Plants, like people, can get sick or suffer from nutrient deficiencies and, like us, they manifest it with symptoms.
If you carefully observe its leaves, you will be able to know what is happening to your plant, and solve it as soon as possible so that it continues to fill your home with life.
pests
If your plant is being attacked by an insect infestation, you will see that its leaves have small holes, as the insects are eating them. If you look closely, you can see them walking.
To ward off pests, spray the leaves with neem tree oil (also known as neem), or make your own eco-friendly pesticide.
Excess of water
If the leaves look yellow and wilted, your plant is drowning. If you’re not watering more often than recommended, there may also be a problem with soil drainage.
If you have your plant in a pot, a simple trick to know if the soil is still wet underneath even if it is dry on the surface, is to lift the container and feel its weight. If you have trouble doing it, it means that it is full of water because it is not draining well.
To improve drainage, add sand to the soil. If your plant is directly on the ground and exhibits these symptoms, try transplanting it to a higher area, because all the water in the park or garden may be draining towards it.
lack of sun
If your plant looks faded and drooping leaves, it may lack sunlight to photosynthesize. Put it in a brighter place.
dehydration
If the leaves of your plant look dark, dry and crisp to the touch, you should water it more often. If your plant is bone dry, try this procedure to revive it.
nutrient deficiency
Depending on the nutrient that is lacking, the leaves of your plant may turn a different color.
– If the leaves have yellow spots or the edges of that color, they lack potassium. Add fruit compost, or bury citrus scraps in its base.
– If the leaves have white lines on their veins, the plant lacks magnesium. Add magnesium-rich compost, or Epson salts.
– If the leaves have yellow lines on the edges and veins, they are indicating a lack of nitrogen. You can add coffee to the ground to fix it. You can also read different ways to use coffee to improve your garden or orchard.
– If the leaves are out of shape, the plant is lacking calcium. Determine if the soil is acidic or alkaline. In the first case add lime, and in the second – plaster.
– If the leaves have whitish spots between the veins, they lack zinc. Spray with kelp extract, a supplement that comes from algae.
– If the leaves look yellow and the veins are green but small, it means a lack of iron. To fix this, you have to lower the pH of the soil to less than 7, and then reduce the level of phosphorous in it. It may be easier to transplant.