12 Reasons Why String of Rubies Plant (Othonna capensis) is Dropping Leaves & Remedies
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String of Rubies Plant may lose it leaves due to inconsistent watering, soggy soil, temperature stress, too little light, being pot-bound, nutrients deficiency, pests infestations, root-rot among others.
Othonna capensis is highly sought after for its striking color transformation and low-maintenance nature. It grows best in very bright light with at least 6 hours of sunlight, warmth of 20-270C, humidity of 50-55% and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained succulents soil coupled with two feedings in the growing season. Learn how to grow and care for String of Rubies Plant.
If the growing conditions are wrong, Othonna capensis may begin to lose its leaves. Here are 12 reasons why String of Rubies Plant may drop leaves and how to solve them.
12 Reasons String of Rubies Plant Leaves are Dropping & Solutions
1. Pest Infestations
String of Rubies Plant is prone to mealybugs, aphids, scale insects and spider mites infestations which are prevent in very dry growing conditions. These sap-sucking insects attack the new growth from where they suck the plant sap and will cause wilting, yellowing and leaf drop.
Remedies
Regularly inspect your String of Rubies Plant for these pests and take timely control measures.
Isolate the affected plant and treat it with neem oil and insecticidal soap as per the manufacturer's instructions.
To minimize pest infestations keep the plant well pruned.
To step-up humidity, group the plants together, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or grow the plant in a well-lit bathroom and other humid areas in the home.
2. Being Pot-bound
A pot-bound String of Rubies Plant is one whose roots have filled the pot which means there is very little soil to hold water when the plant is watered as most of the space is occupied by the roots. This implies that, there is little or no water for the plant to take up to the leaves. Theerefore, the leaves lose their stiffness, they wilt and begin to drop.
Remedies
Check the bottom of the pot, if you find roots growing through the drainage hole, repot your String of Rubies Plant into a pot one size larger than the current one.
You may divide the plant into several sections and plant these sections in individual pots to propagate new plants.
Confirm that the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is loose and well-drained to prevent waterlogging. Check out these succulents pots on Amazon.
3. Nutrients Deficiency
Underfeeding it implies that the plant is not getting enough nutrients needed for growth and energy. Without, adequate food, the plant will begin to lose its leaves to save energy.
Remedies
Feed your String of Rubies Plant twice in the growing season with a balanced, liquid fertilizer for a lush growth. Take care to follow the manufacturer's recommendations on the label of the plant food
4. Poor Quality Soil
If the soil is of poor quality it does not drain easily and therefore it easily becomes compacted or soggy which can lead to root-rot which is characterized by yellowing, leaf drop and eventual death of the plant.
Remedies
Grow your String of Rubies Plant in quality succulents potting mix that is loose, well-drained and rich in organic matter.
5. Root-rot Disease
String of Rubies Plant is prone to root-rot disease which is prevalent in soggy soil. The disease is characterized by wilted, discolored leaves, corky swellings under the leaves and leaf drop. The leaves begin to wilt, turn yellow and eventually fall off.
Remedies
Slip your String of Rubies Plant 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 as indicated by the manufacturer.
Disinfect the pot with the fungicidal solution or use a fresh pot to repot the plant in fresh free-draining soil.
Do not water the plant and keep it dry for some time before you can resume watering.
Use a pot that has a drainage hole and free-draining soil.
Cut down on watering in the cold season to maintain the soil slightly moist as growth is minimal at this time and the plant does not require a lot of water.
6. Too Little Light
Insufficient light implies that the String of Rubies Plant cannot make enough food for energy and growth. In an attempt to save energy, the plant begins to drop its leaves. This way, it saves the available energy for the vital functions to stay alive.
Remedies
Cutback the bare stems to rejuvenate growth and move the String of Rubies Plant to a brighter spot where it will receive bright light with 6-8 hours of morning or late afternoon sunlight.
If you do not have adequate lighting in your home, you may instal full spectrum grow lights to add onto it.
Rotate the pot regularly to ensure that the plant receives light on all sides.
7. Hot Direct Sunlight
Exposing a String of Rubies Plant to hot direct sunshine can cause dehydration and sunscorch which may result in wilting, leaf drop and eventual death of the plant if it is not corrected.
Remedies
String of Rubies grows best under bright light with 6-7 hours of morning or late afternoon sunshine. Keep it away or protect it from hot midday sunshine by instaling a light curtain to diffuse the light.
If you need to take your plant outdoors, do not expose it to hot direct sunlight before acclimating it. Gradually expose it to a little brighter light every day over a period of 2 weeks to acclimate it.
8. Inconsistent Watering
Underwatering your String of Rubies Plant means that there is very little moisture in the soil. As such, the plant cannot take up nutrients and water needed for food making.
On the other hand, overwatering results in too much water in the soil which causes the roots to die. When the roots die, they cannot take up water and nutrients needed for making food.
In both cases the plant does not make enough food for growth and energy. In a bid to save energy, it begins to drop its leaves.
Remedies
Insert your index finger into the top 2-3 inches of soil and feel the soil between your fingers.
If the soil feels dry, immediately water plant liberally until the water comes out through the drainage holes and it should recover.
If the soil feels wet, the plant is overwatered. Stop watering it and repot it in fresh, well-draining soil in a pot with a drainage hole.
Thereafter, water the plant when the top 2-3 inches of soil dry out but do not allow the soil to dry out completely.
9. Soggy Soil
Soggy soil reduces the oxygen concentration in rootzone and this causes the roots to die meaning 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, it begins to lose its leaves.
Remedies
Pot the plant in a pot that has a drainage hole and well-draining soil.
Lessen watering in the cold season to maintain the soil barely moist as growth is reduced at this time.
10. Too Cold Water
String of Rubies Plants are native to the tropical regions where the temperatures remain constantly warm through out the year. Therefore, constantly watering your plant with too cold water will shock the plant. This will result in reduced growth and leaf fall.
Remedies
Water your String of Rubies Plant with water that is at room temperature and avoid watering with too cold water for a prolonged period of time to prevent cold shock.
11. Temperature Stress
Too high temperatures will cause excessive loss of water leading to wilting and leaf drop. At too low temperatures, the plant stops growing and begins to die. Leaf drop is one sign of a dying plant.
Remedies
Keep your Othonna capensis away from drafts like drafty winds, AC units, heat sources, open doors, hot air vents and among others to avoid temperature flactuations. Alternativer place the plant in a warmer spot.
Maintain a warmth of 20-270C; usually, a room temperature that is comfortable for you is ideal for this plant.
12. Aging of the leaves
As your String of Rubies Plant leaves mature, the older leaves begin to turn yellow and die. Therefore, do not be alarmed, if a few leaves turn yellow and drop as this is a natural process.
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