Is There a Cure?

• Chemicals in the form of fungicides are commercially available for dealing with root rot, but these are only effective in suppressing the plant disease and not in curing the plant. Chemical treatments are ineffective if the symptoms have already appeared in the azaleas. For plant growers and experts, prevention is still the best cure. There are some important measures you can take in order to prevent and control the cases of root rot in azaleas.
  
  

Treatment and Prevention

• If you have new azaleas to include in your garden or pot, quarantine them first for at least one year before exposing them to other plants or to a new site. If any plants show any signs of disease (wilted leaves, yellowish-green leaves, reddish-brown roots, brittle roots, etc.), discard them immediately. Only use plant cuttings that are healthy.
  
  Be sure that the soil has great drainage for azaleas that are either in containers, beds or bigger fields.
  
  Be careful in watering the azaleas. If you are using a garden hose, do not overwater them. Also, use irrigation water that is clean and has low salinity levels.
  
  Keep the surrounding areas clean, including the footpaths. Your shoes may carry infected soil so it would be best to keep the grounds clean to avoid contamination.
  
  Regularly clean and disinfect gardening tools and equipment.
  
  

Chemical Treatment and Prevention

• The application of fungicides is a good form of preventative treatment for root rot. The fungicides that are applied to control the root rot cannot kill the organisms that cause the disease. They are only used to prevent the development of the organism before it is caught by the azaleas. They are also used to inhibit the organism's growth, should it already be present in the plant. By using the fungicide, it can delay the symptoms of the disease. If chemical treatment is not continued, organisms can again establish themselves and infect the azaleas.
  
  Examples of chemicals are triadimefon, mancozeb, fatty acids and copper salt fungicide sprays. Use them according to product directions. Other types of fungicides are mefenoxam and metalaxyl.