12 Reasons Why String of Nickels Plant is Dropping Leaves and How to Fix Them


String of Nickels Plant, Dischidia nummularia

String of Nickels Plant (Dischidia nummularia) may drop its beautiful coin-like leaves due to overwatering, underwatering, low temperatures, too little light among other reasons.

The spectacular String of Nickels can sometimes develop problems if the growing conditions are not met. One of the commonest problem in String of Nickels Plant is leaf drop (fall).

We have herebelow discussed 12 reasons for String of Nickels Plant dropping leaves and their solutions. Continue reading.

12 Reasons why String of Nickels Plant Leaves are Falling

1. Pest Infestations

String of Nickels Plant is prone to spider mites, scale insects, aphids and mealy bugs.

These pests attack the new growth from where the suck the plant sap. This causes the String of Nickels Plant to become dehydrated and results in wilting and dropping leaves.

Solutions

Regularly inspect your String of Nickels Plant for the pests and take timely control measures.

Treat the String of Nickels Plant appropriately for the pests with appropriate products like neem oil or insecticidal soap among others.

String of Nickels Plant, Dischidia nummularia

2. Too Little Light

The String of Nickels Plant requires bright light with some morning sunshine to thrive. The light is needed for making food that is required for energy and growth.

Insufficient light implies that the plant cannot make enough food for energy and growth. In an attempt to save energy, the String of Nickels 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 Nickels Plant to a brighter spot or instal a grow light if you do not have adequate lighting in your home.

Regularly turn the pot for your String of Nickels Plant to ensure that the plant absorbs enough light for photosynthesis on all sides.

3. Poor Quality Soil

Poor quality soil does not drain easily and therefore it easily becomes compacted or soggy which can negatively impact the growth of the plant.

String of Nickels 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 your String of Nickels Plant in good quality soil that is loose, free-draining and rich in organic matter like this Cactus and Succulents Soil available on Amazon.

4. Underfeeding

Underfeeding String of Nickels Plant implies that the plant is not getting enough nutrients need for growth and energy.

Inadequate nutrients in the actively growing tips causes nutrients to be withdrawn from the older lower leaves which begin to yellow and drop.

Solutions

Feed String of Nickels Plant twice during the growing season with a slow release fertilizer. Take care not to underfeed and follow the instructions on the label of the plant food.

5. Overwatering

Overwatering String of Nickels Plant results 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.

When roots die, they cannot take up water and nutrients needed for the food making process. Therefore, the plant does not make enough food for growth and energy. In a bid to save energy, the String of Nickels Plant begins to drop its leaves.

Solutions

To avoid getting soggy soil, ensure that the pot for your String of Nickels Plant has a drainage hole and the soil is free-draining.

Also, reduce watering during the cold season to maintain the soil slightly moist as growth is minimal at this time.

6. Underwatering

When the String of Nickels 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).

Since the plant does not get adequate food for growth and energy, it drops the leaves inorder to save energy.

Solutions

Water the String of Nickels Plant immediately and it should recover.

Thereafter, water the String of Nickels Plant liberally during the growing season and allow the top 2-3 in. of soil to dry out between waterings.

Reduce watering during the cold season but do not allow the soil to dry out completely.

String of Nickels Plant, Dischidia nummularia

7. Extreme Temperatures

String of Nickels Plant requires average room temperatures within the range of 18-260C inorder to thrive.

Extreme temperatures; either too high or too low (outside the above range) will affect the normal functioning of the plant systems.

Too high temperatures will cause excessive loss of water leading to wilting and leaf drop while at too low temperatures String of Nickels Plant stops growing and begins to die. Leaf drop is one of the signs of a dying plant.

Solutions

Keep the String of Nickels Plant away from cold draughts like drafty winds, air conditioning vents, open doors and others.

Ensure your String of Nickels 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 18-260C. Usually, a room temperature that is comfortable for you is ideal for String of Nickels Plant.

8. Too Cold Water

String of Nickels Plant is native to the tropical regions where the temperatures remain constantly warm. Therefore, watering this plant with too cold water will shock the plant and it responds with dropping its leaves.

Solutions

Water String of Nickels Plant with water that is at room temperature to avoid shocking this tropical plant.

9. Overfeeding

Overfeeding String of Nickels 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.

Without, adequate food for growth and energy, the String of Nickels Plant begins to drop leaves inorder to save energy.

Solutions

Take care not to overfeed String of Nickels Plant. Feed String of Nickels Plant twice during the growing season with a succulents fertilizer.

String of Nickels Plant is not a heavy feeder so be careful when feeding. Follow the instructions on the label of the plant food to avoid overfeeding.

Regularly flush out the salts from the soil by running a stream of water through the soil until it comes out through the drainage holes and repeat the process several times.

10. Root-rot Disease

String of Nickels Plant is prone to root-rot disease. Root-rot disease is brought about by 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 String of Nickels Plant roots die, they cannot take up water and nutrients to the leaves. The leaves begin to wilt and eventually drop.

Solutions

Take out the String of Nickels Plant from 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 Nickels Plant plant and keep it dry for some time before resuming watering. Read more on how to treat root-rot here.

11. Root Bound Plant

A root bound String of Nickels Plant is one whose roots have filled the pot and there is very little soil to hold water when you water the plant.

Therefore, there is no water for the plant to take up to the leaves. The leaves loss their stiffness and they wilt and drop.

Solutions

Check the bottom of the pot for roots growing through the drainage hole.

Repot the String of Nickels Plant into a pot one size larger than the current one.

Divide the String of Nickels Plant into several sections and plant the sections in individual pots to propagate new plants.

12. Repotting Shock

Repotting String of Nickels Plant may cause it some shock which may lead to some leaves wilting and dropping before it can adjust the new growing conditions.

Solutions

To minimize repotting shock, water the String of Nickels Plant thoroughly one day before repotting as a well hydrated plant experiences less shock and is easier to divide.

Do not make too many changes at once. For instance, after repotting, maintain the String of Nickels Plant in the same location until it is well established before moving it to a new location.

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