What to Do About Root Rot and Yellow Leaves on Indoor Plants in Autumn? A Full Guide to Prevention and Control Measures
Currently the indoor plant and flower industry is developing especially fast. Because indoor plants and flowers have high economic value as well as ornamental value, a wave of enthusiasm for growing flowers and indoor plants has sprung up in many parts of the country, and there are more and more flower farmers, especially in the Guangdong region.
Because temperatures in the Guangdong region are relatively suitable and land rent is also cheap, quite a few flower farmers from elsewhere have come here to contract land for growing flowers, and many flower farmers have made money through growing indoor plants and flowers. Although indoor plants and flowers can bring economic value, some of the diseases that affect indoor plants give many flower farmers a headache, especially the phenomena of yellow leaves and root rot, which can be called a devastating blow.
Recently there has been plenty of rain, but it has also brought many problems, such as indoor plants developing yellow leaves and scorched leaf tips. Why is this? Don't worry, everyone, let Huinong.com's Xiao Lin explain it for you.
When indoor plants develop yellow leaves and withered leaves, it is very obvious that there is a problem with the plant's root system. Because of the continuous rainy weather, the soil moisture increased, causing serious root suffocation and root rot, and the plant roots turned yellow, which led to the leaves above turning yellow and scorched. Indoor plants are grown for ornament, so withered and scorched leaves can be called a devastating blow. So how should we prevent and control this?
We need to promptly do a good job of supplementing phosphorus and calcium for indoor plants. Why? Because supplementing phosphorus can provide the nutrients needed for the growth of indoor plants, while supplementing calcium for indoor plants can effectively promote the healthy development and growth of white roots and hair roots.
Leaf yellowing is not only accompanied by root suffocation. Because indoor plants themselves lack medium and trace elements, it also affects their normal photosynthesis. So it is very necessary for us to promptly supplement them with photosynthetic elements such as zinc, magnesium, boron, copper and iron. Doing so can help the leaves recover their emerald green color and prevent indoor plants from developing yellow leaves and premature aging symptoms.
Xiao Lin also reminds all flower farmer friends here that everyone should choose suitable products according to the actual growth situation to supplement the nutrients needed by indoor plants and flowers, and must not apply treatments blindly!
How to Grow Variegated Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum 'Vittatum') - Cultivation Methods for Variegated Spider Plant
The variegated spider plant can absorb harmful substances in the air such as carbon monoxide, formaldehyde and benzene, and the scent it gives off can also kill bacteria in the air, making it a common office and home potted indoor plant. How should we grow the variegated spider plant? Below, we introduce the cultivation methods for the variegated spider plant.
1. Changing Soil and Repotting
In the management of potted spider plants, in order to achieve lush stems and leaves, the soil should be changed and the pot replaced once every March. If the pot is relatively deep and the base fertilizer is relatively sufficient, repotting can be done once every two years. When repotting, knock the plant out of the pot, cut off the withered and rotten roots and excess root system, replace with new culture soil rich in humus, and then apply livestock hoof and horn pieces or decomposed cake fertilizer as base fertilizer.
After planting, place it in a semi-shady, warm place to recover. The optimum growth temperature for spider plants is around 25°C. After the plant recovers robust growth, hang the flower pot under a corridor eave or in a suitable indoor position. Generally, the height should be such that it does not bump your head, and attention should be paid to ventilation.
2. Appropriate Light
Spider plants like a semi-shady environment. In spring and autumn, avoid direct exposure to strong sunlight. In summer, when sunlight is especially strong, they can only receive some oblique light in the morning and evening, and during the day 50%-70% of the sunlight needs to be shaded, otherwise the leaf tips will dry up. Variegated varieties are especially afraid of strong sunlight. The variegated spider plant grows more beautifully in places with weak light, with the yellow edges more distinct and the leaves more glossy.
But in winter it should receive more sunlight so as to keep the leaves soft, tender and fresh green. Household potted spider plants should be placed in front of a south-facing window, otherwise the leaves will lose their luster and may even wither.
