Spathiphyllum - leaves turn yellow: causes and treatment
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Spathiphyllum is called female happiness. If this flower appeared in the house, then all the hardships of young girls or married ladies should be left behind. But the plant does not always feel comfortable in the house. Why the leaves of the spathiphyllum flower turn yellow and what to do about it, not only beginners, but also experienced flower growers should know.
How does the yellowing of spathiphyllum leaves appear?
Growing spathiphyllum anthurium at home can give a grower some trouble, despite the fact that this tropical exotic is quite unpretentious. The yellowing of the leaf blade of this plant is a common phenomenon. Before starting treatment, you need to find out its causes.
Healthy flower
Externally, the presence of the problem is clearly visible. First, the tips and edges of the leaves begin to turn yellow, or the entire plate completely loses its green color. Gradually, the process moves over to the remaining greens. The plant begins to wilt.
Possible Causes of Yellow Leaves and Dry Tips Problem
Spathiphyllum is a popular indoor flower. It has high decorative properties even in the absence of flowering. This is due to the presence of glossy bright green oval leaves in the plant that grow from the soil. But when the tips of the leaves begin to dry in spathiphyllum, it looks less attractive, and therefore it is worth learning how to deal with this phenomenon in a short time.
Yellowing of the whole leaf plate
Natural aging of the flower "female happiness"
Yellowing and subsequent leaf fall can be a natural process, meaning that the plant is already mature. This procedure is just a way to rejuvenate. The process is not detrimental to the flower, and therefore you should not worry too much about it.
Viral and fungal infections
A more dangerous situation is when the flower is infected with viral and fungal infections. In this case, he can die in a short time. Yellowing begins from the lower leaves, gradually spreading to neighboring ones. It starts with brown spots that begin to grow. It is necessary to take measures for treatment immediately so that the spathiphyllum does not die.
Infected leaves must be cut off, and the plant must be treated with a fungicidal solution. It is also worth inspecting the root system for rot. If necessary, cut off the affected roots and treat the cut sites with charcoal or activated charcoal.
Harmful insects
Pests are also common on this plant. More than others, it is susceptible to attack by spider mites, mealybugs and thrips. After their identification, it is required to process the plant with special insecticides. If pests have been found in the soil, it is worth replanting the plant by disinfecting the soil.
Mealybugs on spathiphyllum
Deficiency of essential trace elements and minerals in the soil
Entirely yellowing leaves signal a lack of micronutrients in the substrate. In this case, a symptom can mean the absence of both a number of elements, and some specific one. What to do in this case? Introduce complex fertilizer into the soil.
Spathiphyllum reacts especially sharply to a lack of magnesium. In this case, the plant stops growing and becomes rather lethargic. A sign of the absence of this element: the leaves turn pale, but their veins remain bright green. Treatment consists in the introduction of magnesium sulfate into the soil.
Insufficient or excessive lighting
The foliage of spathiphyllum begins to acquire a yellow tint if it stays in uncomfortable conditions for a long time. To improve the situation, it is necessary to place him in a supportive environment.
Lighting plays an important role for this unpretentious plant. Leaves can turn yellow both due to its excess and due to its lack. In the second case, they do not become saturated yellow, but simply fade. The plant also begins to grow slowly.
You can not put a flower pot with spathiphyllum on the windowsill without scattering the sun's rays. The scorching summer sun can leave burns on the leaves of a delicate flower, despite the fact that it is photophilous.
Signs of insufficient flower lighting
Dry air
In the cold season, another reason for the yellowing and subsequent wilting of the leaves of the spathiphyllum appears, which consists in improper care. It is the location of the flower pot near the heating devices. The process begins at the ends of the leaves, then affects more extensive areas, until the plant weakens, stops blooming, and may even die altogether.
There are several ways to solve the situation:
- Remove the plant to another location.
- Place a humidifier nearby or place a container of water.
- Spray the leaves of the plant with a spray bottle.
In this case, the plant should stop turning yellow. Damaged leaves will gradually begin to regain color if the process has affected only the edge and not half of the plate. However, so that pests do not start on the flower, it is recommended to cut off unhealthy areas.
Low room temperature or drafts
The plant is native to the tropics, and therefore low temperatures negatively affect it. In winter, it is worth making sure that there is no blow from the window and the flower pot is not located in a draft. If the room is cold enough, it is recommended to place a piece of Styrofoam or a thick woolen cloth under the container with the plant.
Improper watering
Irregular watering can make the plant feel unwell. In this case, half measures are needed: you should not flood the flower, but a lack of moisture is also undesirable. In this case, the leaf begins not only to turn yellow, but also to blacken from the edges. Note that the black border is dry.
Flooded plant
If the soil has time to dry out between waterings, then the flower may lack nutrients. With excessive humidification in combination with a low room temperature, spathiphyllum can become a good environment for the development of fungus.
Stress in a recently purchased spathiphyllum
For the sale of the plant, soil is used with a large amount of fertilizer to make the flower look more attractive. After purchase, it is recommended to transplant spathiphyllum. He may look unhealthy for a while, but that only means that he is under stress.You need to give him some time to acclimatize.
Flower treatment "female happiness"
The resuscitation of the plant differs depending on the negative factors that caused the yellowing of the foliage. If there is a lack of nutrients, it is worth either simply fertilizing the flower, or transplanting it into a larger pot if the root system has completely filled the previous container.
When transplanting, you need to monitor the condition of the roots: cut off damaged and dry ones, having processed the cut points. The soil must be suitable for aroid plants. It must also contain a drainage layer. The roots need to be carefully spread over a mound of earth, falling asleep on top with a new portion of the substrate. After that, it is not recommended to feed the flower for a month.
Plant transplant
When waterlogging the soil, it is required to remove the plant from the pot, inspect its root system, and then transplant it into a new substrate. In the future, you need to adjust the irrigation schedule so that the soil is wet, but not wet.
How to care for spathiphyllum so that the leaves do not turn yellow and dry
Subsequent flower care must be competent, and therefore it is worth familiarizing yourself with a number of requirements that spathiphyllum makes. It is recommended to make the correct feeding on time. Increasing their number is required at the time of bud formation. For these purposes, potash-phosphorus fertilizers, mineral and boric fertilizers are used.
The main problem for novice florists with caring for spathiphyllum is the frequency of watering. For the convenience of checking the moisture level, it is recommended to plant the flower in a transparent pot. You can also place beacons in the ground that change their shade depending on the level of humidity.
Soil moisture meter
The substrate should not dry out and turn into a swamp. During the growing season, the flower should be watered abundantly, but when it is at rest, watering should be reduced. The room should have high humidity; to maintain the turgor of the leaves, it is worth spraying them from a spray bottle.
It is necessary to place a flower pot with a flower in a place with comfortable conditions. Spathiphyllum is a light-loving plant, but sunlight should be scattered. In the spring-summer period, the air temperature should be above 20 ° C, and in the autumn-winter period, it should be lowered to 16 ° C.
A rather frequent situation is that the tips of the leaves of the spathiphyllum flower dry out. It is necessary to find out the cause of this phenomenon in time in order to start the correct treatment and save from death. Subsequently, it is recommended to revise the rules of care so that a similar problem does not arise again.
