Why azalea sheds leaves and what to do at home
Content:
Azalea belongs to the flowering representatives of ornamental indoor plants. But sometimes she arranges a real leaf fall. It is important to understand why this trouble occurs.
Azalea leaves fall after flowering - what to do
After the end of the flowering period, it is necessary to prune not only the stems, but also the faded buds. Then the flower must be moved to a dark, cold place. The rest period lasts 2 months.
Florist errors causing foliage to fall in azaleas
Azalea is a very capricious crop. She demands increased attention to herself all the time. Failure to follow the rules of care will lead to falling leaves and buds.
Improper watering
It is recommended to irrigate with thawed or settled water at room temperature.
The main reason why azaleas dry and fall off the leaves is waterlogging of the soil. From excess moisture, not only the leaves change color, but also the stems. They begin to blacken and dry out.
Temperature violation
The plant can dry out due to non-observance of the temperature regime. If the azalea has dropped its leaves, it is necessary to urgently lower the temperature in the room. It should not exceed +18 degrees. During the growing season, it must be reduced to +12 degrees. A plant can throw off all the buds or flowers if these rules are not followed.
Placing a flower in the wrong place
The main reason why the azalea sheds leaves is the wrong placement of the indoor flower. A place for the plant must be selected illuminated, but direct sunlight must not be allowed to fall on the leaves. Azalea will grow best on the east side. When placed on the south side, the sun can scorch the green leaves of the plant.
Failure to comply with recommendations for optimal air humidity
If the humidity level is inadequate, the foliage dries up and turns yellow. Spraying should be done regularly, but not at the time of flowering. If water gets on the inflorescences, they can fall off.
Incorrect pot selection
Sometimes the plant throws off the foliage due to an incorrectly selected flowerpot. If azalea sheds leaves, what to do? It is necessary to transplant the flower into a large container. The root system is horizontal, so the pot should be wide and shallow.
Excessive loosening of the soil or soil depletion
Azalea can wither and darken when using a substrate enriched with lime. It is recommended to use acidic soil for this species.
Loosening should be done as carefully and carefully as possible. Due to the superficial location of the roots, they can be damaged very easily.
Diseases that provoke drying and shedding of leaves
When azaleas are infected with rust, the leaf plates first change color, and then fall off. Most often this is due to “bad” water.
With an excess of moisture, the plant is damaged by late blight. Not only shoots suffer, but also flower leaves.
Blackening of the leaves occurs when the plant is infected with fungal infections.
Harmful insects
The invasion of harmful insects also leads to the shedding of leaves:
- Whitefly butterfly larvae literally suck liquid from the leaves.
- Aphids also feed on leaf sap. Due to the appearance of a pest, the plant can bloom much earlier than the due date.
- The flowering of a young azalea may stop due to the appearance of a mealybug. The pest throws out a web and is very harmful to the flower.
How to care for an azalea at home if it has dropped leaves
First of all, you need to adjust the conditions of detention. For example, summer is a period when a flower needs peace. You cannot rearrange the azalea to a new location during the flowering period. In winter, the plant must be moved away from heating devices and constantly monitor the level of humidity. In the spring, during the transplant, you must follow the rules for this procedure.
With proper care, it is easy to get an ornamental plant that can delight you with its healthy appearance and beautiful flowers for many years.