3. Appropriate Fertilization
Spider plants are foliage plants that are relatively tolerant of fertilizer. If fertilizer and water are insufficient, they easily become scorched and aged, with yellow leaves, losing their ornamental value. From late spring to early autumn, apply organic fertilizer liquid once every 7-10 days, but for variegated varieties such as the yellow-edged and yellow-centered ones, less nitrogen fertilizer should be applied, so as to avoid the variegated leaf color becoming lighter or even disappearing, which affects their appearance. Organic fertilizer made by composting bone meal, eggshells and the like can be appropriately applied. After full fermentation, take an appropriate amount of diluted liquid and water it on once every 10-15 days, which can make the variegated leaves bright and colorful.
4. Appropriate Watering
Spider plants like a moist environment, and the pot soil should be kept moist regularly. In summer, watering should be sufficient, and around noon and in the evening water should also be sprayed on the branches and leaves to prevent the leaves from drying up. Indoors there is often a lot of dust. If a spider plant accumulates a lot of dust, it not only affects its growth but also damages the fresh, bright appearance of the branches and leaves, so the branches and leaves should be sprayed and washed frequently to keep them bright and beautiful. Withered and yellow leaves at the bottom should be removed at any time. Normally, normal humidity should be maintained, and it should not be too dry or too wet.
5. Pest and Disease Control
Spider plants have relatively few pests and diseases, mainly physiological diseases, with the front ends of the leaves turning yellow, and fertilizer and water management should be strengthened. Check frequently and promptly wipe off scale insects, whiteflies and the like on the leaves. Spider plants are not prone to pests and diseases, but if the pot soil accumulates water and ventilation is poor, in addition to causing root rot, root rot disease may also occur. You can use carbendazim wettable powder at 500-800 times dilution to irrigate the roots, once a week, for 2-3 consecutive times.
The variegated spider plant likes warm, humid and semi-shady environments, is not cold-tolerant, and is somewhat less cold-tolerant than ordinary green spider plants. It is afraid of high temperatures and strong light exposure, and is also not tolerant of drought, saline-alkali conditions or waterlogging. The optimum growth temperature is 13-28°C, and in winter the ambient temperature should not be lower than 7°C. After Frost's Descent, the lowest morning temperature may already be close to 4°C, and such temperature conditions will bring obvious cold damage to variegated spider plant plants.
Although it may not show immediately at the time, after being moved indoors, due to insufficient light, dry air, relatively high room temperature, poor ventilation and other reasons, the variegated spider plant plants that have already suffered cold damage will inevitably show features such as green stripes turning yellow and leaf edges turning brown.
However, as long as its fleshy root system has not rotted and died due to cold damage and the like, move it to a place with bright light, control watering of the pot soil, increase leaf surface spraying, give it a soil change and repotting before taking it outdoors the following spring, and at the same time prune away the leaves that have withered and died, and strengthen fertilizer and water management; the plant can quickly recover vigorous growth. Household potted spider plants, under ordinary circumstances, also often tend to show phenomena such as dry leaf tips and leaves gradually losing their luster.
6. Key Cultivation Points
The variegated spider plant likes warm, humid and semi-shady environments. It is not so strict about the intensity of light. Its vigorous growth period is about from March to September. As long as the winter temperature is not lower than 7°C, it can grow normally. It grows relatively well under constantly moist conditions.
Also, because it has fleshy roots, it can endure a period of dryness, so when watering, attention should be paid to alternating dry and wet. In spring and autumn, generally water once every two to three days; in summer, generally water once a day; in winter, when the plant grows slowly, appropriately reduce the amount of water. A dry environment and too-low air humidity often cause dry leaf tips, affecting growth and ornamental effect, so regular spraying to increase air humidity is more favorable for growth.
During the vigorous growth period, the variegated spider plant can be fertilized once every half month. For outdoor cultivation, diluted decomposed cake fertilizer water or human excrement and urine can be applied; for those placed indoors, some compound fertilizer can be applied. Generally, repot once every one to two years, and the pot soil can be loose, fertile sandy soil with good drainage.
What to Do When the Radermachera sinica (China Doll) Loses Its Leaves? Solutions for Leaf Drop in Radermachera sinica
Recently many flower-growing friends have reported that leaf drop in Radermachera sinica is occurring very seriously. What is the reason? How can it be effectively prevented and controlled? Don't worry. Next, the editor will introduce in detail the causes of leaf drop in Radermachera sinica and the solutions, to help everyone grow Radermachera sinica better.
