Why does hydrangea have pale leaves?
Content:
Saying the word "Hydrangea" most of us think of voluminous inflorescences that have a snow-white color, a spherical shape. Others may have blue flowers and a velvety texture. Someone can imagine plants that are tree-like, covered with small flowers. But it happens that the leaves of the hydrangea begin to turn yellow. What then can be done in a similar situation? Let's consider this issue in more detail.
What is the peculiarity of growing hydrangeas?
When growing a hydrangea on your site, you should know several of its features that must be taken into account in order to achieve a long and beautiful flowering.
- This plant is very fond of water. Its name denotes a vessel that is filled with water.
- The acidity level should be appropriate for each hydrangea variety. Sour soil suits her. if the soil contains a large amount of lime, the plant may react negatively to this. The tree-like variety of hydrangea is more hardy, but this property should not be abused.
- The soil should be loose and fertile, which regularly needs fertilization. This is very important for the proper development of the plant.
- If the hydrangea variety blooms on the shoots of this year, then the plant needs pruning only if there is no vegetation.
- Pay special attention to the location where the hydrangea will be grown. If the summer is hot in the region where the plant is grown, then planting is best done in a penumbra. There are some varieties that can grow well under the scorching sun, but the plant will need regular and abundant watering. In the central regions of our country, you can find petiolate and large-leaved hydrangea.
- Carry out the formation of the crown. In order for the plant to bloom beautifully and profusely, the apical shoots are subject to pinching.
- As for the temperature regime, the plant can be safely grown at a temperature of +12 +18 degrees. To protect the plant from freezing in winter, it is best to store the plant in a dark and cool room. If the plant stays in a dark place for 1 week, the frost-bitten foliage will begin to fall off. Later, the hydrangea can be stored in the cellar until spring.
- It is very important to ensure the safe storage of the apical buds, which are able to ensure the abundance of hydrangea flowering. If you notice that the soil is dry, then it needs to be watered.
A change in the color of the foliage of a hydrangea can signal that the hydrangea is not healthy. There are several reasons that the foliage of plants began to turn yellow.
Lack of nutrients.
If the plant is deficient in any specific fertilizers, then this can provoke the appearance of a yellow tint of the leaves. When spring comes and until autumn, regular fertilizing is necessary once: every month we apply mineral fertilizers 2 times and organic fertilizers once. If you notice that the leaves of the hydrangea have begun to brighten, then this must be due to certain reasons. The deficiency of macro and micronutrients can be eliminated by applying fertilizers that contain nitrogen (spring feeding); Kemira flower can be used as a summer feeding to ensure lush flowering.Fertilizers containing phosphorus and potassium must be applied in the autumn so that the plant can prepare for the winter. The deficiency of important microelements is especially acute during the period of bud formation. During this period, the plant needs to be fertilized once every 7 days.
Improper watering.
Hydrangea is a moisture-loving culture. Therefore, the plant needs frequent and abundant watering, regardless of the type of hydrangea. If the soil is dry, the leaves of the plant will begin to curl and turn yellow. If there is a drought, then the plant needs watering 2 times a week. An adult plant needs 1 bucket of water. If the weather is rainy in summer, and there is mulch in the near-stem circle of the plant, then you can water the plant 1 or 2 times a month. as for indoor hydrangea, you need to water it when the soil in the pot dries up. If the air humidity in the room is low, then the hydrangea leaves begin to dry. For this reason, you need to monitor the condition of the soil and air humidity, and carry out the spraying procedure. Humidity should be above average. However, an excess of moisture should not be allowed, which can also negatively affect the condition of the plant. if you do not follow the watering rules, then the plant can become weak and lethargic. If you notice that the leaves of the plant have suddenly begun to turn yellow, then the question arises, what can be done about this. In order to avoid decay of the root system, it is necessary to reduce the amount and frequency of watering.
Low soil acidity.
Hydrangea needs soil with sufficient acidity. If the soil is alkaline, then from time to time the foliage begins to acquire a yellow color. To solve this problem, the water must be acidified with lemon juice: add 2-3 drops of lemon juice to 1 liter of water. You can also use vinegar, for this 1 tsp. diluted in 10 liters of water.
Pest insects.
Pests can be a common cause of pale leaves. If a spider mite appears, then the leaves of the hydrangea may turn yellow and dry. If there are a lot of insects on the plant, then this can be detrimental to the hydrangea. If the plant was attacked by various insects and the leaves began to fade, then you need to use acaricides. Insecticides can be purchased at any flower shop. If the foliage has turned black, then the cause of this may be aphids, which feed on the sap of the plant. the presence of a sticky liquid is an excellent environment for the development of this insect. In the fight against insects, you can use tobacco infusion or insecticides.
Diseases.
if the leaves of the hydrangea become light, then this indicates a phyto-disease. If you notice the presence of a gray coating on the back of the leaf, then this indicates the presence of powdery mildew. Outside, you can see the appearance of green-yellow spots, which over time begin to turn brown and take on clear lines. against this disease, you can use the following fungicides:
- Fitosporin and Alirin (at the onset of the disease).
- Jet and Speed
- Topaz and Tiovit.
If you notice that the green leaves began to fade, acquire a black, brownish or yellow tint, while their modification occurs, then this means the presence of such a disease as gray rot or spotting:
- Annular and ascochitous.
- Septoria and phylloskitous.
As a result of this, a color change occurs, the leaves of the hydrangea begin to dry out and fall off. Bordeaux liquid, copper sulfate and other pesticides, which will be used as a treatment for plants, are well suited in the fight against these diseases.
