A lack of light, a lack of fresh air, its excessive dryness, draft, a sharp drop in temperature, soil drying or excessive watering, a lack or excess of nutrients - all this leads to the oppression of plants, causes not only their painful state, but also creates favorable conditions for pests and diseases.
Very often, mainly from beginner flower growers, you can hear the question: "I do not know what the flower is dying from, what to do? If it is completely incomprehensible what is the matter, then it is necessary to understand in order, based on the most likely versions.
For example, leaf wilting when hung by flaccid rags occurs for several reasons:
- waterlogging of the soil,
- soil drying,
- intense heat.
It was possible to determine whether the plant was dry or flooded by the state of an earthen coma (see below). And the heat harms plants in pots when the thermometer rises from 38 to 45 degrees. Some plants can tolerate higher temperatures (succulents), and many die.
If the leaves do not hang with rags, but simply dry and fall off, a third reason is added - pests. Pests or diseases, in general, can also be identified by making certain efforts (see pests) - by comparing them from photographs (in the section there are photos of worms, scale insects, thrips, ticks, etc.)
If the soil does not seem too dry or too wet, no pests were found, then you will have to take the plant out of the pot and examine the roots (there may be pests on the roots). If during the examination it turns out that healthy roots of the plant fill the entire earthen lump, then the depressed state is associated with a lack of nutrition, the plant should be transplanted into large pots, with fresh earth. If it is found that the roots are sluggish or begin to rot, then again it is necessary to transplant the plant, removing the affected areas of the roots. When examining an earthen coma, it may turn out that it is dry, in this case it is necessary to take measures to evenly moisten the plant.
When the earthen lump and roots are in order, then the reason should be sought in the lack of light or dry air. In the first case, the plant should be moved closer to the light, in the second, conduct regular spraying, and in addition, in winter, hang the central heating batteries with wet towels. Finally, it is necessary to pay attention to the appearance of the plant. Is not the cause of the depressed state of contamination of leaves, for example, dust, as a result of which breathing processes are disturbed.
Some growers have a good habit of giving plants a shower bath once a week (or at least a month). It is even better to wipe the leaves with a soft sponge. This procedure has a very beneficial effect on the condition of indoor flowers.
To prevent the appearance of thrips, spider mites, all kinds of worms, aphids, as well as pathogenic fungi, you need not only to wash or bathe plants more often, but also periodically use Persian chamomile infusion (pyrethrum) or tobacco for washing.
Dried, lethargic leaves must be removed, as they often become a haven for all kinds of parasites. It is necessary to keep the pots clean, remove dust and mold deposits, check if the drainage hole is blocked. Potted soil must be regularly loosened, carefully, trying not to damage the roots. Remove sprouted weeds.
Here are the most common problems that probably everyone who grew flowers faced:
This photo shows a plant (adiantum) damaged due to too dry indoor air. In this case, the tips of the leaves first become dry, dry brown spots appear, the leaves turn yellow and die off. The lower leaves also fall and dry. The photo shows the "severe stage" of damage from dry air. Most often, when the air humidity is not much higher than normal, the matter is limited to the dry tips of the leaves (in large plants, for example, diffenbachia, scindapsus), and in small-leaved plants, in addition, the drying of several leaves.
If the earth was waterlogged, then a very moist earthen lump, yellowed lower leaves. In addition, if measures are not taken, the leaves lose their color, become sluggish and translucent, then the decay of the roots, stems and the death of the plant begins - this is already when the plant is flooded. Very often, when waterlogged, the leaves suddenly turn yellow and fall. Soil waterlogging, in a compartment with high humidity, is dangerous because cortical growths appear on the leaves of plants - a disease called dropsy.
If the plant is dehydrated, then it is dried up by an earthen lump, there is a loss of turgor leaves, the leaves dry up and fall. If the soil is very dry, then watering can be difficult, because water will be poorly absorbed. In this case, it is better to immerse the entire pot in a basin of warm water until the soil is moistened.
Sunburn is another common problem. Not all plants tolerate direct sunlight, with prolonged exposure to the sun, burns appear on their leaves, the degree of damage depends on the time spent in the sun. If this happens, you can only remove the damaged leaves and continue to shade the plants in the hot, sunny hours.
The upper leaves retain their elasticity, but turn yellow. Most likely, this is an increased calcium content in the soil, which is characteristic of some plant species. The plant should be watered with softer water, such as rain or melted snow.
The leaves turn yellow and fall. The natural change of leaves is characteristic of most plants, but if they fall in large quantities, then this is most likely due to waterlogging of the soil or cold draft.
Old leaves turn yellow - in summer due to a lack of macronutrients or drying out, in winter - due to a lack of light or high temperature at night.
Dots or spots on leaves.
If the points or spots on the leaves are dry, then most likely it is from a lack of water, if soft - then due to waterlogging of the soil.
Light spots on the leaves - the likelihood that the plant was either watered with too cold water, or got sunburn, or it was damaged by disease or pests.
If the spots on the leaves are wet and swollen, then this is a disease (see disease)
The leaves curl and fall. This happens with a lack of heat, waterlogging of the soil, or if the plant fell under a cold draft.