Radermachera sinica can be made into small and medium-sized potted plants, placed indoors, on balconies and other places. It is a very good indoor plant for decorating furniture, and its vigorous vitality always brings people an implied meaning of good fortune and happiness.
So what should be done when Radermachera sinica loses its leaves? Do you know what is going on when Radermachera sinica loses its leaves? Below, we analyze for you the causes of leaf drop in Radermachera sinica and the corresponding solutions:
1. Caused by excessively high or low temperatures
Cause: Radermachera sinica likes a warm and hot environment, and the optimum growth temperature is 20°C to 30°C.
Solution: During the intense heat of midsummer, when the ambient temperature reaches above 30°C, appropriately provide shade with a shed, increase water spraying on the environment and leaf surfaces, or move it to a shaded, ventilated and cool place to spend the summer. When late autumn arrives and the ambient temperature drops to around 10°C, promptly move it into a shed or indoors.
2. Caused by insufficient light or excessively strong light
Cause: Radermachera sinica is a light-loving plant, and can also somewhat tolerate shade. Full sun and semi-shady environments are both acceptable. Its seedlings are relatively shade-tolerant, and in summer a shed should be set up for shading.
Solution: For potted plants, during indoor display they should be placed in front of a window with sufficient light or indoors. If it is placed in a dim indoor area for a long time, it easily causes leaf drop. For household potted plants, during overwintering they can be placed in front of a window or in a relatively high position in front of a balcony, so that they receive as much light as possible.
3. Caused by too much watering or insufficient water
Solution: During cultivation, the soil and display environment are required to be relatively moist. During the seedling-raising period, the seedbed should be kept moist. In high-temperature seasons, sufficient water should be supplied, and in high-temperature seasons spray the plant 2 to 3 times a day. For plants placed outdoors for care in summer and autumn. For plants placed indoors in winter, the plant enters a dormant state, so do not water too much, to avoid root rot.
4. Caused by choosing the wrong soil or the soil itself not being fertile enough
Solution: For potted Radermachera sinica, choose loose, fertile culture soil with good drainage and air permeability and rich in organic matter. Usually use garden soil : leaf mold : decomposed organic fertilizer : river sand = 5:3:1:1 mixed and prepared. During the growing season, loosen the soil once a month to ensure that its root area is always in a well-aerated state. Under normal circumstances, for small and medium-sized household potted plants, repot once a year when they are taken out in early April, to meet the soil fertility requirements for their whole year of growth.
5. Caused by insufficient fertilizer needed for growth or excessive fertilization
Solution:
(1) Check whether too much fertilizer has been applied, whether the organic fertilizer used has been decomposed, and so on. At this time, flush the pot soil with water to dilute the fertilizer strength, but be careful not to cause water accumulation.
(2) When fertility is insufficient, in addition to requiring an appropriate amount of decomposed cake fertilizer and 3% multi-element compound fertilizer to be added to the culture soil, topdressing should also be given continuously. During the growing season, apply a quick-acting liquid fertilizer once a month, usually decomposed cake fertilizer water. For a small number of household potted plants, or for large potted plants displayed in public places for a long time, a small amount of multi-element slow-release compound fertilizer granules can be buried and applied regularly, or a mixed liquid of 0.2% urea plus 0.1% potassium dihydrogen phosphate can be used for watering.
6. Caused by sudden environmental changes or metabolism and other reasons
Solution:
(1) Because of sudden environmental changes, there is no need to worry about this kind of situation. Measures can be taken to reduce the degree of environmental change, and it will be fine once the Radermachera sinica adapts.
(2) Radermachera sinica is carrying out metabolism all the time as it grows, so there will be the phenomenon of old leaves dying and turning yellow. If growth is normal, there is no problem, and you can directly cut off the yellow leaves; no special care is needed.
7. Caused by Radermachera sinica having no roots
Solution: If it was just bought, you can return it, or just keep the Radermachera sinica quiet and let it sprout new roots.
[Tips for Growing Potted Radermachera sinica]
1. The principle of watering: when you water, water thoroughly, and do not keep the frequency fixed for a long time.
2. Turn the pot from time to time so it receives sunlight in all directions, and keep the air humidity moist, which can promote coordinated and good growth.
3. You can spray clean water on its leaves 2 to 3 times a day, which can effectively prevent the leaf tips of newly sprouted leaves from turning withered and yellow.