Why Do Periwinkle Leaves Turn Yellow? Plus Care Tips

Periwinkle

Periwinkle, also known as pot marigold, is called five-petal plum because its shape closely resembles plum blossoms and its flowers are all made up of five petals. What makes it special is its wide range of flower colors and relatively long blooming period, which is why more and more people grow it for enjoyment. Besides being ornamental, periwinkle also has high medicinal value and is an indispensable medicinal material among traditional Chinese medicine ingredients. Given that periwinkle is used so widely, what should be noted when growing it? And what exactly causes the common yellowing of periwinkle leaves?

I. Causes of Yellowing Periwinkle Leaves

1. Alkaline soil

Periwinkle is not very demanding about soil, but it dislikes alkaline soil. Growing periwinkle in alkaline soil will cause its leaves to turn yellow and prevent it from blooming. Solution: Test the pH of the planting soil, and if the soil is alkaline, it must be treated.

2. Poor soil aeration

Poor soil aeration is also a cause of yellowing periwinkle leaves. Many people choose soil with high stickiness and poor water permeability and aeration for growing periwinkle. This may not show any problems in the short term, but over time, soil with poor water and air permeability causes the lower roots of the periwinkle to breathe poorly, leading to frequent yellowing and falling of leaves. Solution: Choose sandy soil with good drainage for planting, and also be careful not to water too much.

3. Overwatering

Periwinkle dislikes moisture and fears waterlogging, so the potting soil should not be watered too much; otherwise it will affect root respiration and cause old leaves to turn yellow and new leaves to become pale yellow. Solution: Strictly control watering, and it is better to keep it dry. Pay attention to drainage during the rainy season.

4. Underwatering

Periwinkle cannot take too much water, but too little is also a problem. If you water too little or the water does not penetrate the soil thoroughly over a long period, the plant cannot absorb enough water, new leaves will wilt, and old leaves will turn yellow and fall off. Solution: Pay attention to watering. Water once the potting soil has dried out completely, and water thoroughly.

5. Overfertilizing

Many people who grow flowers at home worry for a long time that insufficient fertilizer will lead to poor blooming, so they occasionally put some fertilizer or other things into the potting soil, hoping the plant will absorb more and bloom more. In fact, too much or too concentrated fertilizer will burn and damage the root system, leaving the whole periwinkle plant listless, slow-growing, with fewer flowers and smaller petals. Solution: For periwinkle, you can apply a compound fertilizer and a liquid fertilizer alternately, one at a time, and do not fertilize casually at other times.

Periwinkle has bright colors and a long blooming period, making it one of people's favorite ornamental flower varieties. The solutions for yellowing periwinkle leaves have all been introduced to everyone, and I believe you can also grow a high-quality pot of periwinkle to beautify your home.

Periwinkle

II. Precautions for Growing Periwinkle

1. Provide sufficient light

We know how important sufficient sunlight is for sun-loving plants, and periwinkle is just such a sun-loving flower. Whether during its growth period or blooming period, sufficient sunlight is essential. A lack of sunlight will only cause periwinkle to grow leggy and fail to bloom. Even in colder weather, try to place it indoors in a spot with relatively bright light for growing.

2. Manage water and fertilizer well

Periwinkle loves sun and fears moisture and waterlogging, so the amount of watering should be controlled carefully. If there is rainy weather, try to move it indoors. If it cannot be moved indoors, do a good job of drainage for outdoor growing; otherwise, periwinkle can easily rot and die. When fertilizing, you can apply a compound fertilizer and a liquid fertilizer alternately, once every ten days. The bottom of the periwinkle potting soil should also be laid with a layer of base fertilizer as much as possible to ensure the nutrient content of the potting soil.

3. Proper pruning and pinching

Whether or not periwinkle is pinched has little effect on its own growth, but pinching it once or twice during the seedling stage will make its plant shape more graceful. In normal times, also do a good job of pruning periwinkle. Old, weak, and damaged branches should be cut off promptly; otherwise, they will both affect the overall appearance and waste nutrients for nothing.

4. Prefers high temperatures and dislikes low temperatures

The ambient temperature for periwinkle growth can be slightly higher; low temperatures are very unfavorable to it. During the day, it should be at least above 15 degrees, otherwise it will easily stop growing. If you are in the cold north, make sure the indoor temperature at night is often above 5 degrees; otherwise, the periwinkle will suffer cold damage.

In order not to affect flower lovers' enjoyment of periwinkle and not to affect the extraction of medicinal materials, we must pay attention to changes in the leaves while growing periwinkle, because changes in the leaves are also the key to whether the flowers bloom perfectly.

What to Do When Periwinkle Leaves Turn Yellow: Causes of Periwinkle Leaf Withering and Solutions

Periwinkle is one of China's traditional Chinese medicinal materials and has the effects of cooling the blood, lowering blood pressure, calming the mind, and soothing the nerves. Its ornamental value is also very high, with bright flower colors that easily catch people's attention. Although its home growing method is not very difficult, some flower lovers still report that the periwinkle they grow at home often has yellow leaves, affecting its appearance. When this happens, the only thing to do is first analyze the cause.

