Azaleas are loved primarily because of their colorful flowers and can be found in many homes, gardens and parks. However, if they get yellow leaves, their appearance suffers. Find out what you can do to avoid yellow leaves here.
Why do azaleas get yellow leaves and how can you avoid it?
Yellow leaves on azaleas usually arise from a lack of iron or nitrogen, caused by excess lime in the irrigation water or soil. This can be remedied by setting a pH value of 4.5 to 5, fertilizing with nettle broth and watering with low-lime or rainwater.
What causes yellow leaves on the azalea?
If the leaves of your azalea turn yellow, the cause is usuallyChlorose(lack of chlorophyll). This is usually due to aIron or nitrogen deficiencyPlants need these nutrients in order to properly develop their green leaves. If they are missing, the leaves fade and the plant suffers. In most cases, an excess oflime in irrigation water or in the soil causes chlorosis. Too much lime prevents the plant's roots from absorbing enough iron. But persistent drought can also hinder nutrient absorption.
What can I do if the azaleas get yellow leaves?
If your azalea suffers from chlorosis, also known as bleaching disorder, you should adjust theplant soil to a pH value between 4.5 and 5To do this, add sand and compost to the soil on. FertilizeThen add nettle broth to your azalea. In addition to nitrogen and potassium, it contains numerous minerals.
Watering In the future, only use rainwater or low-lime water to avoid another nutrient deficiency. Also water regularly to prevent the root ball from drying out. However, be careful not to create waterlogging.
How do I prevent chlorosis and thus yellow azalea leaves?
To avoid chlorosis in advance, you shouldwater with water that is as lime-free as possibleIdeally, you should water withRainwaterIf this doesn't suit you available, you should check the limescale content of your tap water.
Soften or filter the water if it is too limescale. To keep your plant he althy and strong, you can give it regular water in the summer give a tonic. Homemade nettle broth is very suitable here.
What other causes can yellow leaves on azaleas have?
AlsoMildew(fungal disease) can initially cause yellow leaves on the azalea. Later, the typical white coating forms.
Another occasionally occurring fungal disease isEarlobe diseaseIt causes yellowish-green thickenings, especially on young leaves. Should If you notice a fungal infection, affected leaves must be removed immediately to prevent further spread. Dispose of the leaves in household waste or burn them. Do not put them in the compost, otherwise the fungus can spread.
Tip
How to determine the limescale content of your tap water
Lime consists of calcium and magnesium ions. The hardness of water indicates how many of these minerals are dissolved in the water. Ask your municipal utility about the hardness of the water. If your tap water is particularly hard (more than 2.5 mmol calcium carbonate per liter), you should filter it before watering your plants. The water hardness is also given in °dH (degree of German water hardness).
