What to Do When Amaryllis Leaves Turn Yellow, Blacken, and Fall Over
Amaryllis is a very beautiful flowering plant, also known as belladonna lily, "duidui hong," and other names. It has a great many varieties with rich, colorful blooms, the most common being white and pink, and it is generally grown more in the south. Growing amaryllis also requires care techniques; if it is managed improperly, it easily causes leaves to turn yellow and blacken, so when this really happens, how should it be solved?
What to Do When Amaryllis Leaves Turn Yellow and Blacken
1. Poor drainage or overly wet conditions
Amaryllis likes moisture, but dislikes waterlogging and excessive wetness. Potted plants kept long-term in poorly drained soil are extremely prone to yellowing leaves.
Remedy: If overwatered, try to place the flowerpot in a ventilated spot, loosen the soil, and speed up water evaporation; for especially severe cases, just change the soil!
2. Light too strong
Amaryllis grows vigorously in sunlight, but the light should not be too strong. Under the scorching sun in summer, the leaves will scorch and turn yellow. At noon, when the light is too strong, moderate shading is needed.
Remedy: If the leaves have already been scorched, try to move the plant to a shady place, then after a week move it outdoors with some cover, do not fertilize and water more, and in about a month it will gradually recover.
3. Improper fertilizing
Applying too much fertilizer or using undecomposed organic fertilizer, especially in a high-temperature environment, will cause fertilizer burn and yellow leaves.
Remedy: The best way for overfertilizing is to water, but do not water too much. Simply place the flowerpot in water, rinse it a few times, and lower the fertilizer concentration.
4. Disease
If the plant's environment is stuffy, hot, and humid, it is extremely susceptible to disease. Leaf spot and leaf blight will both cause leaves to turn yellow.
Remedy: Remove the yellowed diseased leaves and spray carbendazim to disinfect.
What to Do When Amaryllis Leaves Fall Over
1. First, we can gather the leaves together and tie them with string, so that in a short time it will not affect the display. Of course, this does not treat the root cause and can only alleviate the lodging.
2. Next is to remedy it according to the specific situation. If the problem is about water, we need to adjust the amount of watering. Although this plant likes moisture, it is also afraid of waterlogging, so it cannot be watered too much. Usually, when we observe that its potting soil is too dry, we can water. If it is not too dry, then do not water; try to make sure it is better to be drier than too wet. If the problem is about light, then we must let the plant get more sun; except for the too-strong light at noon, normally it does not need too much shade, and this helps alleviate lodging.
3. If it has just entered winter, it is in a dormant state, and we can cut off the fallen leaves and not water, to help it through the winter.
Amaryllis Growth Habits
It likes a warm, moist environment, and the suitable growing temperature is 18-25°C. It is not tolerant of intense heat, and direct sunlight should be avoided; in agriculture it can be placed in a greenhouse for cultivation. It is afraid of waterlogging, so watering should not be excessive.
During the winter dormant period, it can safely overwinter in a cold, wet climate. The most suitable temperature is 10-12°C, and the overwintering temperature must not be lower than 5°C. If the temperature exceeds 25°C, the branches and leaves grow vigorously, which will affect dormancy.
It likes sandy soil rich in humus, loose in texture, and with good drainage. The soil pH should be controlled between 5.5 and 6.5, and the soil should be kept relatively dry.
Taboos for Growing Amaryllis in Winter
Watering too much: The plant is in its dormant period in winter. If it is given too much water at this time, the plant may continue to grow, breaking its normal dormant state, and then its flowering the next year will be affected. Moreover, if the winter humidity is too high, the flower buds in its bulb are very likely to rot, and then it may not bloom the next year.
Temperature too low: As said above, the temperature cannot be less than 5°C. So, friends planting in low-temperature areas must pay attention; if you want to be on the safe side, it is best not to let the plant overwinter outdoors.
No pruning: This is for areas south of the Yangtze River. Because winter temperatures in these areas are not very low, it can overwinter outside. However, it still needs certain handling: when winter is about to arrive, we should cut off the leaves so that it can get through the winter.
Insufficient light: Sufficient sunlight is an important measure that helps it overwinter normally. Whether overwintering outdoors or indoors, this factor of light cannot be ignored.
In summary, I believe everyone now has some understanding of the precautions for growing amaryllis. In fact, although amaryllis is not a very delicate flowering plant, it is still necessary to understand the correct daily care methods! If the methods are incorrect, then problems will come one after another.