What to Do When the Leaves of the Coral Plant Turn Yellow? A Detailed Guide to Fertilizing Methods

The coral plant (Euphorbia tirucalli) is an ornamental tree introduced and cultivated in China from abroad. Its unique appearance has drawn the attention of many people. Many people grow it now, but during cultivation, various problems often arise, the most common being yellowing leaves. In fact, solving it is still quite easy.

What to Do When the Leaves of the Coral Plant Turn Yellow

1. Temperature. The coral plant is not cold-tolerant. It is best to move it indoors before the Frost's Descent around mid-October, and the temperature should not be too low, preferably above 15°C, to ensure the leaves do not turn yellow. If the room temperature drops below 12°C, the leaves may dry up, so temperature is very important; it must not be too low, and of course too high a temperature is also inadvisable.

2. Light. The coral plant likes an environment with plenty of light. During the growing season, it must be given sufficient light, and it does not have to be kept indoors for long-term viewing; in winter, it still needs photosynthesis to maintain basic life activities, so sunlight must also be ensured, otherwise the leaves will easily turn yellow and drop after a long time.

3. Water. The coral plant is quite drought-tolerant, so pay attention when watering normally, and remember to follow the principle of preferring dry over wet. Water only when the soil is completely dry, and water thoroughly. In winter, watering should be controlled; overwatering can also cause yellow leaves.

4. Fertilizer. The coral plant does not particularly like fertilizer, so follow the principle of preferring less over more and preferring dilute over concentrated. When potting, some base fertilizer can be applied, such as some crushed solid fertilizer. When fertilizing, avoid raw fertilizer and concentrated fertilizer, otherwise it will cause leaf drop. In winter, fertilization should be stopped, and when growth begins at the Start of Spring, gradually return to normal fertilizer supply.

How to Fertilize the Coral Plant

1. In fact, the coral plant does not like fertilizer, so under any circumstances, fertilize sparingly, and the fertilizer concentration must be dilute. When the winter temperature drops below 12°C, fertilization should be stopped, and normal fertilization can resume only when the temperature returns to 20°C.

2. By late autumn, the temperature is already close to winter temperatures, so fertilization can be paused at this time. When the summer temperature is above 30°C, it enters a dormant period, and fertilization should also be paused at this time. When the temperature drops to 22°C, fertilization can resume.

3. For daily care, fertilizing once a month is enough. Do not make the fertilizer too concentrated when fertilizing, as this can easily cause root rot.

How to Grow the Coral Plant

1. Temperature: 22-28°C. The coral plant is not cold-tolerant; in winter, even if the sun comes out, it should be kept indoors.

2. Soil: The coral plant does not have high soil requirements; sandy soil with good drainage is fine.

3. Humidity: The coral plant is relatively drought-tolerant; stick to the principle of preferring dry over wet. When the potting soil is dry and hard and a clear sound is heard when tapping the pot wall, water thoroughly. In winter, water less than usual; when the room temperature is between 15°C and 18°C, water thoroughly once every 10 days.

4. Light: The coral plant likes an environment with plenty of light. Insufficient light will cause the abnormal stems to grow leggy and become columnar stems. During the growing period of the coral plant, do not leave it indoors for viewing for a long time; if it does not receive sufficient light, it will grow leggy and affect its appearance. In winter, the coral plant enters dormancy, and even in dormancy it still needs sufficient light, because as long as it is a plant, it needs photosynthesis to maintain the normal operation of its life activities. Keeping it in a dark place will cause the leaves to turn yellow and drop. In summer, avoid exposure to strong sunlight; summer is the peak growing season, so pay attention to shading measures.

Precautions for Growing the Coral Plant

1. Key watering points: In winter, water less than usual; overwatering can easily lead to reversion and even root asphyxiation and death.

2. Disease and pest control: The coral plant has relatively few diseases and pests. If the environment is not ventilated, it can lead to diseases and pests such as stem rot and scale insects. Therefore, we must place the coral plant in a well-ventilated spot, and if discovered, pesticide spraying can be used for control.

Yellowing leaves of the coral plant are generally caused by factors such as light, water, and fertilizer. When solving it, find the cause and then address it at the root. If you want the coral plant to grow well, the correct care method is very important. Timely watering and fertilizing and pest prevention are inevitable factors in ensuring its growth.