Dieffenbachia is very sensitive to changes in conditions of detention, which is manifested in a sharp deterioration in the general condition of the bush. Why the leaves of Dieffenbachia turn yellow, every grower should know. Inexperienced owners often do not know the exact cause, respectively, can not begin to correct it. Yellowing can actually occur for many reasons: improper watering, lighting, temperature, and the quality of top dressing. Eliminate the problem will help careful care and monitoring of the flower.
Dieffenbachia leaves turn yellow - what could be the reason
Why dieffenbachia leaves curl and yellow spots appear, depends on various factors. Most often, the problem appears in winter and summer.
In winter, the plant lacks the bright rays of the sun. Leaves become pale, lose contrast and become yellow. Features strongly these symptoms occur when the plant is on the north side or in a poorly lit place. Sometimes it helps to rearrange the pot to another place. However, the owners do not always pay attention to the problem at a harmless stage. The more time passes, the more difficult it is to restore a full life to a bush.
What does a healthy plant look like?
Often the cause is improper watering. Each home flower needs special conditions, therefore it is impossible to look after everyone equally.
In the summer, the main danger lies in the sultry sunshine. They provoke burns, due to which yellowing is observed. It is already impossible to restore the burnt sheet, so it is cut off.
Attention! In order to avoid further problems, it is necessary to monitor the place where the pot stands and in time to shade the plant.
There are other problems that the owner of Dieffenbachia may encounter. We will discuss them below.
Diseases
Dieffenbachia, whose diseases appear due to improper care, can suffer due to the following ailments:
- The appearance of brown spots. The edge of the leaves is covered with dark inclusions. The disease carries a fungal breed and is dangerous for other plants that stand next door. Spotting should be eliminated with antifungal agents - fungicides, which include copper.
- Anthracnose. This disease is characterized by the appearance of dryness on the tip of the leaf, which slowly passes to the entire surface of the flower. The reason is often regular waterlogging of the soil.
- Fusarium This pathology develops very rapidly in the roots of a green shrub. The disease may appear due to insufficient moisture, as pathogens are actively developing in dry land. Suffers both the upper and lower layer of leaves. In this case, be sure to replant the bush and replace the substrate.
- Mosaic virus. It is characterized by spots in the form of stars and circles of various colors. They create a sharp contrast compared to the usual coloring of the sheet. If treatment is not started in time, the flower stops growing and dies.
- The defeat of bacteria. In this case, moist islands appear on the flower, which smell unpleasantly. Over time, spots increase and capture new areas of Dieffenbachia. It is impossible to cure this disease.
Among other fungal diseases, there are: anthracnose, necrosis, septoria, powdery mildew.
Attention! If problems are found, it is necessary to treat the flower with a fungicide and completely replace the soil. It also helps to sanitize the pot.
Yellowing of the leaf due to Fusarium
Pests
Dieffenbachia, whose pests often cause yellowing of the leaves, mainly suffers from aphids, mealybugs and thrips. Root rot can develop from soil waterlogging. If there is not enough iron in the plant, chlorosis appears.
It is not difficult to determine that aphid appeared on Dieffenbachia. First of all, small insects are noticeable among the sheets. Pests damage the tops of the shoots, because of this the leaves curl. The leaf over time becomes covered by aphid excretion, against which a fungus develops. Insects not only harm healthy leaves, but also stop further growth.
Infection of aphids is very dangerous for the general condition of the bush
The leaves may turn yellow due to the invasion of the mealybug. These pests are also easy to recognize. They leave behind a wax coating. They are visible to the plant with the naked eye and look like small white insects with many paws. Due to sugar secretions, soot fungus appears on the surface of the plant.
In the early stages, fighting a mealybug is not difficult. It is necessary to treat the plant with a soft brush or cotton swab dipped in soapy water.
Thrips are small insects up to 1.5 mm long with an elongated body. Because of these pests, yellow spots appear on the surface of the leaf. Over time, the leaf dries and dies.
Thrips feed on plant cell juice
If any insects are found, the flower must be treated with insecticidal agents (Aktara, Actellik, Fitoverm).
Note! Folk remedies are used only in the initial stages of the disease, when the number of pests is small.
Often, if pests appear on one plant, they quickly spread to neighboring ones. For this reason, processing is done for all decorative representatives in the house.
Soil moisture
Dieffenbachia (dieffenbachia) does not tolerate excessive watering. Large parts of the bush due to the large volume of incoming fluid begin to rot. First of all, symptoms appear on the leaves of the flower. Yellowing indicates the need to save the plant.
Rules for successful watering:
- Between watering, it is important to take breaks so that the top layer dries out.
- Water is taken standing or purified (through a filter) at room temperature. Too cold a liquid adversely affects the quality of the root system.
- After watering, it is necessary to get rid of excess water so that there is no stagnation and decay.
- If a green coating appears on the surface of the substrate, it means that the soil is waterlogged and there is a risk of root decay.
Rotting is a common problem that needs to be addressed
Air temperature
One of the reasons why Dieffenbachia leaves dry is rightly considered to be ignoring the correct temperature conditions in the room. Dieffenbachia is a tropical bush that loves warmth and temperatures above 19 ° C.
Negatively affect the condition of the flower and drafts. Due to the cold wind, the crown of the plant becomes yellow and dry.
Root decay
Home green representatives often suffer from rotting due to excessive watering. If the flower begins to turn yellow, make sure that the root system has not begun to rot.
In case of root decay, it is necessary to cut off damaged areas and replace the soil. It is also worth paying attention to watering, its frequency and the amount of water used. Proper care is the key to health and the proper growth of Dieffenbachia.
Other possible problems
The leaves of Dieffenbachia often turn yellow under the action of direct rays. In this case, burns form on the surface, which in the future can lead to complete death of the sheet.
Note! The flower should stand in the house in partial shade. In summer, the pot is placed in the southeast, where the sun falls on the plant only in the morning.
If you can’t rearrange the container with the bush in the right place, you can leave it in the south, but be sure to shade it. In winter, on the contrary, intensive lighting is required. Often flower growers use artificial light from phytolamps. It is best to put the plant in the brightest place in cold weather. In winter, the sun's rays do not harm the bush, so you should not be afraid of burns.
A bush may turn yellow due to a small pot. In this case, it is necessary to make a transfer to another container. Dieffenbachia develops well in fertile soil with a slightly acidic environment. If the substrate is not selected correctly, then the growth of the bush slows down and the foliage turns yellow.
When all conditions are met, but the leaves are still covered with yellow spots, this indicates natural aging. Experts recommend rejuvenating the plant through cuttings. The bare trunk of a bush is cut into cuttings, while leaving a small part of the stem. Cuttings are sent into the water and wait for new roots to appear. Then the seedling is transferred to a permanent place in a pot.
It is necessary to treat all pathological conditions when the first symptoms are detected. Otherwise, the plant may die completely. It is recommended to do top dressing, monitor lighting and periodically inspect the bush for pests.