Other reasons.
The reasons for the change in leaf color can be:
- Incorrect transplant. If the roots were injured, then the plant begins to grow poorly, the edges of the leaves begin to dry out. The plant needs to be watered abundantly, but oversupply should not be allowed.Once every 1.5 weeks, it is necessary to irrigate the soil and add a drug that stimulates the formation of roots - Zircon to the liquid. The first feeding should be introduced as soon as the plant begins to develop.
- Excess light. If you grow indoor hydrangeas on the south side, or there is no shade at the planting site, then direct sunlight can burn foliage. For this reason, windows on the west and east sides of the building are suitable for growing indoor hydrangea.
- The presence of drafts. Hydrangea belongs to heat-loving crops, so drafts and temperature changes can have a bad effect on the plant. Therefore, if you want the plant not to change the color of its leaves, then plant the plant in a place protected from drafts. The most important thing is that the soil is suitable and that there is enough sunlight.
Preventive measures.
Plant care also includes preventive measures that will help protect the hydrangea from various diseases and insects. so that hydrangea leaves do not change their color, you need to adhere to several rules.
- Observe the water regime - do not overfill or dry out.
- For irrigation, take soft, settled water.
- You need to grow a houseplant in a warm room, where there are no drafts.
- Out of direct sunlight.
- Apply the necessary fertilizers and feeds.
- Antimicrobial and antiviral treatment is required.
If you listen to all the recommendations, then you can observe the beautiful and abundant flowering of your hydrangea for a long time.
How to help the plant if hydrangea leaves turn yellow.
If you notice that the plant has begun to change the color of its leaves, then you need to take the necessary and adequate measures as soon as possible to help rid the plant of an ailment, the cause of which must be established first. Many summer residents, seeing that their hydrangea began to dry out, are trying to stop this process. With the beginning of the spring period, you need to cut out all the frozen parts of the plant. if the plant has been exposed to rot, then pruning will need to be 1 cm below the infected area. The pruning site must be treated with wood ash or activated carbon. When using a secateurs, it must also be disinfected. Treatment with fungicides should also be carried out, depending on the type and severity of the disease. to carry out reanimating actions, it is necessary to pull the plant out of the container, cut off the lower part obliquely and place the plant in a steep pitch for up to 5 minutes. When air bubbles no longer come out of the stem, then the plant must be pulled out, cut off the part that was in boiling water and put the plant in cold water. This will give the plant a special, elegant and charming look. After the winter period, the plant may be weak, the foliage has small veins like steel. To rid the plant of nitrogen deficiency, it is necessary to carry out the spraying procedure using ammonia. To do this, you need to take ammonia (2 tablespoons), which must be dissolved in 10 liters of water. It will be enough to carry out 1 or 2 procedures. If the yellowing of the leaves is associated with chlorosis, then iron vitriol is well suited for processing, as well as iron sulfate - 5 g of the substance are diluted in 1 liter of water. The plant will need to be transplanted into another container and well-watered using softened water.
Folk remedies that improve the growth of hydrangeas.
If the plant begins to grow poorly after the end of the winter period, then the reason for this may be:
- Root damage from various insects.
- The roots were susceptible to fungal infection or pathogenic microbes.
The plant must be removed from the container in order to check the roots for rot or insects. Infected areas should be trimmed. If the plant is sick for a long time, then it would be better to buy a new one.If there is still an opportunity to save the hydrangea, the roots must be soaked in a solution of potassium permanganate. The substrate that was in the pot must be thrown out, the container must be treated with disinfectants. Then you need to add fresh soil, do not forget about drainage. This is necessary in order to avoid stagnant moisture, which can negatively affect the root system. Then you need to carry out a treatment with a nitrogen content in order to improve the growth and development of the green mass of the plant. during the period of bud formation, it is necessary to apply phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. It is very important to monitor the care provided to the plant. The root system of the plant lies under the soil surface. If you are going to plant a plant in a deep container, then you need to know that the plant will not grow until the soil is filled with roots. A sturdy earthen pot is a good choice for growing hydrangeas. Indoor hydrangea prefers coolness, so in the summer it should be placed in an open place, preferably in partial shade. In winter, you need to choose a room where the temperature will be +5 +10 degrees. If in your house there is no such place, then after the end of flowering, the branches need to be cut off, the plant should be placed in water and put under the bath. With the onset of spring, the plant is taken out, fertilized and watered abundantly. Now let's consider what fertilizers need to be applied, depending on the season.
- Spring:
- Mullein - 1:10
- Chicken droppings - 1:14.
To prepare the solution, the above raw materials must be soaked in water for 2 days. For an adult plant, 5 liters of solution are needed, for a young one - 1-2 liters.
- Summer:
- Herbal infusion - nettle, dandelion, celandine.
- Yeast top dressing or use of bread crumbs.
Top dressing with bread is ideal for keeping hydrangeas healthy. For this you need to take:
- Water - 10 liters.
- Crackers - 1 kg.
- Yeast - 100 g.
- Sugar - 1 tablespoon
All ingredients must be mixed, the resulting mixture must be infused for 1 day in a warm room. For 1 plant, you will need 5 liters of top dressing. If you want to enrich the soil with important trace elements, as well as protect it from various diseases, then 500 g of whey, kefir and yogurt should be diluted in 10 liters of water. To get rid of aphids, a soap solution or garlic tincture is excellent - 200 g of the product are diluted in 10 liters of water.
If you want to hydrangea for a long time she pleased with her abundant and unusually beautiful flowering, it is necessary to provide her with proper care and protect her from various diseases.