What to Do When Periwinkle Leaves Turn Yellow

1. Cause: Alkaline soil. Periwinkle is not very demanding about soil, but it is suitable for growing in slightly acidic soil. Alkaline soil will cause poor growth of periwinkle, resulting in yellow leaves and failure to bloom.

Solution: Test the pH of the planting soil, and if the soil is alkaline, it must be treated.

2. Cause: Poor soil aeration. Poor soil aeration is also a cause of yellowing periwinkle leaves. The soil many people use for growing flowers is quite sticky and has poor water permeability. This kind of soil may not show any problems in the short term, but over time, soil with poor water and air permeability causes the lower roots of the periwinkle to breathe poorly, leading to frequent yellowing and falling of leaves.

Solution: Choose sandy soil with good drainage for planting, and also be careful not to water too much.

3. Cause: Overwatering. Periwinkle dislikes moisture and fears waterlogging, so the potting soil should not be watered too much; otherwise it will affect root respiration and cause old leaves to turn yellow and new leaves to become pale yellow.

Solution: Strictly control watering, and it is better to keep it dry. Pay attention to drainage during the rainy season.

4. Cause: Overfertilizing. People occasionally put some fertilizer or other things into the potting soil, hoping the plant will absorb more and bloom more. This approach is correct, but the mistake lies in the frequency of fertilizing. If fertilizer is applied frequently, it is very difficult for periwinkle to absorb it completely, and the fertilizer remains in the soil, constantly surrounding the roots, causing the whole periwinkle plant to become listless, slow-growing, with fewer flowers and smaller petals.

Solution: For periwinkle, you can apply a compound fertilizer and a liquid fertilizer alternately, one at a time, and do not fertilize casually at other times. Water the next day after fertilizing to promote nutrient absorption.

5. Cause: Underwatering. Periwinkle cannot take too much water, but too little is also a problem. If you water too little or the water does not penetrate the soil thoroughly over a long period, the plant cannot absorb enough water, new leaves will wilt, and old leaves will turn yellow and fall off.

Solution: Pay attention to watering. Water once the potting soil has dried out completely, and water thoroughly.

Causes of Periwinkle Leaf Withering and Solutions

1. Cause: Potted transplanting. If the leaves of the periwinkle you just bought suddenly wither, what should you do? Actually, this is not your problem; it shows that this pot of flowers was just planted or just transplanted, but as long as the leaves are not extremely dried out, the periwinkle will still slowly recover.

Solution: A newly transplanted plant needs about a month of adaptation period, and then after about a month or so it can basically grow. During this period, you need to care for the periwinkle patiently. It is alive, and sometimes flowers are said to have spirit too!

2. Cause: Overwatering. In potted periwinkle, long-term wetness and waterlogging will suffocate and rot the roots, preventing normal absorption of fertilizer and water, which will cause the leaves to wither and turn yellow.

Solution: When you see yellow leaves, it is best not to water anymore. Loosen the soil in the pot and let it dry in a ventilated, dry place so that the remaining water at the bottom evaporates as soon as possible. It is best to water only after it dries out!

3. Cause: Lack of water. If you see the leaves drooping, yellow, and soft, looking as if they have no energy, then this is due to lack of water.

Solution: You can appropriately sprinkle water on the periwinkle leaves, or place a basin of clean water around the flowers to increase the nearby air humidity.

Is Periwinkle Toxic?

Yes, periwinkle is toxic. Periwinkle is a plant in the Apocynaceae family, and like oleander, its sap is toxic, with the flowers being the most toxic part.

Periwinkle contains more than 70 alkaloid components, including vinblastine, vincristine, and isovinblastine. Among them, vinblastine has an inhibitory effect on human white blood cells and is toxic to the nervous system, while isovinblastine can cause mutagenic effects inside the human body, leading to the production of deformities.

However, under normal circumstances, poisoning occurs only when a wound comes into contact with the sap or when the sap is accidentally swallowed. Lightly touching the flowers and leaves of periwinkle will not harm the human body. As long as everyone is careful in normal times and does not casually break the branches and leaves, there is no problem. If periwinkle is accidentally eaten, it can cause symptoms such as reduced white blood cells, reduced platelets, muscle weakness, and paralysis of the limbs.

When Does Periwinkle Bloom?

1. Periwinkle's blooming period is very long. Basically, when periwinkle blooms, the blooming period begins from April to May and can generally last quite a long time. From spring to autumn it blooms continuously, and it can even keep blooming throughout the year, so it is called daily spring.

2. A single periwinkle flower does not last very long; generally one flower can bloom for 3-5 days.

The growing method for periwinkle is not very difficult, so everyone can safely grow a pot at home. During the growing process, it is best not to repot frequently, so as not to affect the plant's growth. In addition, because periwinkle's sap is toxic, everyone should be careful during care to avoid accidental ingestion and harm.

