12 Reasons for Million Hearts Plant Yellowing Leaves and their Remedies
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Million Hearts Plant or Dischidia ruscifolia leaves may yellow due to overwatering, underwatering, underfeeding, too little light, cold drafts and pests among others.
Dischidia ruscifolia grows best in bright light away from direct sunlight and moderately moist soil.
It requires warm temperatures and loose, free-draining, bark soil that is rich in organic matter.
If the right conditions are not provided, the plant may develop some problems like yellowing leaves and death. We have outlined herebelow some causes of yellowing leaves in Million Hearts Plant and their remedies. Keep reading.
12 Causes of yellowing leaves in Million Hearts Plant (with Remedies and Solutions)
1. Too Little Light
Million Hearts Plant 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 plsnt 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 Million Hearts Plant to a brighter spot where it will receive bright light with some morning sunshine or instal a grow light if you do not have adequate natural lighting in your home.
2. Overwatering
Overwatering Million Hearts Plant 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.
When the 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 and death begins from the leaves which turn yellow and die.
Solutions
To avoid getting soggy soil, ensure that the pot for Million Hearts Plant has a drainage hole and that the potting mix is loose and rich in organic matter, bark soil like this quality Orchid Potting Mix available on Amazon.
Water Dischidia ruscifolia liberally during the growing and allow the top 2-3 inch of soil to dry out between waterings to keep the soil moderately moist.
Reduce watering during the cold season to maintain the soil barely moist as growth is minimal at this time and thereore the plant does not require much water.
3. Pest Infestations
Million Hearts Plant is prone to spider mites, scale insects, aphids and mealy bugs infestation.
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 the plant for the pests and take timely control measures.
Treat the Dischidia ruscifolia appropriately for the pests with appropriate products like neem oil or insecticidal soap among others.
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.
Dischidia ruscifolia requires loose, free-draining soil that does not hold excessive amounts of water as soggy soil can lead to root-rot disease which is caharacterized by yellowing leaves.
Solutions
Pot the Million Hearts Plant in good quality soil that is loose, free-draining and rich in organic matter like this Orchid Potting Mix.
5. Root-rot Disease
Dischidia ruscifolia is prone to root-rot disease which is promoted 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 the Dischidia ruscifolia 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 plant immediately but keep it dry for some time before resuming watering. Read more on how to treat root-rot here.
6. Underwatering
Underwatering Dischidia ruscifolia 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 Million Hearts Plant thoroughly during the growing season and allow the to 2-3 in. of soil to dry out between waterings to maintain the soil moderately moist.
Cut down on watering in the cold season to keep the soil slightly moist but do not allow the soil to dry out completely.
7. Cold draughts (drafts)
Million Hearts Plant requires average room temperatures with a minimum of 180C inorder to thrive.
Extremely cold temperatures due to cold draughts will cause the plant to stop growing and begin to die which starts with yellowing leaves.
Solutions
Keep the Dischidia ruscifolia away from cold draughts (drafts) like windy doors, drafts windows and other cold areas to prevent cold temperatures.
Maintain an average room temperature with a minimum of 180C. Usually, a room temperature that is comfortable for you is ideal for this plant.
8. Overfeeding
Overfeeding Dischidia ruscifolia 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 Million Hearts 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.
9. Underfeeding
Underfeeding Million Hearts 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 Dischidia ruscifolia twice during the growing season with a succulents fertilizer. Take care not to underfeed and follow the instructions on the label of the plant food.
10. Root Bound Plant
If the Dischidia ruscifolia 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 ruscifolia into a pot one size larger than the current one to provide adequate room for growth or divide it to propagate new plants.
11. Repotting Shock
Repotting Million Hearts Plant 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 for your Dischidia ruscifolia, water the 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 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 ruscifolia 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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