Indoor flowers have leaves falling: 7 ways to save a plant

Why do leaves turn yellow and fall

There can be many reasons. The most likely ones are improper care, inappropriate climate, or the appearance of pests. Maybe the plant does not have enough water or sun, or maybe, on the contrary, there is too much of both. The flower may be hot or cold, too damp or dark. It is very easy to eliminate these reasons.

Disease can be more difficult. The first thing to do is change the potting soil. Before transplanting, the roots of the plant need to be washed well, cut off damaged or rotten areas. It will not be superfluous to keep the plant in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for a couple of hours in order to destroy potential pests. And all those parts of the plant that are already completely and irrevocably dead must be cut off, leaving as much living foliage as possible.

If this does not help, do not despair. Here’s what you should try.

Transplant the plant to another pot

Not all pots are equally useful, even very beautiful ones. Some, for example, have no drain holes – it’s worth checking out. You should not buy metal pots – they look stylish, beautiful, but do not “breathe” at all. Excessive heat accumulates in them, and the effect of a double boiler is obtained, in which the roots of your precious ficus are suffocating. Ceramic pots are also not the best option, but still acceptable if they have enough drainage holes.

Orchids need a transparent pot: they are very dependent on the sun. Even a coconut shell is more suitable for them than a regular pot. Flowers are most loyal to clay pots – they are still closer to nature than plastic, metal or ceramics.

Give the roots more space

Often a plant withers away simply because it lacks nutrition. Try to transplant a flower: it may well turn out that the roots have already occupied all the space inside the pot, and there is no space left for the earth. If your plans do not include raising a giant monster, the roots can be cut, leaving the most powerful ones. And if you have nothing against the size of the flower, then transplant it into a larger container, giving the roots space.

Water with settled water

Rainwater is best suited for watering plants. But, of course, you can’t get enough of it, so tap water is used. There is nothing wrong with that, but it is worth giving this water time to settle so that chlorine compounds evaporate from it. Better yet, use filtered water, but it also takes time to settle. Not all filters can handle chlorine, so it’s better to play it safe.

If you have an aquarium at home, then this is a real bonanza for a flower. Maybe you noticed how fast aquarium plants grow?

Dosing fertilizers

The first thing that comes to mind when the plant dries is to water, the second is to feed. Both can be harmful if you get too carried away. When it comes to fertilizer concentrates, you must strictly follow the instructions. The policy “I don’t feel sorry, I will pour more – it will be more useful” is not applicable here. Too much fertilizer can easily kill the plant.

But if you do the feeding yourself, there is less chance of harm. Moreover, everything you need for the best fertilizer is already at your fingertips: coffee grounds, banana skins, tea leaves, even yogurt – lactic acid bacteria are useful not only for the intestines, but also for the soil.

Change soil

Is there a temptation to save money and bring land for plants from the dacha or bring it from the nearest flower bed? Not worth it. Together with the soil, you will bring home pests that will happily crunch the leaves and roots of your flower. The potting soil mix from the supermarket is not only blended to suit each plant species, but it is also sterile. There will be no pests there.

And don’t forget about drainage: it is very important to avoid root rot. In addition, drainage helps to resist insect infestations.

Arrange a shower

In winter, in an apartment with central heating, the air is often too dry, even for people, let alone plants. Why not arrange a spa day for them? Moreover, it is very simple. First, wipe the leaves with a mild soapy solution to remove possible pests. Then take them to the bathtub and rinse the flowers thoroughly under the shower. It is important that both sides of the leaves fall under the stream of water – so you are guaranteed to wash away the pests remaining on the plant, and at the same time rid the soil of harmful substances accumulated in it.

Use a diaper

Yes, this is not a typo or a typo. To make a perfectly drained potting mix, mix plant soil with a hydrogel. You can buy it at a gardening store, or you can get it from a baby diaper – of course, clean. First, the hydrogel must be mixed with water to form a gel-like mass, and then mix it with earth.  

By the way

There is another opinion: if flowers do not take root in the house, it may be a matter of negative energy. Indoor plants take the whole blow – if someone wished the owner evil, envied, the flowers absorb the negative, protecting the household.

candidate of agricultural sciences, agricultural technician