Admittedly, the myrtle has a lot of leaves. If she loses a few of them, the branches will still remain green. But what do you do when the leaves just won't stop falling? Something can't be right! So the myrtle doesn't stand there with bare branches.
Why is my myrtle losing leaves?
If a myrtle loses leaves, the causes can be poor lighting conditions, soggy soil or stress caused by changing location or repotting. For optimal care, ensure there is enough light, avoid waterlogging and reduce relocation.
A sensitive plant
The myrtle is one of the oldest potted plants because it has been cultivated by humans for thousands of years. In ancient Greece, the shrub was even considered a symbol of beauty and youth. But the plant only conveys a vital image if it keeps all of its leaves together.
As an evergreen plant, the myrtle is supposed to show us densely green branches all year round. But some living conditions cause it to have patchy foliage:
- poor lighting conditions
- soaked earth
- Change of location or repotting
Lots of green – high light requirements
The myrtle needs a lot of brightness to satisfy the light needs of the numerous leaves. As an evergreen plant, it needs to be in a bright location throughout. While this requirement can easily be met in summer, in winter it may be necessary.a plant lamp (€89.00 at Amazon) will help out.
Furthermore, even in an ideally lit location, the light must be able to penetrate unhindered to all the leaves. However, due to the very dense foliage, which is very beautiful in itself, the leaves shade each other. Over time, this can lead to baldness inside the crown. That's why the myrtle needs to be thinned out at regular intervals.
Tip
Use the cutting material you get to propagate the myrtle. The cuttings are first rooted in water and then potted.
Wetness damages the roots
Sunny myrtle bushes are extremely thirsty and need to be watered almost every day. In winter, however, they only need modest amounts of water. Satisfying your water balance as needed is a challenge. The roots must not remain wet for long.
If the myrtle is exposed to waterlogging for a long time, it will lose more and more leaves. Because the affected roots can no longer provide the entire supply.
- repotting a myrtle that is too wet in fresh soil
- Use a pot with drainage holes
- Create drainage layer
- Always water when the top layer dries
- Pour away excess water promptly
Relocation and repotting
In the long term, a new location can prove to be beneficial, but initially it will cause stress to the plant. This also applies to repotting, even if it is urgently necessary. As a result, the myrtle may lose some leaves during the acclimatization phase.
Be patient, because the myrtle will sprout again. However, you should not expect any further changes from her afterwards and give her the care she requires.
