What to do if the leaves of potted chrysanthemums fall off

Reasons for the leaves of potted chrysanthemums to fall off

There are two main reasons why the lower leaves of potted chrysanthemums turn yellow and fall off.

One is the growth cycle of chrysanthemum itself. Under suitable natural environmental conditions such as light, temperature, water, soil, and fertilizer, potted chrysanthemum seedlings only need a growth period of about 4 months for the plants to mature and achieve the purpose of bud formation and flowering. Chrysanthemum is a short-day plant, but if the temperature and light at this time cannot meet the requirements of flower bud differentiation, the plant growth regulators in the lower part of the plant will change, which can easily cause premature aging of old leaves. Therefore, chrysanthemum seedlings grown using cuttings in late autumn or early winter are prone to the phenomenon of the foot leaves falling off first. To prevent the lower leaves of potted chrysanthemums from falling off early, first of all, the chrysanthemum seedlings should be cut at the right time. If the buds are cut in late autumn or early winter, they need to be replaced in April to June of the following year and new chrysanthemum seedlings should be cut. Then, after the chrysanthemum seedlings are potted in the spring of the following year, they should be toppled and pinched to promote the growth of new buds in the potting soil around the plants, and then the old plants should be discarded, and strong new buds should be selected and planted in the pots.

Human Factors

Improper fertilization, watering, and pest and disease control during the vegetative and reproductive growth periods of potted chrysanthemums can cause the lower leaves of the potted chrysanthemums to turn yellow and fall off.

Measures to prevent the lower leaves of potted chrysanthemums from turning yellow and falling off

Reasonable fertilization

Chrysanthemum is a flower that likes fertilizer, but the amount of fertilizer it needs varies at different stages of its growth. If improper fertilizer is applied at different stages, the lower leaves of potted chrysanthemums will turn yellow and fall off. The rejuvenation management of potted chrysanthemums planted in spring requires a little more fertilizer, and nitrogen fertilizer should be used mainly to promote the growth of new branches and leaves; after the cuttings are transplanted into pots in summer, they are in the seedling control stage, and less or no fertilizer should be applied at this time; in autumn, potted chrysanthemums begin to grow vigorously and require a large amount of fertilizer. At this time, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers should be added, but the amount of fertilization should not be excessive, as excessive fertilization will cause the lower leaves to age and fall off.

Watering properly

After the beginning of autumn, the water requirement of potted chrysanthemums should be gradually increased. However, watering too much or too little at this time will cause the old leaves at the bottom of the potted chrysanthemum plant to turn yellow and fall off. Next, be careful not to let mud or water splash onto the leaves when watering or raining. It is best to spread a layer of hay on the surface of the pot to prevent the leaves from being contaminated and causing yellowing or falling off when watering or raining heavily.

Pest and disease control

Potted chrysanthemums are most susceptible to diseases and insect pests in early autumn. The main diseases are black spot disease, which harms the lower leaves of the plant and causes them to fall off; powdery mildew causes the affected leaves to develop white powdery spots that form rows, affecting the appearance of the leaves and causing them to fall off. As for diseases, prevention should be taken in advance before the chrysanthemum becomes sick. Spray 0.1% Bordeaux mixture or 1000-1500 times diluted 50% Zineb 2-3 times a month. Insect pests include aphids, red spiders, cabbage worms, and fileworms. You can use 1000-1500 times diluted omethoate or fenitrothion mixed with 0.3-0.4% urea fertilizer and spray it, which has good results. Diseases and pests of potted chrysanthemums should be prevented and treated early. Once the plants are damaged and the leaves fall off, it will cause irreparable losses to the potted chrysanthemums and greatly reduce the ornamental effect.

Another effective way to prevent the lower part of the potted chrysanthemum plant from shedding leaves and becoming "bare stems" is to fill the potted chrysanthemum with culture soil in layers and stages. When the cuttings of the chrysanthemum seedlings are finally planted in the culture pots, first fill the culture pots with 1/3 of nutrient soil. As the chrysanthemum seedlings take root and the plants grow upward, fill the soil in layers in stages until the chrysanthemum buds fill the potting soil. Leave only a 2-3 cm water outlet at the mouth of the pot to prevent watering and fertilizing liquid from flowing out. During the final filling, add 1/3 of decomposed dry manure.