Gardenia is a capricious plant. This should be remembered by all who wish to acquire them.
Often a flower has problems: leaves dry, wither, turn yellow, buds disappear. What is the cause of the disease of the leaves of this flower?
Consider in this article the main causes of problems with leaves in gardenia, as well as how to avoid their appearance.
What it is?
Gardenia comes from the family marenovyh. This genus includes up to 250 species, but The most popular home flower is Gardenia Jasmine. It boasts white wax flowers and jasmine scent. All varieties are evergreen, while they bloom for several months.
We talked more about the types and popular varieties of gardenia in this article.
Description
The leaves of the plant are glossy, opposite, rarely 3 in whorls. Have stipules of triangular shape. In addition, they have a peristophobia-like venation, the arrangement of the leaves crosswise-opposite. Even without flowers, the bush looks decorative because of the dense, leathery leaves of a dark green color. They have an oval shape and pointed ends. In length reach up to 10 cm.
What caused the appearance of yellowness?
This is the most common plant problem. The leaves turn pale, become yellow, sometimes only between the veins. All this points to the wrong content. The reasons may be many.
Wrong watering
Often, gardenia acquires yellow leaves due to excessive soil moisture. or because of its strong drying. Watering is required immediately after drying of the upper layers of the soil on 1-2 phalanxes. You should not wait until the coma of the earth is completely dry.
Water also plays an important role. The plant needs only separated water, and preferably passed through a filter or boil. And it should be warm. Hard and cold water will not work. To solve the problem, you need to adjust the watering, monitor the drying of the upper layer, properly prepare the water.
Incorrectly matched substrate
Gardenia grows well in acidic soils, in others it feels unwell. In alkaline soils with a neutral pH, the roots do not assimilate important elements.
For sale substrate with a pH of 4-5 in a special store, it is called "Gardenia" or "Azalea".
In the finished mixture, you can make needles of conifers to acidify. But even the acidic soil is alkalized due to the nature of the water. In order to prevent this, it will be necessary to water the plant with acidification water every 10 days.
For this:
- dissolve 2-3 citric acid crystals in 1 liter of water;
- sorrel acid in the amount of 1/3 tsp. for 3 liters of water insist 3-4 days;
- mix lemon juice with 1 l (you need 2-3 drops);
- Mix 200 g of peat with 3 liters of water for 1 day.
About what extract is needed for gardenia, read here.
Chlorosis
This problem is manifested by an uneven yellowing. Streaks remain green, and the background turns yellow. The cause of chlorosis is the lack of iron in the soil. To prevent this disease is required constantly, because it is almost chronic in gardenia. A disease appears when the soil is alkalized; therefore, for prevention, the plant is watered with acidified water.
If there are visible bright signs, then the actions are as follows:
- spraying and watering with preparations containing iron;
- self-preparation of iron chelate;
- As an additional source, rusty nails can be buried in the ground.
Details on the most common diseases of gardenia and plant treatment methods can be found here.
Lack of lighting
The leaves turn yellow due to insufficient light. In this situation, the leaves can fade evenly on all branches. To solve the problem, additional illumination with phytolamps or fluorescent lamps should be provided.
Malnutrition
Like other plants, gardenia during growth and flowering requires fertilizing (about why gardenia does not bloom and what needs to be done, read here). For this purpose, a special fertilizer with magnesium and iron (complex) is suitable. Gardenia has a special need for these elements. An insufficient amount of magnesium, like iron, causes leaf clarification.
Eliminate the problem with the use of magnesium sulfatewhich is suitable for spraying in the proportion of 20 g per 10 liters of water.
What if the plant turns black?
A frequent problem is the drying of the leaves. If this happens in a small volume, then there is no cause for concern. Anxiety should be sounded in case of massive darkening. The reasons are also very different.
Excessive watering
To get rid of the problem, dry the soil and adjust the watering process. Do not create a "swamp" in the pot.
Urgent drainage holes should be made if they are missing.
Drafts and frostbite
Gardenia is a very delicate plant, for this reason, sharp temperature jumps in the direction of decrease can cause the leaves to darken. The optimal temperature frames are from +18 to +24 degrees. To get rid of the problem should provide such a mode flower.
Pests
The spider mite acts as a frequent "guest" on the plant. It can cause a gradual blackening of the leaves due to the stretching of the juice. To solve this problem, it is necessary to provide the optimum level of humidity, since spider mite appears due to dry air.
Sun rays
If the plant is sprayed, then you need to make sure that the sun's rays do not fall right after this. They cause thermal burns and leaf darkening. Plants fit diffused light.
Why leaves fall?
Another problem of the leaflets is their fall. Such a problem is often associated with the stress of the plant, its causes:.
- Insufficient watering. If the plant is rapidly losing leaves, they turn sharply yellow and fall off or fall off green, then this indicates drying. It is important to adjust the watering, and to get rid of stress use stimulant epin. Resuscitation will be useful - spraying with epin and covering the plant for a day with polyethylene.
- Drafts. Rapid leaf fall is caused by blowing a flower. Do not put it on the open window.
Among the pests it is worth noting another aphid, mealybug and flail. All of them are removed by treating the plant with insecticides and increasing the humidity level in the room.
- How to transplant a flower?
- What are the difficulties and secrets of cutting?
- How to grow from seed?
Conclusion
In order to avoid problems with the leaves of gardenia, it is required to ensure proper care of the plant:
- the flower should be left in a bright place, but without the bright rays of the sun;
- water used for irrigation boiled and separated;
- the pot should be placed in a pan with water for feeding;
- timely feeding;
- treatment with iron preparations;
- protection against hypothermia and drafts.
Following simple recommendations helps to avoid yellowing and darkening of the leaves of the plant.