Periwinkle Leaves Turning Yellow_Causes, Symptoms, and Solutions_Periwinkle Propagation Methods

Like other plants, periwinkle is prone to yellowing leaves during the growing process. There are many causes of yellowing periwinkle leaves. Let's learn together about the causes and solutions for yellowing periwinkle leaves.

I. Causes of Yellowing Periwinkle Leaves and Solutions

1. Overwatering

Symptoms: Periwinkle dislikes moisture and fears waterlogging, so the potting soil should not be watered too much; otherwise it will affect root respiration and cause old leaves to turn yellow and new leaves to become pale yellow.

Solution: Strictly control watering, and it is better to keep it dry. Pay attention to drainage during the rainy season.

2. Underwatering

Symptoms: Periwinkle cannot take too much water, but too little is also a problem. If you water too little or the water does not penetrate the soil thoroughly over a long period, the plant cannot absorb enough water, new leaves will wilt, and old leaves will turn yellow and fall off.

Solution: Pay attention to watering. Water once the potting soil has dried out completely, and water thoroughly.

3. Overfertilizing

Symptoms: Many people who grow flowers at home worry for a long time that insufficient fertilizer will lead to poor blooming, so they occasionally put some fertilizer or other things into the potting soil, hoping the plant will absorb more and bloom more. In fact, too much or too concentrated fertilizer will burn and damage the root system, leaving the whole periwinkle plant listless, slow-growing, with fewer flowers and smaller petals.

Solution: For periwinkle, you can apply a compound fertilizer and a liquid fertilizer alternately, one at a time, and do not fertilize casually at other times.

4. Alkaline soil

Symptoms: Periwinkle is not very demanding about soil, but it dislikes alkaline soil. Growing periwinkle in alkaline soil will cause its leaves to turn yellow and prevent it from blooming.

Solution: Test the pH of the planting soil, and if the soil is alkaline, it must be treated.

5. Poor soil aeration

Symptoms: Many people choose soil with high stickiness and poor water permeability and aeration for growing periwinkle. This may not show any problems in the short term, but over time, soil with poor water and air permeability causes the lower roots of the periwinkle to breathe poorly, leading to frequent yellowing and falling of leaves.

Solution: Choose sandy soil with good drainage for planting, and also be careful not to water too much.

II. Periwinkle Propagation Methods

1. Cutting propagation:The cutting time for periwinkle is generally spring. Try to cut a relatively tender branch as the cutting. It can be a tender shoot on a new branch or a newly grown tender shoot on an old branch; as long as it is tender, it is fine. It should be 8-10 cm long, with some leaves attached. Cut off the lower leaves and keep 2-3 pairs of leaves at the top. Then insert the bottom of the branch into moist sandy soil or leaf mold. During the cutting period, try to keep the temperature between 20 degrees and 25 degrees. After watering, you can cover the potting soil and cuttings with a layer of film to retain moisture, and place the pot in a ventilated, shady place to wait for rooting. Keep the cutting soil slightly moist, at room temperature 20-24°C, pay attention to shading and maintaining humidity. Roots will form 15-20 days after cutting. When the seedlings are 10 cm tall, pinch the tops to encourage bushy growth, then move them into three-inch pots, and gradually shift them into seven-inch pots.

2. Water propagation:The selection of cuttings for the periwinkle water propagation method is similar to ordinary cuttings, but it is done in summer. Just insert the cut branches directly into clean water, but be sure to change the water frequently for the cuttings. The best frequency is to change the water every two days to ensure the nutrient content and cleanliness of the clean water. When necessary, you can also add a few drops of nutrient solution as appropriate to encourage the water-propagated branches to root. Generally speaking, rooting takes about twenty days.

3. Seed propagation:Periwinkle is mostly propagated by sowing, generally sown around April in early spring. Periwinkle has 750 seeds per gram, and the suitable germination temperature is 18-24°C. Use a sowing tray filled with a mixed soil of sterilized leaf mold, culture soil, and fine sand. It germinates 14-21 days after sowing. After the seedlings emerge, shade them for 2-3 hours at noon when the light is strong and the temperature is high. When the seedlings are 5 cm tall and have 3 pairs of true leaves, they can be potted. When they have 6-8 pairs of true leaves, they can be planted in the ground. When planted in flower beds in May, water once every 3-5 days, and appropriately apply additional phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, then there will be many flowers and lush leaves.

4. Tissue culture propagation:Use stem tips as explants. After disinfection, cut the stem tips into several segments, each 0.4-0.6 cm, and inoculate them on MS medium supplemented with 5 mg/L of 6-benzylaminoadenine and 0.2 mg/L of naphthaleneacetic acid. After 1 month of culture, adventitious buds grow. Then transfer them to 1/2 MS medium supplemented with 0.2 mg/L of kinetin and 2 mg/L of indoleacetic acid. After half a month, white roots begin to grow, forming complete plants.

The above isPeriwinkle leaves turning yellowThe causes and solutions and periwinkle propagation methods have been introduced. In the future, when encountering yellowing periwinkle leaves, you will no longer need to worry.