What Happens When the Leaves of Transplanted Duranta Become Soft
Today's focus is on explaining why the leaves of transplanted Duranta become soft and the related introduction of green plant flowers regarding the watering methods of Duranta. Below, the editor will provide a detailed answer for you.
Recently, there have been many questions about the softening of Duranta leaves in private messages and comments, and many flower enthusiasts do not understand why their Duranta, which was doing well, suddenly has soft leaves. Soft leaves can be fatal for Duranta, as the softness can spread and eventually lead to the death of the entire plant.
The reasons for the softness of Duranta leaves include: 1. Overwatering, causing root rot; 2. Frost damage, leading to waterlogging; 3. Too much sun exposure, causing wilting; 4. Lack of watering, making the plant too dry.
1. Overwatering, Causing Root Rot
Duranta is a succulent plant belonging to the Crassulaceae family, similar to other succulents, with fleshy leaves and stems that can store a lot of water. The surface of the leaves or stems has a waxy layer that prevents water evaporation, making Duranta highly drought-resistant.
Thus, Duranta is drought-resistant and does not require too much water. Therefore, if overwatered continuously, with the potting soil never drying out, the roots can easily rot (as shown in the picture below).
▲ Image from Flower Enthusiast Wu Tao Hua
Handling Method: For Duranta with rotting roots, early treatment is necessary. If only part of the roots are rotting, remove the rotting roots completely and replant with new soil. If all the roots are blackened and the rot has spread to the stem, you can only take the still-living branches for propagation.
Prevention: When caring for Duranta, be careful to water less, especially in winter when temperatures are low. Otherwise, it fears both the cold and waterlogging, and it is more prone to root rot in a wet and cold environment.
2. Frost Damage, Leading to Waterlogging
▲ Frost-damaged Duranta
In addition to fearing waterlogging, Duranta has another weakness: it is very sensitive to frost and low temperatures. When the temperature consistently drops below 5 degrees or suddenly falls below 0 degrees, Duranta's stems and leaves can easily be frostbitten or freeze-damaged (as shown in the above image).
Especially in southern regions, temperatures may drop in winter but not enough to freeze Duranta. However, if it is sunny, be very careful because with sunny weather comes nighttime frost. If Duranta is left outside overnight, the leaves will be cooked by the frost and will be beyond salvation.
What Happens When the Leaves of Transplanted Duranta Become Soft
Prevention: To prevent frost damage to Duranta, always pay attention to weather changes. When the temperature consistently drops to 5 degrees or even 0 degrees, move Duranta indoors. Also, control watering to keep the potting soil slightly dry, which can enhance the plant's cold resistance.
3. Too Much Sun, Causing Wilting
This problem usually occurs in summer if the sun is too strong and the Duranta leaves wilt.
Therefore, in summer, provide Duranta with appropriate shade and also control watering because the plant goes dormant in high summer temperatures.
4. Lack of Watering, Making the Plant Too Dry
Although Duranta is drought-resistant, it cannot withstand not being watered for one or two months. The leaves will first become thin and soft, and the leaves will look wrinkled.
Even if there are signs of soft and wrinkled leaves, Duranta is not dead yet. If you water it thoroughly and place it in a shady and well-ventilated area, it will quickly recover to have firm leaves.
Among the four reasons mentioned above, the first two are very fatal to Duranta, as they can cause the plant to die within a short time. Therefore, be sure to water less, get more sun, and place the plant in a warm and sunny spot in winter for care.
The above detailed introduction on why the leaves of transplanted Duranta become soft and the watering methods for Duranta brought to you by Green Plant Enthusiast website, did you understand it?