What to Do When Ball Cactus Leaves Turn Yellow
Ball cacti, as unique succulent bonsai, often face the problem of yellowing leaves during the maintenance process. This article will systematically analyze the causes of yellow leaves and help you quickly diagnose the illness through 4 core maintenance points, bringing back the lush green vitality to the needle leaves.
Natural Metabolic Yellow Leaves
It is a normal phenomenon for the bottom needle leaves to turn yellow during seasonal transitions: • In the high-temperature period of midsummer, the replacement of old and new leaves • During the winter dormancy period, the bottom old leaves fall off • After frost, the proportion of yellow leaves at the base is less than 20%. In such cases, no special treatment is needed, just maintain normal care.
Yellow Leaves Due to Waterlogging
Over-frequent watering can easily lead to root rot: ✓ Soil moisture should be controlled within the range of 15%-30% ✓ A rain shelter needs to be set up during the plum rain season ✓ Use a mixture of red jade soil and perlite (7:3) for soil preparation ✓ If yellow leaves are accompanied by softening of the stems, immediate potting and root pruning is required
Yellow Leaves Due to Light Exposure
What to Do When Ball Cactus Leaves Turn Yellow
Both strong and weak light can cause abnormal leaf color: ▶ In summer, a sunshade net is needed to filter 50% of UV rays ▶ Ensure 4 hours of direct sunlight in spring and autumn ▶ Indoor maintenance requires supplementary lights ▶ Gradual changes are needed when suddenly changing the lighting environment
Yellow Leaves Due to Sudden Environmental Changes
Changes in space can easily cause stress reactions: • A 3-day transition period is needed when transferring between indoor and outdoor environments • Maintain a day-night temperature difference of less than 10°C • Spraying brassinolactone to alleviate stress • Maintain the humidity of the new environment between 40%-60%
By regularly observing the state of the leaves and adjusting the maintenance strategy according to seasonal changes, combined with applying chelated iron fertilizer once a month, yellow leaves can be effectively prevented. It is recommended to take growth record photos every quarter and establish a dedicated maintenance档案.