Reasons and Solutions for Azalea Leaves Turning Yellow and Falling Off
Azalea, also known as yingshanhong or mountain pomegranate, according to legend, in ancient times there was a cuckoo bird that cried mournfully day and night until it coughed blood, which dyed the flowers all over the mountains red, hence the name. Azalea flowers are profuse and gorgeous with high ornamental value. But many people encounter bud drop, yellowing leaves, and even leaves falling off one after another until the plant becomes bare stems. What is going on here? Let's find out together.
1. Improper Fertilization and Watering
Azalea roots are delicate and weak, afraid of drought, afraid of waterlogging, and also afraid of heavy fertilizer. If watering is improper or there is no watering for a long time, it will cause leaves to wilt and droop, and in severe cases the normal leaf tips will scorch, and leaves and flower buds will fall off in large numbers. If watered too much, and the soil stays waterlogged for a long time or constantly, it will suffocate and rot the roots, causing the lower old leaves to turn yellow and fall off, and in severe cases all the leaves of the whole plant will fall off. And applying fertilizer that is too concentrated or applying undecomposed raw fertilizer will also cause root burn or fertilizer damage; in mild cases the leaves turn yellow and many leaves fall, and in severe cases the plant dies.
2. Soil and Water on the Alkaline Side
Azalea likes loose, slightly acidic soil. If the potting soil is on the alkaline side or is watered with alkaline water for a long time, it will affect the roots' absorption of nitrogen and iron and other elements, causing iron deficiency and chlorosis in the plant. So to prevent iron deficiency chlorosis, you can water with a low-concentration ferrous sulfate solution, at a concentration of about 0.2%, so that the leaves will not turn yellow and dry up and fall off. In addition, you can add a few drops of edible rice vinegar to the water used for watering flowers, which can also increase the acidity of the soil and prevent the soil from becoming too alkaline.
3. Nutrient Deficiency
When the plant lacks iron or magnesium, it will also cause the areas between the veins of azalea leaves to lose green, but the veins remain green; when it lacks sulfur, it will also cause young leaves to turn yellow, and in severe cases turn white and spread to old leaves. You can determine which element is deficient through leaf analysis and soil analysis, and then supplement the corresponding element. Usually iron deficiency is the most common, and as soon as the leaves turn yellow it is assumed to be caused by iron deficiency, but sometimes this is not the case.
4. Poor Root Absorption
Under the same environment and the same level of care, some varieties of azalea are prone to chlorosis, such as “Xintiandi”, “Dahong Shuangtao”, and others. This is related to the plant's own absorption capacity and environmental adaptability, and chlorosis is especially obvious at high temperatures. After temperatures drop in autumn, it will improve or recover to normal. This symptom is similar to iron deficiency, but supplementing iron is useless; measures to protect and care for the roots should be taken. In winter, maintain a relatively high temperature; in summer high temperatures, provide shade and spray water around the environment to lower the temperature, maintain good ventilation, and promote healthy growth and development of the plant's root system.
The above is an introduction to the causes and solutions for azalea leaves turning yellow or falling off. We hope it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.