Twisting and wrinkling of leaves can be caused by the sudden action of chlorine, with a lack of magnesium, potassium, fluoride in the soil - in old leaves; in young people - a lack of molybdenum, boron, copper, magnesium.
The sudden fall of leaves, when they do not even have time to turn yellow, is usually associated with the shock state of the plant, caused by a sharp change in some conditions (this happens during acclimatization, plants have just been bought), a sharp temperature drop, watering with cold water, cold draft, a sharp increase in the intensity of lighting in the daytime. Sudden leaf fall in tree plants (for example, citrus) can be caused by drying out of the soil.
Brown tips or edges of leaves. If they are dry, then the most likely reason is too dry air, it can also be the result of physical damage, for example, when in contact with glass. If the edges of the leaves are yellow or brown, then this may be due to waterlogging of the soil or lack of watering; too little or too much light; too high or too low air temperature; excess mineral substances, dry air or cold draft. And it can also be when the plant is poisoned with chlorine or potassium starvation. Other symptoms will help determine the true cause.
The stems of the plant are exposed from the base - with an acute lack of lighting. In this case, only the tips of the shoots can remain normally leafy. This can happen at any time of the year and if it is not possible to rearrange the plant closer to the window or on the windowsill, then you will have to connect additional lighting. Otherwise, the plant may die.
- Drooping leaves - when the soil dries up or waterlogged, with excess light, especially if the leaves droop at certain times of the day, when the sun is at its most intense. Also, drooping leaves can be caused by dry air or pests. In addition - chronic acute lack of potassium, magnesium, copper, excess calcium or hard water. In some plants, this happens due to a sharp change of place.
- Buds or flowers fall most often due to dry air, insufficient light, insufficient watering, when the plant is rearranged from place to place and when affected by pests, as well as with an excess of nitrogen. Flowers wilt quickly with lack of watering, dry air, lack of light or too high air temperature, excess nitrogen and general starvation.
- The lower leaves dry out and fall, most likely due to lack of light, or too high air temperature, or lack of watering.
- The leaves turn pale - mostly in too much light, and it can also be caused by a spider mite.
- The tips of the leaves turn yellow - excess calcium, insufficient watering.
- Yellow-brown coloration of leaves - watering with hard water or chlorinated water.
- Pale green color of leaves to whitish, mosaic of leaves - lack of iron, copper or sulfur in the soil.
- Light green leaves, and the veins on them are green - an excess of chlorine or calcium, in water; general starvation with a lack of nitrogen and iron; mismatch of soil acidity; root disease; nematode root damage; in summer this happens with excess light.
- Variegated leaves become monochromatic green - with a lack of light or with an excess of nitrogen in the soil.
- Leaves and stems rot - with diseases caused by poor conditions, most often waterlogging of the soil.
- Vitreous discharge on leaves, brown, partially dry spots - unfavorable humidification conditions, excessive watering, high humidity, lack of fresh air, low temperature or lack of light.
- The plant grows slowly or not at all. For all plants, there is a dormant period in autumn and winter, when it does not grow or grows, but very slowly.
If this happens in spring or summer, then the cause may be a lack of minerals, and insufficient lighting, and waterlogging of the soil. - Elongated stems with small leaves - this phenomenon is more often observed in winter or early spring due to lack of lighting when the air temperature is too high. If the stems are stretched in the summer during the growth period, then most likely it is a lack of minerals or a lack of lighting.
- The plant does not bloom. In general, the flowering of plants is such a complex thing - some bloom even with poor care, while others, no matter how hard you try, do not bloom and that's it. But most often this is still due to lack of lighting or short daylight hours. Other causes may be disturbed dormancy, excess minerals, dry air, thrips (dinner buds), or transplantation (some plants bloom only in a cramped pot).
- Short peduncles - watering regime is violated (excess or lack of moisture), incorrect feeding regime, lack of fluoride, general starvation of the plant, late transplantation in autumn, inconsistency of the soil mixture for this plant, strong temperature fluctuations, excess heat during bud growth, incorrect maintenance during dormancy.
- Green coating on a ceramic pot or on the inside on a plastic pot is a sign of waterlogging of the soil (usually with poor drainage).
- White crust on a ceramic pot or on the surface of the earth - with an excess of minerals or watering the plant with too hard water.
If you find any of the above signs, then in order to finally determine what caused this condition of the plant, look into the encyclopedia and reread the care tips. As you have already noticed, the same plant condition can have many different causes, sometimes it is generally impossible to know what the plant is suffering from (for example, viral diseases are very difficult to determine), but knowing the conditions in which the plant needs will make it much easier to establish the cause.
Sometimes the plant was simply forgotten to transplant in the spring, and it is recommended to transplant it every year. In general, this is a very common mistake of indoor flower growers - to forget to replant the plant when it is supposed to. Many do not consider it necessary, or instead of transplanting feed the plant, which is wrong. And some are transplanting plants into land completely unsuitable for him.
If you have not found the answer to the question: why the leaves of your plant turn yellow, then we invite you to ask it on the forum "Diseases and Pests" in the topic "Collecting a collection of diseases and pests."