To help the plant, you need to know why the arrowroot leaves turn yellow
Maranta is the favorite of many florists, but this plant requires careful care. During her growing quite often the question arises why the arrowroot leaves turn yellow. The main thing is to identify the negative factors that caused this phenomenon, and eliminate them.
Description
Arrowroot is a very interesting plant, but at the same time whimsical. With proper care, it will delight the eye with beautiful leaves. There are several varieties of the flower, but the most common is white-headed arrowroot... In the upper part of the leaf there are spots of dark green color and white stripes extending from the central vein, below the color of the leaves is bluish-green. Arrowroot flowers are inconspicuous, they are formed between the leaves.
By evening, the arrowroot leaves rise to the top and are folded together. And in the morning, the leaves straighten out again and take their usual position. For this feature, the British call the arrowroot "prayer plant".
Her homeland is tropical Brazilian forests, and the plant is named after the physician Bartolomeo Maranta.
Arrowroot leaves sometimes turn yellow. In this case, it is imperative to analyze external factors that could negatively affect the plant.
The procedure for caring for arrowroot at home
If you keep arrowroot at home, you must follow strict rules for its care. The main thing is to maintain the necessary conditions:
- lighting;
- temperature regime;
- humidity;
- soil composition;
- acceptable capacity.
In more detail each criterion described below.
Lighting, temperature, humidity
These factors are the basis for the correct content of arrowroot. She does not like drafts and temperature changes. Strong lighting can cause the color of the leaves to be less saturated and the size of the leaf plates to decrease. Therefore, it is advisable to keep it in diffused light, avoiding direct sunlight. Arrowroot treats very well artificial lighting... The grower can use conventional fluorescent lamps, thereby providing the plant with light for up to 16 hours a day.
Sometimes the arrowroot stops lift leaves. This means that it is necessary to find the detrimental factors.
The optimum temperature for keeping arrowroot is 23-24 ° C.
Watering plants in winter should be limited, water should be of moderate softness and room temperature. Excessive moisture can damage the roots. Leaves that have withered or dried must be carefully removed.
Experts advise to spray flower with a special fine spray to prevent water droplets from leaving traces on the leaves.
So that the bush does not grow, you need to cut it. Cuttings are cut along with the knot from which they grow leaves. This measure contributes to the more rapid formation of new leaves.
It is a common occurrence when arrowroots dry the tips of the leaves. This is the first sign that it will soon wither and main foliage. Identifying the cause is the main task of the flower owner. More details on possible negative factors are described below.
Soil and capacity
The soil should be rich in composition, but the presence of lime is unacceptable. The soil should be slightly acidic with a pH of about 6.
When planting arrowroot, you can add a few chunks of charcoal, bark, or a couple of handfuls of sand to the soil mixture to make it lighter and more airy.
In the off-season, a couple of times a month it is advisable to feed the flower with fertilizers for domestic plants.
Arrowroot has creeping roots, therefore it is recommended to keep it in wide, shallow containers. Dishes should be well drained. Each next pot should be more than the previous one by at least 2-3 cm.
The arrowroot transplant is carried out alone once a year or two years in the spring.
If arrowroots curl leaves, this is due to a violation of the conditions of its maintenance. Should check each of them and bring back to normal.
Reproduction
Most often, arrowroot is propagated cuttings. They can be placed directly into the soil and covered with any container (jar, plastic bottle or regular bag). It is also allowed to place the cutting into the water until the roots appear. At home, arrowroot takes root very long.
It is advisable to take several cuttings for growing at once and place them in conditions of high humidity.
Another breeding method is division of the bush itself. In this case, growing a new plant is somewhat easier.
What if the arrowroot dies? For various reasons, the plant can fade, wither or turn yellow. Then it is best to cut it at the root. It is advisable to do this closer to winter. The trimmed plant is recommended to be removed in a dark place and periodically to water. Within 1-1.5 months, arrowroot will give new leaves. After this the sheared bush will grow more lush with large leaves.
Why do arrowroots turn yellow leaves
The plant will "warn" the grower in advance that the arrowroot leaves will soon turn yellow. At first, the tips of the leaves will turn slightly pale, after which they will turn slightly yellow. This shade will gradually spread to the entire surface of the leaf.
As a rule, the reason why arrowroot leaves turn yellow is due to improper care of it:
- When transplanting or even simply moving the pot with the plant, it gets stressed, which can lead to yellowing of the leaves. In this case, you need to wait until the flower adapts and returns to normal.
- Too low air temperature and cold drafts have an extremely adverse effect on the foliage of the plant.
- If the arrowroot is in a sunny place, then sunburn can be the cause of yellowing. The foliage of the flower is very sensitive to scorching rays.
- Inadequate watering and spraying has a negative effect on both the general condition of the plant and the appearance of the leaves.
- Excessive moisture in the soil may also be the reason, as a result of which the roots begin to rot. In this situation, the flower should be watered less frequently.
- Pest infestation is the most obvious factor. Insects can be seen with the naked eye. In this situation, it is recommended to wash the leaves with soapy water. In extreme cases, treatment with insecticidal sparing agents will help.
Thus, there are several factors why arrowroot leaves turn yellow. They need to be identified in time and try to eliminate. Proper care will allow the flower to grow stronger, and it will delight the eye for a long time.