12 Reasons String of Rubies Plant is Losing Leaves | Othonna capensis Dropping Leaves
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String of Rubies Plant may lose it leaves due to cultural faults like improper watering, extreme temperature, exposure to hot direct sunlight, poor soil quality, pests and diseases among others.
String of Rubies Plant thrives in bright light with some direct sunshine, average warmth and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained soil coupled with infrequent feeding during the growing season.
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.
Reasons String of Rubies Plant leaves are dropping and Remedies
1. Underwatering
Underwatering 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 photosynthesis (food making process) to the leaves.
Therefore, since the plant does not get enough food for growth and energy, it begins to lose its leaves inorder to save energy.
Remedies
Insert your index finger into the top 2-3 in. of soil and feel the soil between your fingers. If it feels dry, thoroughly water the String of Rubies Plant immediately until water comes out through the drainage holes.
Thereafter, water the Othonna capensis liberally during the growing season while allowing the top 2-3 in. of soil to dry out between waterings.
Decrease watering during the cold season as growth is reduced at this time but do not allow the soil to dry out completely.
2. Overwatering
Overwatering results in soggy soil (excess water in the soil). Too much water in the soil reduces the oxygen concentration in rootzone and this causes the roots to die.
When the roots die, they cannot take up water and nutrients needed for the food making process. Therefore, the String of Rubies Plant does not make enough food for growth and energy. In a bid to save energy, it begins to lose its leaves.
Remedies
Check the state of the soil; insert your index finger into the top 2-3 in. of soil. If the soil feels wet, the plant is overwatered. Stop watering it and repot it in fresh soil.
To prevent the soil from getting soggy in the future, ensure that the pot for your Othonna capensis has a drainage hole and that the soil is free-draining.
In addition, lessen watering the plant during the cold season to maintain the soil barely moist as growth is minimal at this time.
3. Too Little Light
String of Rubies Plant requires bright light with some morning sunshine for making 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 Othonna capensis begins to drop its leaves. This way, it saves the available energy for the vital functions inorder to stay alive.
Remedies
Cut back the bare stems to rejuvenate growth and move the String of Rubies Plant to a brighter spot where it will receive bright light with some morning sunshine.
Instal a grow light if you do not have adequate lighting in your home. Check out these link to Amazon for full spectrum grow lights.
4. 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.
String of Rubies grows best under bright light with some morning or late afternoon sunshine. Keep it away or protect it from hot direct sunshine by instaling a light curtain to filter the light.
Remedies
If you need to take your Othonna capensis 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.
5. Extreme Temperatures
String of Rubies Plant requires an average room temperature within the range of 20-270C inorder to thrive.
If the temperatures are extreme; either too high or too low (outside the above range) they will affect the normal functioning of the plant systems.
Too high temperatures will cause excessive loss of water leading to wilting and leaf drop. At too low temperatures, Othonna capensis stops growing and begins to die. Leaf drop is one sign of a dying plant.
Remedies
Keep the Othonna capensis away from cold draughts like drafty winds, air conditioning, open doors and others to avoid low temperatures or place it in a warmer place.
Ensure that the String of Rubies Plant is not near hot surfaces, hot vents and other hot areas to prevent extremely high temperatures.
Maintain an average room temperature within the range of 20-270C. Usually, a room temperature that is comfortable for you is ideal for String of Rubies Plant.
7. Improper Feeding
Overfeeding a String of Rubies Plant will cause the roots to die due to fertilizer burn. When the roots die, they cannot take up nutrients and water required for photosynthesis.
Underfeeding a String of Rubies Plant implies that the plant is not getting enough nutrients need for growth and energy.
Without, adequate food for growth and energy, the Othonna capensis will begin to lose its leaves inorder to save energy.
Remedies
Feed String of Rubies Plant twice during the growing season with a Succulents Fertilizer for a lush growth.
Take care not to overfeed the String of Rubies Plant. Follow the instructions on the label of the plant food to avoid overfeeding.
Do not feed it during the cold season as growth is reduced and feeding at this time can result in fertilizer burn and death of the plant.
Flush out accumulated salts from the soil regularly by running a stream of water through the soil until it comes out through the drainage holes and repeat the process several times.
8. 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 Othonna capensis with too cold water will shock the plant. This will result in reduced growth which causes the plant to begin losing its leaves and eventually die.
Remedies
Water 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.
9. Root-rot Disease
String of Rubies Plant is prone to root-rot disease. Root-rot disease is prevalent in soggy soil. The disease is characterized by wilted, discolored leaves, corky swellings under the leaves and leaf drop.
When the soil is soggy, too much water reduces oxygen concentration in the soil which causes the roots to die. Once the roots die, they cannot take up water and nutrients to the leaves. The leaves begin to wilt, turn yellow and eventually drop.
Remedies
Slip the 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.
Disinfect the pot 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.
To prevent the soil from getting soggy, confirm that the pot for your String of Rubies Plant has a drainage hole and that the soil is free-draining.
Reduce watering during 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.
10. Pest Infestations
String of Rubies Plant is prone to mealy bugs, 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 the String of Rubies Plant for these pests and take timely control measures.
Isolate the affected Othonna capensis and treat it with appropriate products like neem oil and insecticidal soap to get rid of the pests.
To minimize pest infestaions keep the plant well watered and increase humidity by grouping the plants together or grow the plant in a bathroom or other humid areas in the home.
11. Root Bound Plant
A root bound 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 drop.
Remedies
Check the bottom of the pot, if you find roots growing through the drainage hole, repot the String of Rubies Plant into a pot one size larger than the current one. Check out these succulents pots available on Amazon.
Divide the plant into several sections and plant the sections in individual pots to propagate new plants.
Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole and that the soil is free-draining to prevent it from getting soggy.
12. 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 negatively impact the growth of the plant.
Othonna capensis requires loose, free-draining soil that does not hold excessive amounts of water as soggy soil can lead to root-rot disease which is characterized by yellowing, leaf drop and eventual death of the plant.
Remedies
Grow the String of Rubies Plant in good quality soil that is loose, free-draining and rich in organic matter like these Cactus and Succulents Soil available online at Etsy.
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