How to Prevent Your Basket Grass Plant from Rotting

Basket grass also known by its scientific name of Oplismenus is a lovely trailing plant that can make a beautiful addition to any indoor or outdoor space. With its cascading stems and striped leaves, basket grass brings a tropical flair wherever it’s planted. However, these delicate beauties can be prone to root rot if their growing conditions aren’t just right. Don’t lose heart if your basket grass has fallen victim to this fungal disease – with a few adjustments to its care, you can get your plant back to good health. In this article, we’ll explore the causes of root rot in basket grass and give you tips to prevent it from taking hold in the first place.

What Causes Root Rot in Basket Grass?

Root rot in basket grass is caused by one of two fungal diseases – pythium or phytophthora. These fungi thrive in moist, compacted soils and attack the roots of plants. As the name suggests root rot causes the roots of the plant to turn brown, mushy and eventually disintegrate. This prevents the plant from taking up water and nutrients eventually leading to the death of the plant if left untreated.

For basket grass, overwatering is the most common cause of root rot. Basket grass prefers evenly moist but not soggy soil. When soil remains saturated for too long, the fungi take hold and start infecting the roots. Poor drainage from heavy, compacted potting mixes can also lead to excess moisture. Additionally, if water is allowed to pool in the saucer under a basket grass pot, the saturated soil provides the perfect conditions for fungal growth.

How to Prevent Root Rot in Basket Grass

Preventing root rot starts with providing the right care and growing conditions for your basket grass. Here are some tips to keep those delicate roots healthy:

Water Properly

• Basket grass needs moist but not wet soil. Only water when the top inch or two of soil is dry.

• When you do water, water deeply until it runs from the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot. This encourages deeper root growth.

• Never allow basket grass to sit in waterlogged soil or let water pool under the pot. Pour out excess water from the saucer after watering.

• In areas with high humidity, you may only need to water every 2-3 weeks. Adjust watering frequency based on your environment.

Ensure Good Drainage

• Use a porous potting mix, not regular garden soil which can get waterlogged. Aim for a mix containing peat moss, perlite and bark chips.

• Add perlite or small rocks to the potting mix to improve drainage.

• Make sure your container has holes on the bottom to allow excess moisture to escape.

• For hanging baskets, use a lightweight mix and line with sphagnum moss to help absorb moisture.

Allow Light Air Circulation

• Avoid crowding multiple plants together, as this reduces air flow.

• Water early in the day so foliage has time to dry out before nighttime.

• Space pots sufficiently to allow air circulation all around.

• Use hanging or elevated pots to prevent moisture from pooling on surfaces.

Follow Proper Plant Care

• Remove any diseased roots immediately to prevent spread.

• Prune back any dead or dying stems to just above healthy growth.

• Divide overcrowded plants to allow better airflow at the soil level.

• Fertilize occasionally with a balanced houseplant fertilizer to maintain plant health.

• Repot in fresh potting mix every 2-3 years as old mix starts to break down.

Control Environmental Conditions

• Avoid temperature extremes. Basket grass does best between 65-80°F.

• Install a small fan to increase air circulation if humidity is higher than 50%.

• Move plants outdoors in summer to prevent excess interior moisture.

• In winter, place pots on pebble trays with water to boost humidity around the plants.

Treating Root Rot in Basket Grass

If you notice the telltale signs of root rot – yellowing leaves, stunted growth, drooping stems – don’t panic! You may be able to rescue your basket grass if you catch it early.

• Unpot the plant and wash all soil from the roots to inspect them. Remove any brown or mushy roots.

• Rinse the remaining healthy white roots with a solution of hydrogen peroxide and water to kill fungus.

• Repot in a sterile potting mix, water sparingly, and move to a sunny location.

• Apply a fungicide like neem oil or copper sulfate as a soil drench every 2-3 weeks.

• Remove any infected foliage and trim back stems by a few inches to just above healthy growth.

• Discard the old contaminated soil to prevent reinfection. Sterilize pots before reuse.

With quick action, you can help basket grass bounce back surprisingly fast. Just be sure to correct any underlying issues like poor drainage or excessive moisture to prevent root rot from returning.

Alternative Plants Less Prone to Root Rot

If you’ve battled root rot with basket grass one time too many, you may want to try growing some other trailing plants that can better tolerate wet roots. Here are a few good alternatives:

• Heartleaf Philodendron – With its graceful, heart-shaped leaves, this climber is less fussy about moisture.

• Pothos – A classic low-maintenance vine perfect to cascade from hanging baskets.

• Swedish Ivy – This delicate trailing plant handles moisture fluctuation with ease.

• Wandering Jew – Striking purple and silver foliage on trailing stems. Forgiving of occasional overwatering.

• Arrowhead Plant – Also known as nephthytis, its arrow-shaped leaves unfurl on vines perfect for an indoor hanging basket.

While not completely immune to root rot if overwatered, these plants tend to fare better in humid conditions and their trailing nature lets you grow them beautifully in hanging containers. Plus, their vining growth looks absolutely stunning draping over the edges of pots and baskets.

Enjoy Your Basket Grass with a Dose of Caution

With its tropical allure, it’s easy to see why basket grass is such a popular houseplant. Just be mindful of its moisture needs and avoid oversaturating the soil to prevent fungal disease. Provide good drainage, allow air circulation around the foliage, and adopt a “less is more” approach to watering. Check soil frequently and water only when the top few inches are dry. Follow these tips and you can enjoy the graceful beauty of basket grass for many years to come without the threat of root rot ruining those lovely trailing stems.