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 inconsistent watering, soggy soil, insufficient light, cold drafts, pest infestations, nutrients deficiency, salts buildup among others.
Watermelon Dischidia grows best in bright light with 4-6 hours of morning sunshine, warmth of 18-260C, humidity of 50-55% and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained soil coupled with two feedings during the growing season. Learn 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. Inconsistent watering
Underwatering implies that there is too little moisture in the soil. Therefore, there is no water in the soil for the plant to take up to the leaves and other parts meaning 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.
Overwatering results in excess water in the soil, which reduces the oxygen concentration in the root area causing the roots to die. Thus, they cannot take up water and nutrients to the upper parts of the plant including the leaves which begin to yellow and drop.
How to fix it
Water your Watermelon Dischidia when the top 2-3 inches of soil dry out and do not allow the soil to dry out completely. Do not water on a schedule
2. Soggy soil
Excess water results in soggy soil which reduces the oxygen concentration in the root area resulting in death of the roots. This implies that the roots cannot take up water and nutrients to the leaves which begin to turn yellow and die.
How to fix it
Use a pot with a drainage hole and well-draining soil to avoid waterlogging.
Cut down on watering in fall and winter to maintain the soil barely moist as growth is minimal at this time.
3. Insufficient light
Insufficient light implies that the plant cannot make enough food for energy and growth. In an attempt to save energy, the leaves begins to die; they slowly turn yellow and eventually die. This way, the energy available is saved for the plant's vital functions inorder to keep alive.
How to fix it
Move your Watermelon Dischidia to a brighter spot where it will receive bright light with 4-6 hours of morning sunshine or use full spectrum grow lights if you do not have adequate natural lighting in your home.
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. Soggy soil can lead to root-rot which is characterized by yellowing leaves.
How to fix it
Pot your Watermelon Dischidia in loose, free-draining that is rich in organic matter. Most Cactus and succulents mixes are perfect as they drain easily.
5. Nutrients deficiency
Enough nutrients are needed 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.
How to fix it
Feed your Dischidia ovata with a slow release fertilizer twice in the growing season. Take care not to overfeed; follow the manufacturer's instructions.
6. Salts buildup
Excess salts in the soil will result in fertilizer burn which kills the roots meaning they cannot take up water and nutrients to the leaves. The lack of nutrients and water needed for making food signals death for the plant which begins from the leaves; they turn yellow, brown and eventually die.
How to fix it
Regularly flush out accumulated salts by running a stream of water through the soil until it comes out through the drainage holes and repeat the process several times.
7. Pest Infestations
Watermelon Dischidia is prone to spider mites, scale insects, aphids and mealybugs. 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.
How to fix it
- Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to other plants.
- Treat the plant with an insecticidal soap or neem oil as per the manufacturer's recommendations.
- Regularly check underneath and between the leaves for these pests and carry out timely control measures.
- Maintain the plant well pruned and elevate humidity to depress the pest infestations.
8. Cold drafts
Extremely cold temperatures due to cold drafts will cause the plant to stop growing and begin to die which starts with yellowing leaves.
How to fix it
Keep your Dischidia ovata away from sources of cold drafts like windy doors, drafts windows and others to maintain a warmth of 18-260C. Usually, a room temperature that is comfortable for you is ideal for the plant.
9. Root-rot disease
Dischidia ovata 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.
How to fix it
- Carefully slip the plant out of its pot and inspect the roots; brown-black mushy roots indicate root-rot.
- Trim the rotten roots and treat the healthy roots with a copper-based fungicidal solution as recommended by the manufacturer.
- Repot the plant in fresh, fast-draining soil and a pot with a drainage hole.
- Place the plant in bright light and stop watering for a few days to give it enough time to recover.
10. Being pot-bound
When the plant is pot-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 enough water and nutrients needed for making food for energy. Lack of adequate food causes the plant to begin dying which starts from the leaves which turn yellow and die.
How to fix it
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 may cause it some shock which may lead to some leaves wilting and turn yellow before it can adjust the new growing conditions.
How to fix it
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 on Dischidia ovata will naturally, turn yellow and die to give room for growth of new leaves.
How to fix it
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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