Abnormal leaf drop in the Radermachera sinica (China doll) may be caused by a lack of fertilizer

Radermachera sinica is a plant very well suited to indoor foliage display; it can be grown both as a small potted plant and as a medium-to-large potted specimen. Moreover, many people grow Radermachera sinica in pots at home not only because of its strong ornamental value and air-purifying function, but more because it carries the beautiful meaning of “enduring happiness.”

However, if you want to grow household potted greenery well, you cannot do it without mastering certain care and management skills. The same goes for growing Radermachera sinica; we likewise need to understand this plant's growth habits in advance and then manage and care for it according to those habit characteristics, otherwise the plant may suffer poor growth and lose its value.

Abnormal leaf drop in Radermachera sinica is often a kind of poor-growth phenomenon that people relatively easily encounter. So what is going on when Radermachera sinica drops its leaves abnormally? Is there any way to effectively solve this problem?

Under normal circumstances, as long as the growing environment is suitable, Radermachera sinica can remain evergreen all year round. Even if a small number of old leaves occasionally fall off, this is usually a normal phenomenon. After all, during growth the plant continuously carries out metabolism and the replacement of old and new growth.

But if a large number of leaves fall, especially if the young leaves also drop in large numbers, or if the leaves fall over a large area at a light touch or a puff of wind, this indicates an abnormal leaf-drop situation. Abnormal leaf drop in Radermachera sinica may be a sign of fertilizer deficiency. At this point, we can supplement it with some nitrogen fertilizer and potassium fertilizer.

The fertilization method is also relatively simple: fully dissolve a highly water-soluble nitrogen-potassium fertilizer in water and stir it evenly, then pour it into the Radermachera sinica flowerpot. In this way, a good deal of nutrients will be added to the potting soil, and once these nutrients are smoothly absorbed by the plant's root system, they will be supplied to the whole plant. This can not only reduce or prevent leaf drop, but also promote plant growth, giving the potted plant a scene of flourishing branches and lush, glossy green leaves.

But the editor suggests supplementing a little iron for Radermachera sinica during topdressing; originally, ferrous sulfate is usually used to promote leaf growth and also make the leaf color more emerald green. Combined with the intake of nitrogen and potassium elements, applying iron together with them can not only prevent fertilizer-deficiency leaf drop in Radermachera sinica, but also promote the growth of branches and leaves.

The specific method is: first take two small spoonfuls of ferrous sulfate powder, weighing about 2 grams, and put it into an appropriate amount of clean water; then take one small spoonful of nitrogen fertilizer and one small spoonful of potassium fertilizer, and add them both to the clean water in which the ferrous sulfate has been dissolved. Finally, stir the mixed solution evenly so that the powdered fertilizers dissolve fully.

Before use, dilute the mixed fertilizer liquid in an appropriate ratio, then directly pour the diluted, evenly stirred fertilizer water onto the Radermachera sinica. It is believed that before long the abnormal leaf drop in Radermachera sinica will gradually disappear, and the plant will also grow with flourishing branches and leaves and a verdant leaf color.