Does your pelargonium turn yellow leaves? Find out why this is happening and how to deal with it!

One of the most popular indoor plants is pelargonium (more often it is mistakenly called geranium).

This flower will be able to grow even a novice grower or a simple lover, because it is unpretentious and does not require any special care.

And yet, deciding to have such a plant at home, you need to know the basic rules in order to avoid problems with his health. We learn more about them in our article.

Characterization and care

This plant has dozens of species that differ from each other in the size of leaves and flowers, smell. Despite this diversity, all varieties are distinguished by bright, long flowering (about why pelargonium does not bloom at home and what needs to be done, read here). Often it is mistakenly called geranium, but these two flowers have fundamental differences. The difference between pelargonium and geranium is intolerance to the first cold and the inability to give blue tones during flowering.

In fact, pelargonium is a geranium variety bred for home maintenance. There are four main varieties:

1. Royal (different large, delicious colors).
2. Fragrant (during flowering spreads the smell of mint, wormwood. pine, lemon).
3. Zonal (have terry, star sheets).
4. Ampelic (leaves of a very unusual, five-lobed shape, smooth)

For comfortable growth at home, pelargonium requires an abundance of air and sun, regular but moderate watering. In summer, the soil is fertilized - it is saturated with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (we talked about how to feed pelargonium for abundant flowering here). For the best flowering, the top is cut (for how to form a beautiful crown in pelargonium, read here). But, even under comfortable conditions, the plant can get sick. The most common problem is yellowed leaves. Why is this happening? Consider the reasons.

Causes of the disease

If you notice that the leaves of the flower begin to turn yellow and dry, then this is a direct signal that pelargonium is sick and you need to figure out what this is happening from.

There may be several reasons for this:

• Incorrectly selected pot. Too small or large size negatively affects the development of the plant.
• Lack of drainage (or insufficient amount). This prevents excess moisture from leaving, from which the roots can rot.
• Not enough fertilizer. Pelargonium requires a fairly large supply of minerals for growth and flowering, and their deficiency, as well as an excessive amount, can lead to yellowing of the leaves.
• Lack of or excessive watering. During flowering and in the hot season, it is necessary to moisten the soil more often than in winter.
• Water temperature. From cold water, the edges of the leaves may also turn yellow.
• Excess nitrogen in the soil.
• Improper care. Even such an unpretentious plant requires minimal conditions for proper growth, therefore it is very important to provide it with a comfortable living environment (about the nuances of caring for pelargonium at home, read here).
• Verticillin wilt. In this case, not only the leaves, but also the stem can turn yellow.
• Pest infection.

What to do and how to treat?

In order for pelargonium to feel good, you need to create comfortable conditions and maintain them. But, if the plant still showed signs of the disease, it is necessary to identify the cause and take appropriate measures:

1. To start check if the pot is selected correctly. It should be selected based on the size of the root system. The most favorable option is a container 10-15 cm high and 12-14 cm in diameter. Such a pot will not squeeze the roots and allow the plant to bloom lushly. At the same time, when choosing such parameters, there will not be a large amount of free space, which means that excess moisture will not accumulate.
2. Pay attention to air humidity., it should be 50-60%. Cool drafts should also be avoided. In winter and autumn, pelargonium should not be placed close to heating appliances - from this the leaves begin to dry and turn yellow. The best option for wintering the flower will be content at a temperature of about 12 degrees with watering once a week. If the air in the apartment is too dry, then you can put a tank of water or moistened expanded clay near the flowerpot.
3. Should monitor soil moisture. In the summer months, the plant is watered more often. An important role is played by the quality of water - too hard can cause excess calcium. This will negatively affect the leaves. Stand for water for several days - this will make it softer.

   TIP! Two drops of lemon juice or a small pinch of citric acid will help fight hard water. If pelargonium is in the shade, then rearrange the cache-pot on the sunny side, but make sure that the plant does not receive a burn from direct sunlight. To prevent this trouble, you can make artificial shading.

4. It is necessary to loosen the soil in a timely mannerso that the root system receives the necessary amount of oxygen.
5. Pelargonium soil must be of high qualityotherwise it can also cause wilting and yellowing of the leaves. Optimal is the use of a nutrient substrate, for example, "Agricola". This fertilizer is used every three months and with the onset of winter, feeding is stopped.
6. Also flower stalks should be removed in a timely mannerby carefully cutting off these parts. This procedure will help to avoid yellowing of the young leaves of pelargonium.
7. If the flower’s leaves not only turn yellow, but redness appears at the edges, or they curl inward - this indicates a lack of nutrients (on the causes of reddening of the leaves of pelargonium and how to deal with it, read here). Pelargonium loves organic additives, fertilizing with phosphorus and potassium. It is important to observe the measure, otherwise the plant may turn yellow already from an excess of nitrogen. In this case, you should replace the fertilizer with watering with iodine content - this will have a beneficial effect on the condition of the flower.
8. Must be present drainageOtherwise, moisture will linger in the soil and harm the root system. After transplanting, the leaves may also turn yellow, but under acceptable conditions, the pelargonium will adapt, and will again delight you with its healthy appearance (how to transplant pelargonium correctly can be found here).

What to do if nothing helps?

1. If the plant receives the necessary care, but yellowed leaves appear anyway, this may indicate verticillous wilting. This fungus is transported through the soil and can be stored in it for up to fifteen years. In this case, it is necessary to remove the damaged leaves and add fungicide or trichodermin to the soil.
2. Pelargonium may also be affected by other fungal pests. First, brownish-red spots appear on the leaves, and after that the small leaves turn yellow, curl, dry and fall off. Affected leaves must be removed, and the plant itself treated with Bordeaux fluid.
3. Another cause of plant wilt can be a spider mite. Inspect the pelargonium sheets from all sides (preferably with a magnifying glass) - use insecticides if detected. This drug will relieve pelargonium not only from a tick, but also from mealybugs. In the second case, the leaves are covered with a black coating.ATTENTION! When treating plants with fungicidal fluids, safety precautions must be observed - use protective equipment and wash your hands thoroughly after spraying to avoid getting the solution into the body. This can lead to poisoning.

Disease Prevention at Home

Sure, it is always better to prevent the disease than to treat it, and compliance with care rules will help you in this:

• Replant in time, picking up a cache-pot according to the size of the root system.
• Ensure ambient light and avoid drafts.
• Water as the earthen coma dries.
• Fertilize the soil in a timely manner. An instruction with the norms and frequency of applying top dressing to the soil is attached to the drug.
• During the winter, keep the flower cool.
• Periodically inspect pelargonium for the presence of fungi or other parasites.

In addition, you can take advantage of some tricks to make pelargonium feel comfortable at any time of the year. Insulation will help protect the plant from drafts and cold air.

Just insert a small piece between the glass and the flower pot, then the cold will no longer harm the plant. The roots will be protected by woolen cloth - put it under the pot. Instead of fabric, you can use simple polystyrene foam or foamed insulation. Wet towels will save the plant from drying out. Cover them with batteries, and then it will be possible not only to avoid yellowing of the leaves, but also to form the necessary humidity for a comfortable flower growth.

Watch a video about the prevention of diseases in pelargonium:

Yellowing leaves is always an occasion to worry about the health of the flower. It is important to start treatment as soon as you see the first signs. Understanding the cause will help inspection of the plant. And remember, the sooner you begin to take action, the less harm pelargonium will receive, and the faster it can recover.

Watch the video: The Causes of Yellow Leaves on Geraniums (December 2024).