Often all that is needed to bring a diseased plant back to health is a small detail , or a simple change in routine for caring for it. If you have complications with any of your plants, look here for the symptoms, find out about the possible -diagnoses- learning how to take care of it.
Loss of leaves
It is usually the result of the plant not getting enough or too much water, too much fertilizer being applied to it, or it has been subjected to a sudden change in temperature. It can also be due, however, to a change in light intensity or to keeping the plant in too small a container. If you’ve recently transplanted the plant, don’t worry. Leaf loss is a natural process until you have adapted to your new environment.
Stem too long and few leaves
Most likely, the plant needs more light. Move it to a brighter place to grow new leaves. This problem, however, also occurs due to lack or excess of fertilizer, improper ventilation or too high a temperature.
A plant that does not grow
Plants stop growing if they don’t get enough light, water, or fertilizer. Using this as a guide, determine what yours is lacking. But before rushing to experiment, make sure that no plant is going through a period of rest (at reagular occurs in the winter). In that case, it is normal that the plant does not grow, and it is not advisable to water or fertilize it a lot.
The plant does not bloom
Lack of adequate light or enough fertilizer are the two main reasons why a plant does not bloom. However, there are some plants, such as the poinsettia and chrysanthemum, that do not flower properly when exposed to artificial light at night in late fall, winter, and early spring.
Yellow or easily shed leaves
This is mainly due to wet roots, which are in turn the result of too abundant or too frequent watering. Make sure the pot has a hole for drainage, and don’t let it sit in water for more than ten minutes after watering. Another cause of yellow flowers is a lack of nitrogen in the soil, too much or too little light, or too high or too low a temperature.
A plant that suddenly “collapses”
If a healthy-looking plant wakes up one day “knocked down” on the pot, possibly too much fertilizer has been applied or it has been watered too much. Or maybe someone has put an alcoholic drink in the pot .
Upper edge of leaves dark
This may indicate excess fertilizer, or exposure of the plant to cold drafts. It also happens if the plant is not watered properly. When watering it, take care not to dilute the soil that covers the union of the stem and the root with the water.
Black or very dark foliage
Burns and frostbite have the same effect on foliage: they “kill” the leaf tissue instantly, causing them to turn black. The darkening of the leaves can also be due to lack of fertilizer, in low light, because the plant has been watered too much or that it has been attacked by insects.
OTHER SYMPTOMS
Stained leaves
Too little or too much watering often causes this reaction. Hairy leaves, like those of the African violet, become spotted if hot or cold water falls on them during watering. Another common cause of leaf spots is direct exposure to sunlight.
Rotting stalks
If a plant is watered too much and the roots get wet, the stems may rot. This can also happen if a stem constantly rubs the edge of the pot. In any case, the stem must be cut below the affected part.
A white coating on the surface of the ground
This indicates an excess of salts in the field, and is a sign of future problems if measures are not taken in time. Rinse the entire white layer with plenty of water. Remove the remaining soil well, and add new soil.
A white powder on the back of the leaves
This is a typical symptom of mildew, a disease that spreads based on fungi and that especially attacks some plants (the rose among them). Cut the entire affected area, and apply a product based on sulfur and copper sulfate to the plant.
Leaves that break, and whose edges take a dark color
The plant is most likely in a high-traffic home area, and people continually rub against it when walking. The only solution is to cut the damaged part, and place the pot in another place.
Yellow leaves and soft stems
If, in addition to these symptoms, the soil has a muddy appearance, it means that you are watering the plant excessively. Suspend watering until the soil is dry. Then cut off the wilted leaves, and make watering more moderate when it is time to resume.
Dry leaves and few shoots
In this case, surely the irrigation is insufficient. The solution is to increase the frequency or quantity of the irrigations. If the plant is very dry, cover it with a piece of plastic material to preserve moisture until it has recovered.
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