What to do if the gardenia leaves turn yellow
Main content introduction: A guide on what to do if gardenia leaves turn yellow, including reasons and solutions for yellowing leaves, let's learn about it together.
Many people enjoy growing gardenias, but it's common for the leaves to turn yellow and fall off when kept indoors. What could be the cause, and how can we prevent and treat it?
The first reason for the yellowing of gardenia leaves is due to the alkalinity of the potting soil. Gardenias are a type of flower from the south and prefer acidic soil. When growing them at home, it's best to keep the soil acidic by adding some well-fermented pine needles to the soil. This can prevent problems. Regularly watering with ferrous sulfate, once or twice a month, can also prevent new leaves from turning yellow except for the green veins, which is the best solution.
The second situation is when the lower leaves turn yellow and fall off in large numbers. The main reason for this is a lack of fertilizer. Especially when gardenias are flowering, many gardeners stop fertilizing them or do not supplement fertilizer during the care process. Some even use garden soil for cultivation, leading to nutrient deficiencies, causing the lower leaves to turn yellow and fall off, which is quite normal. Fertilizer is essential during both the growing and flowering seasons. Generally, a balanced multi-element fertilizer, such as a multi-element nutrient solution or compound fertilizer, should be used at a low concentration, about 2-3 times a month. As the flowering season approaches, which is after entering spring, start using phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, ensuring an adequate supply of phosphoric acid and potassium to prevent yellowing leaves.
The third situation is due to improper watering. Gardenias like water, and many gardeners water them excessively. If the soil is not dry before watering, it can lead to poor ventilation indoors and soil accumulation, causing some roots to rot. Rotting roots, along with the lower leaves turning yellow, can even lead to the top new leaves turning black and drying out. This is a situation caused by overwatering and root rot. If you lack water for an extended period, the leaves will wilt, and they can recover after watering, but the lower leaves may still turn yellow and fall off. If this happens repeatedly, the entire plant may dry up and die. Therefore, it's crucial to control the watering of gardenias properly. Generally, the soil should be well-draining, and the pot should not be too large. The watering principle is to water thoroughly when the soil surface is dry, which should prevent any issues.
When growing gardenias at home, the leaves turning yellow, drying, and falling off are the most common reasons. Analyzing your situation accordingly will prevent problems. When growing gardenias, always choose a pot of the appropriate size, not too deep. Water when the soil surface is dry, and make sure to place them in a well-ventilated area with plenty of sunlight. Don't let the fertilizer run out, and the gardenias you grow will be able to grow and bloom normally without any issues.
This article shares how to deal with yellowing gardenia leaves and the reasons and solutions for yellowing leaves, hoping to bring a little help to your life!