Gerans with yellow leaves can report more problems than you think: from excess water to fungal diseases, passing through invisible parasites. Here are the 5 most common causes, often ignored, which risk ruining the blooms.
Observing immediately the base of the stem and the color of the roots can help understand if there is a serious problem. A small check before watering could avoid important damage. It is worth doing two more minutes of attention, isn’t it?
It is curious to note how geraniums with yellow leaves are often considered only an aesthetic problem. And instead, behind those shades off, very precise messages are hidden that the plant is trying to communicate. We tend to ignore them, perhaps thinking that it is normal. But is it really?
Wrong irrigation: the first mistake to avoid
Too much or too little water: two extremes that, unfortunately, geraniums do not tolerate at all. When the ground is always wet, the roots begin to suffocate and rot. The leaves at the bottom lose vigor, become yellow and come off with disarming ease. On the contrary, a poor or irregular irrigation leads to another type of yellowing: it starts from the edges, sometimes it is accompanied by a crumped aspect. In short, the plant launches clear signals, even if they often go unnoticed.
It happens to think that, being summer, geraniums have continuous thirst. But no. They prefer a land that dries a little between one watering and another. Touching the soil with a finger is a trivial but effective makeup: if it is dry in the first two centimeters, then you can proceed. If it is still humid, it is better to wait.
And there is a detail that often escapes: the saucer. When it is full of water, it does more damage than anything else. Stagnant water is the paradise of mold and mushrooms. Just remember to empty it after any abundant watering. It is not difficult, only a matter of habit.
Nutritional deficiencies: not only nitrogen
When it comes to yellow leavesoften think of the lack of nitrogen. But it is not the only nutrient involved. Even iron or magnesium deficiencies can cause chlorosis, with the ribs that remain green and the rest of the leaf that yellows.
Here are some signals to keep an eye on:
- Widespread yellowing: possible deficiency of nitrogen;
- Yellow between the ribs, with green veins: suspected lack of ferro o magnesium;
- Slow growth and poor flowering: general lack of nutrients.
A regular fertilization, with specific fertilizers for flowering plants, helps to maintain the right balance. Better still if liquid, so as to act faster. And if the geranium has been in pots for over two years, perhaps it is time to repot.
Invisible parasites: aphids, mealybugs and company
They are not always seen immediately, but parasites They are among the most subtle causes of the dejection of the leaves. Aphids and ladybug lurks under the leaves or in the nodes of the drums, sucking the sap and weakening the plant.
The cotton mealybug, in particular, leaves small white residues similar to Batuffoli. The aphids, on the other hand, are noticed as small black or green insects, often accompanied by ants that protect them in exchange for braven.
A weekly check, even if only visual, helps to identify them in time. Natural remedies? Marseille soap and soap, or diluted Neem oil. If the infestation is heavy, there are specific products also organic.
Environmental stress: more common than it seems
Often the role of the Hot, cold or excessive stress. Gerans do not like cold currents, nor direct and intense exposure in the hottest hours.
Temperatures below 15 ° C can slow down growth and make the leaves yellow, while too strong a sun can cause real scalds. Shading the vases slightly in the central hours of the day can avoid unpleasant surprises.
Even moving frequently interior plants, without gradual adaptation, can create stress. And stress manifests itself just like that: yellow leaves, sparse blooms, stunted growth.
Fungal diseases: the least considered
Last, but not by gravity, the fungal diseases. Rust, botrititis, gray mold and radical rot can cause yellow spots, blackening and early fall of the leaves.
The problem is that the symptoms are easily confused with those from deficiencies or stress. For this reason often does not intervene in time. When you notice spots with yellow halo, it is better to immediately remove the affected leaves and ventilate the plant well.
Even avoiding wetting the foliage is a fundamental rule. Preventive treatments with natural fungicides (such as those based on horsetail or copper) can help, especially in the more humid periods.
Sometimes a small detail is enough to understand what is going on to its geraniums. The secret is to observe them every day with curiosity, note the changes, experiment with solutions. After all, the beauty of gardening is precisely this: learning to listen to what has no voice, but communicates more than you think.
Photo © Stock.adobe
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