11 Causes of String of Hearts Plant Dropping Leaves & How to Fix Them
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String of Hearts Plant may drop its leaves if the right growing conditions like lighting, watering, humidity, feeding, temperature, soil among others are not provided as needed.
String of Hearts Plant thrives in bright, indirect light away from direct sunlight, average warmth and moderately moist, rich, well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season.
Failure to give it these conditions may cause the String of Hearts Plant leaves to fall. Below are 11 causes of leaf drop in String of Hearts Plant and how to fix them.
11 Causes of Leaf Drop in String of Hearts Plant & How to Fix Them
1. Underwatering
If a String of Hearts Plant is underwatered, there is little moisture in the soil. As such, the plant cannot take up nutrients and water needed for photosynthesis (food making process) to the leaves.
Since the String of Hearts Plant does not get adequate food for growth and energy, it drops the leaves inorder to save energy.
Solutions
Water the String of Hearts Plant immediately. Thereafter, water the String of Hearts Plant liberally during the growing season while allowing the top 2-3 in. of soil to dry out between waterings.
Cut down on watering during the cold season to maintain the soil slightly moist but do not allow the soil to dry out completely.
2. Overwatering
Overwatering a String of Hearts Plant will result in soggy soil (excess water in the soil). Too much water in the soil reduces the oxygen concentration in the rootzone and this causes the roots to die.
If the roots die, they cannot take up water and nutrients needed for the food making process. Therefore, the String of Hearts Plant does not make enough food for growth and energy. In a bid to save energy, the plant begins to drop its leaves.
Solutions
To prevent the soil from getting soggy, ensure that the pot for the String of Hearts Plant has a drainage hole and that the soil is loose and free-draining.
In addition, decrease watering during the cold season to maintain the soil slightly moist as growth is minimal at this time.
3. Too Cold Water
String of Hearts Plant grows best in constantly warm conditions. Therefore, watering it with too cold water will shock the plant and it responds with dropping its leaves.
Solutions
Water the String of Hearts Plant with water that is at room temperature. Avoid watering it consistently with too cold water to prevent reduced growth and leaf drop.
4. Extreme Temperatures
String of Hearts Plant requires average room temperatures within the range of 16-250C inorder to thrive.
Extreme temperatures; either too high or too low (outside the above range) will affect the normal functioning of the plant systems and thus will cause leaf drop.
Very high temperatures will cause excessive loss of water leading to wilting and leaf drop while too low temperatures will cause the String of Hearts Plant to stop growing, drop leaves and die.
Solutions
Keep the String of Hearts Plant away from cold draughts like drafty winds, air conditioning vents, open doors and others or place it in a warmer spot.
Make sure that the String of Hearts Plant is not near hot surfaces, hot air vents and other hot areas to prevent extremely high temperatures.
Maintain an average room temperature within the range of 16-250C. Usually, a room temperature that is comfortable for you is ideal for String of Hearts Plant.
5. Too Little Light
The String of Hearts Plant requires bright, indirect light away from direct sunlight to thrive. Light is needed for making food that is required for energy and growth.
Inadequate light implies that the String of Hearts Plant cannot make enough food for energy and growth. In an attempt to save energy, the plant begins to drop leaves. This way, it saves the available energy for the vital functions inorder to keep alive.
Solutions
Cut back the bare stems to rejuvenate growth and move String of Hearts Plant to a brighter spot where it will receive bright, indirect light or instal a grow light if you do not have sufficient lighting in your home.
Regularly turn the pot for the String of Hearts Plant to ensure that the plant absorbs enough light for photosynthesis on all sides.
6. Underfeeding
Underfeeding a String of Hearts Plant implies that the plant is not getting enough nutrients need for growth and energy.
Inadequate nutrients for String of Hearts Plant in the actively growing tips causes nutrients to be withdrawn from the older lower leaves which begin to yellow and drop.
Solutions
Feed the String of Hearts Plant with a balanced, liquid fertilizer monthly during the growing period to promote a lush growth.
7. Overfeeding
Overfeeding the String of Hearts Plant will cause the roots to die due to fertilizer burn. When the roots die, they cannot take up nutrients and water required for photosynthesis to make food for growth.
Lack of adequate food for growth and energy for the String of Hearts Plant will cause the plant to drop leaves inorder to save energy.
Solutions
Feed String of Hearts Plant monthly during the growing season with a balanced fertilizer.
Be careful not to overfeed String of Hearts Plant. Follow the instructions on the label of the plant food to avoid overfeeding.
Flush out accumulated salts from the soil regularly by running a stream of water through the soil until it comes out through the drainage holes and repeat the process several times.
8. Pest Infestations
String of Hearts Plant is prone to Spider Mites, Aphids and Scale Insects. The sap-sucking insects attack the new growth from where they suck the plant sap and will cause wilting and leaf drop.
Solutions
Regularly inspect your String of Hearts Plant for the pests and take timely control measures.
Keep the String of Hearts Plant well pruned by removing dead foliage to minimize pest infestations.
Treat the String of Hearts Plant appropriately for the pests with appropriate products like neem oil, insecticidal soap among others.
9. Root-rot Disease
String of Hearts Plant is prone to root-rot disease which is prevalent in soggy soil. The disease is characterized by wilted, discolored leaves, corky swellings under the leaves and dropping leaves.
Soggy soil reduces oxygen concentration in the soil which causes the roots to die. Once the roots die, they cannot take up water and nutrients to the leaves, therefore, the leaves begin to wilt and eventually drop.
Solutions
Take the String of Hearts Plant out of its pot and inspect the roots. Brown-black mushy roots indicate root-rot, trim them off and treat the healthy roots with a fungicidal solution.
Disinfect the pot or use a fresh pot to repot the plant in fresh free-draining soil. Do not water the String of Hearts Plant plant and keep it dry for some time before resuming watering.
10. Root Bound Plant
A pot-bound String of Hearts Plant is one whose roots have filled the pot and there is very little soil to hold water when you water the plant.
As such, there is no water for the plant to take up to the leaves, therefore, the leaves loss their stiffness and they wilt and drop.
Solutions
A pot-bound plant has roots growing through the drainage holes, thus, check the bottom of the pot for roots growing through the drainage hole.
Repot the String of Hearts Plant into a pot one size larger than the current one. Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is free-draining.
Use a shallow rather than deep pot as the String of Hearts plant has a small (shallow) root system.
A clay pot is preferable for String of Hearts Plant as it is porous, thus allows the soil to dry out faster to prevent waterlogging of the soil.
11. Poor Quality Soil
Poor quality soil does not drain easily, therefore, it easily becomes compacted or soggy which can negatively impact the growth of the plant.
String of Hearts Plant requires loose, free-draining soil that does not hold excessive amounts of water as soggy soil can lead to root-rot disease which is characterized by yellowing and dropping leaves.
Solutions
Pot the String of Hearts Plant in good quality soil that is loose, free-draining and rich in organic matter like Cactus and Succulents Soil.
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