Why gardenia leaves turn black and fall, what to do when they turn yellow and dry, what and how to deal with these and other plant diseases, as well as a description of the flower

It is believed that evergreen gardenia is a moody flower. Most likely, it is not more demanding than other indoor plants.

Like the rest of the wonderful representatives of the flora, gardenia loves appropriate care and care. Otherwise, there are problems with leaves that begin to turn yellow, blacken and fall off.

In this article, we will consider the main causes of leaf disease of this delicate flower, as well as methods for its treatment. We recommend watching a useful video on this topic.

What it is?

ATTENTION: This plant belongs to a large family of Marens. More than 250 varieties of gardenia are known in the world. The habitat is the Far East, India, China. In the wild grows in South America, East Asia.

The flower itself is an evergreen tropical shrub. At home, only one species is grown - jasmine gardenia. This miniature plant is mature up to 50 cm, and with white flowers. The size of inflorescences in diameter is 7-10cm. A characteristic feature of the exotic beauty is a pleasant fragrance, with a subtle hint of jasmine. We wrote about the beneficial properties of gardenia in a separate article.

Features

Gardenia leaves are saturated, dark green in color, opposite, rarely in whorls of 3. There is also cirrus looping and cross-opposite leaf arrangement.

As you know, foliage is still distinguished by triangular stipules, a smooth surface and a glossy sheen. Foliage length up to 10cm. Among florists, gardenia is appreciated for the decorative appearance of foliage, the evergreen shrub looks impressive, even in the absence of flowers.

Why do leaves turn yellow?

A flower responds to the slightest change in habitat or environment.. Even when there is no sun outside the window for several days, cloudy weather is observed for a long time, it rains - this causes the plant to be bluesy. Gardenia refuses to bloom and may lose buds. Not surprising, because the plant is an exotic flower. She reacts to adverse parameters by yellowing the foliage. The reasons should be examined in more detail.

Unsuitable soil

Gardenia prefers acidic soil, pH 4.5-5.5. The optimal composition of the soil mixture should be as close as possible to the natural habitat. In neutral soils, the root system does not absorb nutrients. As a result, indoor exotics will grow poorly, quickly discard flower stalks, and the foliage will turn yellow and black. Read about how to choose the right soil and gardenia pot here, and what to do if the plant does not bloom, you will learn in this material.

What to do?

Over time, water leaches acidic substances and the earth should be acidified. To do this, 1 time in 7-10 days for watering this use acidified water:

lemon juice (3-4 drops per 1 liter);
citric acid (several grains per 1 liter of liquid);
peat infusion (200 g of peat is mixed with 3 liters of water, insist for a day).

Nutrient deficiency, how to fix it?

In early spring, active growth begins, the flower needs additional nutrition, and in the autumn-winter period fertilizers can not be used. As nutrients, liquid complex fertilizers for flowering are used. With a lack of magnesium and iron minerals in your diet, the leaves immediately begin to turn pale and dry. It is especially necessary to feed the plant during the flowering period..

What to do?

If the soil has not been updated for a long time, it may be depleted and there is a shortage of useful trace elements. Gardenia should be fed 2-3 times a month, with preparations made on the basis of magnesium and iron. For prevention, it is possible to spray gardenia with magnesium sulfate, 20 g of the drug per 10 liters of liquid. In the future, gardenia needs to be transplanted.

Illiterate watering

Jasmine gardenia reacts to improper watering of the yellowing of the leaf plate. It is not good when the plant does not have enough water that it gets. If the soil is completely dry, the flower acutely feels a lack of life-giving moisture and nutrients. But worse, when the indoor flower is poured. The root system is constantly in a wet environment, the process of decay begins.

What to do?

It is necessary to moisten the soil in the summer 1-2 times a week.
Monitor the condition of the soil.
In winter, it is enough to moisturize once every 7-10 days.
Use only soft filtered water for irrigation, without impurities and salts.
The temperature of the liquid should be 30-40 ° C.

Why do they blacken and fall off?

With a deviation from the norms for care, there are health problems in the plant. Foliage blackens, spots, soon falls. First, we determine the causes of this phenomenon, then the methods of elimination.

Excess moisture

IMPORTANT: Daily humidification or large volumes of fluid used can have similar effects. Also, the accumulation of water in the pot indicates a poor-quality drainage layer or its absence.

In fact, gardenia loves a moist, but not wet soil, in which, if you do not take action, the roots will rot. If 15 minutes after watering, water stands on the surface of the soil, then there are problems with the substrate.

What to do?

Get the plant out of the flower pot.
Carefully inspect and feel the root system.
Cut black, rotten roots with a sharp tool.
Remove blackened leaves in the same way.
Disinfect cuts.
Treat the plant with a weakly concentrated fungicide solution.
Such drugs are used: Fundazolum, Ferazim, Uzgen, Benomil.
Transplant a flower into a new soil. Mandatory presence of a drainage layer.
Do not water immediately after transplanting.
Place the plant for 3-4 weeks in greenhouse conditions, cover the pot with a plastic bag.
Remove from the sun, regularly ventilate, water.

Hypothermia

Gardenia heat-loving flower, and with drafts and a sudden drop in temperature, the foliage leans down lifelessly, darkens. This can happen when transporting indoor exotics from a store in the cold season. Or when frosty air enters the room and directly on the plant.

What to do?

If hypothermia is not significant, then the flower restores elasticity on its own. In the future, eliminate the presence of drafts, low air temperature. Optimal conditions + 20-24 ° C.

Harmful insects

Spider mite provokes blackness of the leaf plate. Under the leaf they weave cobwebs, and also feed on gardenia juice. By this they deplete the flower, and black foliage is a signal of exot feeling unwell. The tick is terribly afraid of moisture, so spraying it with water is fatal for it.

What to do?

If such a neighbor is found on gardenia, it should be sprayed with a solution of a chemical preparation:

Neoron
"Actellicus."
"Bicol."
"Akarin."
"Demitan."

It should also be remembered that the pest quickly adapts to poisons.. Therefore, in subsequent procedures, the drug should be changed.

Other diseases

Chlorosis - this disease is quite common in gardenias. We can say that this is their occupational disease.

It occurs as a result of a lack of iron in the soil, as well as its alkalization, irrigation with poor-quality water, with a high content of chlorine and other alkaline elements.

Symptoms of chlorosis are yellowness, discoloration of the plant's leaf plate. At the same time, the veins remain green.

What to do?

Regularly spray and pour under the root preparations containing iron, for example Ferovit, with a solution of copper sulfate.
You can use a self-prepared solution of chelate iron.
Apply the folk method: “plant” a rusty metal part, a nail, a pin in a pot with gardenia.

Read more about diseases and pests of gardenia in this article.

Gardenia is a delicate flower, do not move it often. The plant likes to be on its windowsill, where there is no cold air, drafts, scorching rays of the sun. Also, the plant will not refuse regular watering with acidic water and fertilizing with iron and magnesium. Do not neglect the wishes of an exotic beauty.