Chives are actually a very robust herb - the plant is rarely attacked by pests or fungal diseases, and it also forgives care mistakes quite quickly. With one exception: the chives do not suffer from extreme heat and drought, which is indicated by the yellowing of their leaves. But don't worry: wilted chives can be saved.
What to do if the chives turn yellow?
Chives turn yellow due to extreme heat, drought or waterlogging. To save wilted chives, cut the plant to 2 cm above the ground and provide adequate water and regular fertilization.
Drought causes wilting
Drought damage is initially shown by isolated yellow stalks, which, however, multiply quickly and also become brown and dry. Of course, chives that have dried out in this way can no longer be used in the kitchen because they have lost their intense aroma and their characteristic juicy firmness. Yellow leaves usually appear in summer heat periods and when chive plants in the pot in particular have not been supplied with sufficient water. Chives are one of the herbs that need a lot of water - chives are thirstier the warmer it is and the sunnier the location - and should therefore be watered regularly. Ideally, potting soil should always be moist, but not wet. Under no circumstances should chives dry out.
Saving wilted chives
Fortunately, unlike other plants, dried chives can be saved with a very simple measure: a radical cut. Cut off not just the wilted leaves, but the entire plant down to about two centimeters above the ground. The still green stalks can be easily frozen or otherwise preserved. The cut chives will sprout again within a few weeks, so you can harvest again in four to six weeks at the latest.
Strengthen chives with fertilizer
In addition, you can strengthen the plant, which has been severely weakened by the drought, with fertilizer and thus stimulate its growth. Use a liquid herb or vegetable fertilizer (€23.00 on Amazon), preferably organic, and enrich the irrigation water with the additional nutrients. Fertilizer in liquid form reaches the roots more quickly and therefore takes effect more quickly.
Tips & Tricks
In some cases it is not dryness but, on the contrary, too much water that is to blame for the yellowing of the chive leaves. Waterlogging promotes the establishment of fungi, which in turn cause root rot. As a result, the plant can no longer adequately supply its above-ground parts and dries up. If waterlogging occurs, the only solution is to immediately move the plant to fresh substrate.