12 Reasons Why Watermelon Dischidia Leaves are Yellowing and How to Fix Them
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Watermelon Dischidia (Dischidia ovata) leaves may turn yellow due to overwatering, underwatering, little light, cold drafts, pests and underfeeding among others.
Watermelon Dischidia grows best in bright light with 4-6 hours of morning sunshine, average warmth of 18-260C, moderate humidity of 50-55% and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained, succulents soil coupled with two feedings during the growing season. Read more on how to grow and care for Watermelon Dischidia (Dischidia ovata).
If the correct conditions are not given, the leaves amy begin to yellow and die. We have herebelow outlined for you 12 reasons for yellowing leaves in Watermelon Dischidia and their solutions.
12 Reasons for Watermelon Dischidia yellowing leaves and remedies
1. Overwatering
Overwatering Watermelon Dischidia results in excess water in the soil, which means, soggy soil. Too much water in the soil reduces the oxygen concentration in the root area which causes the roots to die. Thus, 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 and death begins from the leaves which turn yellow and die.
Solutions
To avoid getting soggy soil, ensure that the pot has a drainage hole and that the soil is loose and well-drained. Water Dischidia ovata moderately and allow the top 2-3 inches of soil to dry out between waterings. Reduce watering for the Watermelon Dischidia during the cold season to maintain the soil barely moist as growth is minimal at this time.
2. Underwatering
Underwatering Dischidia ovata 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, it begins to die from the leaves which turn yellow, then brown and die.
Solutions
Water the Watermelon Dischidia moderately during the growing season and allow the to 2-3 inches of soil to dry out between waterings. Reduce watering during the cold season but do not allow the soil to dry out completely. Learn more on how to water houseplants the correct way.
3. Too Little Light
Watermelon Dischidia requires bright light with some 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 Dischidia ovata 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 Watermelon Dischidia to a brighter spot where it will receive bright light with 4-6 hours of morning sunshine or use grow lights if you do not have adequate natural lighting in your home. Check out these full spectrum grow lights on Amazon.
4. Poor Quality Soil
Poor quality soil does not drain well and easily becomes compacted or soggy which can negatively impact the growth of the plant. Dischidia ovata requires soil that does not hold excessive amounts of water. Soggy soil can lead to root-rot which is characterized by yellowing leaves.
Solutions
Pot your Watermelon Dischidia in good quality soil that is loose, free-draining and rich in organic matter. Cactus and succulents mixes are ideal as they drain properly.
5. Underfeeding
Underfeeding Watermelon Dischidia 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 Dischidia ovata in the growing season with a slow release fertilizer as per the manufacturer's instructions.
6. Overfeeding
Overfeeding Dischidia ovata 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. Feed your Watermelon Dischidia 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.
7. Pest Infestations
Watermelon Dischidia 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 Watermelon Dischidia for the pests and take timely control measures. Treat it appropriately for the pests with neem oil and insecticidal soap. Ensure to follow the instructions on the label.
8. Cold drafts
Watermelon Dischidia requires average temperatures of 18-260C 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 Dischidia ovata away from cold drafts from windy doors, drafts windows and other cold areas to prevent cold temperatures. Maintain an average warmth 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.
9. Root-rot Disease
Dischidia ovata is prone to root-rot which is enahnced 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
Carefully slip the Dischidia ovata 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 but keep the plant dry for some time before resuming watering. Read more on how to treat root-rot in indoor plants.
10. Root Bound Plant
If the Dischidia ovata 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 Dischidia ovata 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.
11. Repotting Shock
Repotting Watermelon Dischidia may 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 the plant thoroughly one day before repotting. A well hydrated plant experiences less shock and is easier to divide. Avoid making 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.
12. Aging
The older lower leaves of Dischidia ovata will naturally, 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.
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