I consider plant diseases to be concerns for growers that are never really eradicated but are managed to a sufficient degree. They will occasionally reemerge and cause some worry, but are then batted down to insignificant numbers. It’s like Whack-A-Mole but with a slow burn between their heads popping out of the hole.

That’s sort of the case with a very common tropical foliage plant. “I’m hearing rumors that the Sansevieria disease that decimated crops several years ago is back,” Judy Alleruzzo, tropical plant and perennial buyer for Al’s Garden Center wrote to me last week. “Are you hearing anything?” No, I hadn’t heard, but I knew who might be more up on the topic than me. So I sent off an email to tropical plant and soil expert and consultant, Lynn Griffith.

“The fungus Colletotrichum gleosporioides (anthracnose) mutated about 12 years ago, and started attacking Sansevieria big time. It’s still here, and it never really went away. Orkestra fungicide is good. Prune out bad leaves and then spray,” was his advice.

Lynn consults for about 20 of the largest Sansevieria growers, so he know of what he speaks. “They have all had some of it from time to time. I see this disease pretty much every week somewhere,” he wrote. He said anthracnose is also present in the sansevieria stock plant farms in Central America.

Well, the symptoms appear as large circular lesions, about the size of a nickel or a quarter. “You will often see small black fruiting bodies among the lesions, which look like grains of black pepper,” Lynn explained.

Anthracnose with fruiting bodies.

Lynn said the lesions may be wet or dry in appearance, though usually more on the dry side.

Anthracnose looking more on the wet side.

Anthracnose looking more on the dry side.

And what can you do about it? Growers typically deal with anthracnose culturally by cutting out diseased leaves or discarding affected plants. Lynn mentioned that a few growers produce their sansevieria crops under plastic roofs in order to keep the rain off the plants. “This is helpful, but does not eliminate anthracnose,” Lynn wrote. “Sprays that are effective include Orkestra, Postiva, Daconil and quaternary ammonia products.” 

And what can retailers or interiorscapers do about it? “They will probably best deal with the disease by cutting out infected leaves or shoots, usually at the base of the sucker,” Lynn told me. “Under low humidity interior situations, that will probably eliminate the disease as long as you keep the foliage dry.”

AmericanHort’s Cultivate’24 in Columbus, Ohio, is right around the corner (July 13-16). What’s in it for the tropicals and houseplant industry? Plenty!

For example, there are a few sessions on living walls, including “K.O. Living Wall Protocol” with Kathryn O’Donnell of Botanicus and also “Unlocking the Secrets of Thriving Living Walls” with Jean-Pierre Sijmons of Architectural Supplements. On the plantscape technician side, there’s “Foundations of IPM: Identifying and Treating Interior Plantscape Pests”with Michelle Opela of Costa Farms and the “Technician’s Hands-On Bootcamp”with Morgan Coling of Oasis Plantscaping and Molly Turpin of Growing Green.

The session I am most excited about is “Women Entrepreneurs: Trends in Plantscape Design, Tech, Products and Holiday Décor.” This session is all about what’s on the horizon, as envisioned by women plantscaping heavyweights, such as:

• Rebecca Bullene, Founder of Greenery NYC, who will enlighten us on the newest, coolest plantscaping products;
• Rebecca Bakke, Owner of Bloom and Flourish, discussing the latest interior botanical designs;
• Caroline Puller, VP of Visual Design of Seasonscapes, giving us a world tour of the recent  International Christmas Show;
• Jan Goodman, Founder of Cityscapes Boston, enlightening us about the newest opportunities in additional revenue streams.

But honestly, with presenters like these, I imagine the ideas and details will cover these and so many more categories. Bring a thick notebook! This session takes place on Sunday, July 14, 2:30-3:30 p.m. Find out more information about Cultivate’24 HERE. See you there?

On the topic of conferences and trade shows, AmericanHort is also presenting the Plug & Cutting Conference coming up September 23-25 at the Caribe Royal Orlando in Orlando, Florida. If you are a young plant grower of tropicals, houseplants or any type of plant, this conference is for you. The whole event focuses specifically on everything involved in producing young plants.

The first day of the event opens with two optional tours. Tour stops will include four of Florida’s leading young plant propagators, including Costa Farms, Knox Horticulture, AG2 TC and Agri-Starts. Go behind-the-scenes at these operations and talk with the tour leaders to get ideas for your own young plant operation.

The next two days are dedicated to educational sessions and networking with your young plant peers. Sessions include all aspects of young plant production, and attendees can participate in three separate tracks: Best Management Practices, Pests and Diseases and Production Inputs. Attendees can carry on their learning after the event by accessing the Plug & Cutting On-Demand Catalog. In addition, you’ll have access to at least 40 exhibitors as part of the Conference’s trade show.

Special rates for the Caribe Royale Orlando are available for attendees during and around the Conference dates, so why not plan to tour other growers in the area or maybe even visit a theme park? These special rates are available when you book your stay before August.

To learn more about the speakers and sessions and to register, head on over to the Plug & Cutting website.

Pro Tip: This conference takes place every other year, so if you miss this event, you’ll have to wait until 2026. Can your operation risk that?