on leaves and stems before propagating
- 2
Select cuttings ONLY from visibly healthy upper stems with no spots or discoloration
- 3
Sterilize propagation tools with 70% isopropyl alcohol before EACH cutting and between plants
- 4
Space cuttings minimum 3 inches apart in propagation vessel to prevent leaf contact and pathogen spread
- 5
Monitor propagated cuttings daily for 14 days; discard any showing spots to prevent spread to healthy cuttings
How to Prevent It
Inspect mother plants thoroughly for spots, lesions, or discoloration before taking cuttings. Choose healthy tissue from upper stems showing no symptoms. Take cuttings during dry conditions; avoid propagating from plants showing any disease signs. Space cuttings minimum 3 inches apart during propagation to prevent cross-contamination.
Related Problems
Same Problem on Other Plants
Go Deeper
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