Why do balsam leaves fall, and also turn white, dry or curl, why do spots appear on them, how to prevent this and how to cure an indoor flower?

In floriculture, we experience joy from plants, but sometimes we have to be upset. What to do when your pet for some reason loses its beautiful appearance? Where to look for the cause and methods of getting rid of it?

In this article we will consider all sorts of problems with balsam leaves, and of course we will try to figure it out and find a solution. It will also be interesting to see a useful and informative video on this topic.

What is this plant?

Balsam has long settled on most window sills. This plant was discovered by scientists in the 17th century. It has about 400 species, and comes from the hot countries of Africa and Asia. That is why in the middle lane open balsam is grown only as an annual. Perhaps you know him under a different name, which he has enough:

touchy;
Roly wet;
Lizzy is zealous;
impatient.

All these names were given to him for some of his features. Balsam blooms very magnificent most of the year. Its flowers can be double, simple, complex, similar to small roses. The flower size is small - 4-6 cm. The color is very diverse: yellow, white, purple, pink, red, as well as two-tone flowers. Stems are powerful fleshy with short internodes. Leaves of a classical form, sometimes elongated, of various green colors.

Features

The leaves and stems of balsam are very juicy, that is, their cells contain a lot of water and a little dry matter. This is well illustrated by the situation when there was no watering for a long time: leaves and shoots quickly wither, hang like rags, losing their shape. Turgor of leaves directly depends on their saturation with moisture.

There is a reverse situation: good watering and high humidity lead to the appearance of small droplets of sweet liquid along the edge of the sheet. It is for this ability that balsam received the name Vanka wet.

Why are there problems and how to solve them?

Are dry

Why do indoor flowers dry leaves and what methods can solve this problem:

Hot and dry air. Moisture evaporates so quickly from the surface of the leaves that it does not have time to fill up with the roots. This can happen when the flower is located near the radiators. Remove the plant from the radiator, or protect it from its heat. You can simply put a piece of cardboard on the windowsill, which will protrude above the radiator, thereby deflecting the flow of hot dry air.
Spider mite sucks out all the juices from balsam (see how to deal with the spider mite on balsam here). On the back of the sheet you can see a thin cobweb. The mites themselves are very small and difficult to see. The main reasons for their appearance are high temperature and low humidity. To destroy the pest can only be a strong systemic insecticide. It will not be superfluous to lower the temperature of the content and increase the humidity. You can spray the space around the balsam. You can’t spray on the plant itself.
Too plentiful watering. Flooded ground does not allow air to reach the roots. The roots lose their ability to absorb water and begin to rot. In this situation, the root system simply stops working, which means that moisture stops entering the plant, the leaves dry. You can try to save the flooded plant:
1. Carefully remove the earthen lump and put it in a box or basin.
2. Leave to dry.
ATTENTION: In general, good soil, under which there is drainage and holes in the bottom of the pot, cannot be poured. Excess moisture just leaks out. Assess the structure of the soil in the pot.
Poor soil, in which there is nothing nutritious, is not able to feed the flower. Without nutrition, the plant dies. It is necessary to replace the soil with a more fertile one. You can buy a mixture for begonias or other flowering houseplants. If you are preparing the soil yourself, then to ordinary earth you need to add half the amount of compost or leaf humus, and add sand for the structure.
sunlight - this is not only a necessary need of the plant, but in some cases, a serious danger. If the sun shines very brightly, and the plant stands on the south window, it can simply fry. Do not leave balsam on the most lighted window sill on the hottest summer days, put it better next to the window in the room.
Small pot does not allow the plant to eat normally, the roots abut against the walls and bottom of the pot, there is almost no land. It is urgent to transplant a flower into a large container. Do not overdo it, the capacity should be only 2-3 cm larger.

Turn white

Improper care often leads to the fact that balsam leaves lose their beautiful natural color and look unhealthy. For example, the leaves of a plant turn white and become lethargic.

Reasons and methods for solving this:

Sunburn. Protect the plant from aggressive sunlight.
Lack of nutrition. In this case, the leaves are not quite white, but rather pale, the shoots are thin and elongated. Feed with nitrogen fertilizer, or transplant into fertile soil.
Lack of sunlight. Photosynthesis does not occur in the leaves, chlorophyll is not formed, which is responsible for the green color of the leaves. Find a more illuminated spot for the plant.
White plaque on leaves may indicate a fungal infection, such as powdery mildew. It appears with high humidity. Treat with fungicides.

Fall off

Reasons and solution methods:

If the balsam leaves turn yellow and fall off, on the back of the leaf you need to look for whitefly larvae. Small white grains. Found - treat the flower with insecticides.
Whole healthy leaves may fall off as a result of stress. Sudden changes in temperature and humidity, moving the pot to a new place, a draft, pouring cold water, moving the plant from store to house after purchase. Rid the plant from dangers and let it recover.
Waterlogged soil can provoke dropping of leaves, do not water the plant until the topsoil dries.
A sharp cessation of watering can lead to loss of leaves, moisten the soil in a timely manner, do not make it dry out.
Lack of light. Long bare shoots are observed in plants that lack the sun. Try to find a more illuminated place for balsam, or highlight it with a special lamp.
Lack of nutrition, which happens due to poor soil, or when all the soil in the pot is taken up by the roots. It's time to transplant the flower into normal soil.

Spots appear

Reasons and solution methods:

Drops of water on the leaves. Balsam should not be sprayed directly on the plant.
Pests in the place of their localization are able to leave areas with damaged leaf tissue. Remove the affected leaves. Use insecticides against insects. Pests infect the plant in dry and hot air, so keep the balsam away from heating appliances.
Diseases of balsam may appear with various spots. There are many reasons, but most often flowers affect fungal diseases. Use fungicides. Diseases appear in conditions of high humidity, sudden changes in temperature and with an excess of nitrogen. Reduce watering, ventilate the room more often and ensure normal temperature conditions.

Read more about the diseases and pests of balsam and how to cure the plant read in our material.

Twisted

The leaves curl in case of infection with a spider web or another type of tick. In the fight against such pests, only a very strong systemic insecticide can help. In addition, mites like dry and warm air, so for the treatment period, it is better to place balsam away from heating appliances and provide increased humidity around the plant.

TIP: You can spray the air around the plant, or put the pot on a stand in a pan with water. The bottom of the container should not be in the water or even touch it.

About why indoor balsam does not bloom, and only its leaves grow, read here, and from this article you will learn about the reasons for the buds and flowers of this plant to fall and how to solve this problem.

Prevention

In order to avoid all these problems, it is necessary to provide preventative measures:

It is necessary to provide optimal conditions for plant life. Normal temperature without drops and drafts. Average humidity. Adequate lighting with protection against too aggressive ultraviolet radiation. Corresponding size tank, with drainage holes. Light, fertile soil with a drainage layer underneath.
Properly care for balsam. Provide normal watering. Better through the pallet, so you will avoid an overabundance and lack of moisture. To do timely top dressing. Every year in the spring to transplant a flower into a more spacious container.
Examine balsam regularly for diseases and pests.. If detected, isolate the plant from the rest and take measures to combat the enemy.

Conclusion

From the foregoing, the following conclusion can be drawn: all the misfortunes will bypass your balsam if you provide him with optimal conditions and will properly care for him. You can solve the problems that have already appeared by reviewing your mistakes and eliminating them. I wish healthy and beautiful leaves to your plants!