12 Reasons for String of Nickels Plant Yellowing Leaves and How to Fix Them
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String of Nickels Plant (Dischidia nummularia) leaves may turn yellow due to overwatering, little light, underfeeding, pests and poor quality soil among others.
Dischidia nummularia thrives in bright light with 4-6 hours of morning sunshine, average warmth of 18-260C, moderate humidity of 50-55% and moderately moist, rich, well-drained, succulents soil with two feedings in the growing season. Read more on how to grow and care for String of Nickels Plant.
If the required conditions are not met, some problems may arise like yellowing and dropping leaves. We have herebelow outlined 12 reasons for yellowing leaves in String of Nickels Plant and their solutions.
12 Reasons why String of Nickels Plant leaves are yellowing with Remedies
1. 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 Inadequate nutrients in the actively growing tips causes nutrients to be withdrawn from the older lower leaves which begin to yellow and drop.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 your 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.
2. Too Little Light
String of Nickels Plant requires bright light with 4-6 hours of morning sunshine to make 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 plant begins to die. The death of the plant begins from the leaves which slowly turn yellow and eventually die. This way, the energy available is saved for the plant's vital functions inorder to keep alive.
Solutions
Move the String of Nickels Plant to a brighter spot where it will receive bright light with 4-6 hours of morning sunshine or instal grow lights if you do not have adequate natural lighting in your home.
3. 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 they suck the plant sap. This causes the plant to become dehydrated which results in yellow leaves.
Solutions
Regularly inspect your String of Nickels Plant for the pests and take timely control measures. Treat it for the pests with neem oil or insecticidal soap as per the manufacturer's recommendations.
4. 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 to avoid getting soggy soil which can lead to root-rot and eventual death of the plant.
Solutions
Pot your String of Nickels Plant in quality, loose, free-draining, cactus and succulents soil that is rich in organic matter.
5. Overwatering
Overwatering String of Nickels Plant results in excess water in the soil, that is, soggy soil. Too much water in the soil reduces the oxygen concentration in the rootzone which causes the roots to die.
When roots die, they cannot take up water and nutrients to the upper parts of the plant including the leaves. Lack of water and nutrients in the leaves implies that they cannot make enough food needed for growth and energy. Therefore, the plant begins to die causing the leaves to begin turning yellow and dying.
Solutions
To avoid getting soggy soil, ensure that the pot has a drainage hole and that the soil is well-drained. Water the String of Nickels moderately and allow the top 2-3 inches of soil to dry out between waterings. Reduce watering in the cold season to maintain the soil barely moist as growth is minimal at this time.
6. Underwatering
Underwatering String of Nickels Plant implies that there is too little moisture in the soil. As such, there is no water in the soil for the plant to take up to the leaves and other parts.
Therefore, the plant cannot make enough food for growth and energy. As such, the plant begins to die from the leaves which turn yellow, then brown and die.
Solutions
Water the String of Nickels Plant moderately during the growing season while allowing the top 2-3 inches of soil to dry out between waterings. Decrease watering in the cold season but do not allow the soil to dry out completely. Learn more on how to water indoor plants the right way.
7. Cold drafts
String of Nickels Plant requires average warmth of 18-260C with a minimum of 150C to thrive. Extremely cold temperatures due to cold drafts will cause the plant to stop growing and begin to die which starts with yellowing leaves.
Solutions
Keep your String of Nickels Plant away from cold drafts like windy doors, drafts windows and other cold areas to prevent cold temperatures. Maintain an average temperature of 18-260C. Usually, a room temperature that is comfortable for you is ideal for the plant. Check out this guide on understanding temperature for houseplants.
8. Overfeeding
Overfeeding String of Nickels Plant will cause the roots to die due to fertilizer burn. When the roots die, they cannot take up water and nutrients to the leaves. The lack of nutrients and water needed for making food for growth and energy signals death for the plant which begins from the leaves. The leaves turn, yellow, brown and eventually die.
Solutions
Take care not to overfeed your String of Nickels Plant. Feed it twice during the growing season with a succulents fertilizer. It 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. Learn more on how to feed houseplants.
9. Aging
Naturally, the older lower String of Nickels Plant leaves will turn yellow and die to give room for growth of new leaves.
Solutions
Remove the yellow leaves to maintain the plant neat and tidy. Trim the bare stems at the beginning of the growing season and use them to propagate new plants.
10. Root-rot Disease
String of Nickels Plant is prone to root-rot which is enhanced by soggy soil. The disease is indicated by wilted, discolored and yellowing leaves which eventually drop and die.
When the soil is soggy, the oxygen concentration in the soil is reduced which causes the roots to die. Once the roots die, they cannot take up water and nutrients to the leaves. The leaves begin to yellow and eventually die.
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 and keep it dry for some time before resuming watering. Read more on how to treat root-rot in houseplants.
11. Root Bound Plant
If the String of Nickels Plant is root bound, the roots have filled the pot and there is very little soil to hold water when you water. Therefore, the plant cannot take up water and nutrients needed for making food for energy to the leaves. Lack of adequate food causes the plant to begin dying which starts from the leaves which turn yellow and die.
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 to provide adequate room for growth or divide it to propagate new plants. Take a look at these succulents pots on Amazon.
12. Repotting Shock
Repotting String of Nickels will cause it some shock which may lead to some leaves wilting and turn yellow before it can adjust the new growing conditions.
Solutions
To minimize repotting shock, water your String of Nickels Plant thoroughly one day before repotting. 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 plant in the same location until it is well established before moving it to a new location.
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