Why does milkweed turn yellow and leaves fall: what to do for treatment

Table Of Contents

Causes of foliage problems and what to do about it
What diseases and pests adversely affect the condition of the leaves

Euphorbia (as an ornamental flower is scientifically called) is a modest, unassuming plant. But some flower growers, especially beginners, do not take into account the individual nuances of growing and caring, and then wonder why the leaves suddenly turn yellow and fall off the milkweed.

Causes of foliage problems and what to do about it

Although the flower is not too capricious, this does not mean that it does not need any care. The main condition for growing indoor milkweed is location. From direct sunlight, euphorbia leaves can get burned, which means that the shady side is more suitable.A draft is just as dangerous as a cold temperature. Euphorbia is a thermophilic flower.

If the leaves turn yellow and fall off

It happens that the plant turns yellow and the leaves fall off. Illness can cause yellowing.

By autumn, spurge grows more slowly, begins to prepare for winter. During this period, the leaves turn yellow. You should not be afraid, because this is a normal natural phenomenon. The flower will relax, calm down, and by spring the young foliage will become even more magnificent. Euphorbia is characterized by the fall of the lower old leaves, and new ones grow higher. But that's no cause for concern either.

Throws leaves

It happens that a flower sheds its foliage long before preparing for winter. This is a distress call.

Sometimes stress can cause leaves to turn yellow and fall off:

lack of fertilizer;
lack of light;
presence of drafts, cooling;
Wrong watering.

If these factors are excluded, nevertheless, sometimes it happens: the leaves wither, fall, obviously, the problem is serious.

The stem and leaves are withering

Euphorbia consumes a lot of useful raw materials from the ground for a short time, and then lacks nutrients, which can cause the stem to wither, the leaves to turn yellow.

The flower needs constant nourishment. It needs to be fed more often, at least twice a month, especially in winter.

Changed the angle of the leaves

If you take care of milkweed incorrectly, it will droop, its leaves will bow. This means that the problem lies in the roots of the plant, they have rotted from excess moisture. To save euphorbia, it is transplanted:

Carefully taken out of the pot, inspected, cut off rotten roots with a knife.
Places of the cut are powdered with activated carbon.
In this case, we must not forget about the drainage of expanded clay or crushed stone.
Plant spurge in a new pot with different soil.

When working with a plant, you must be careful, remember that the milk of the flower is poisonous. May cause severe burns, irritation, allergic reaction on contact with skin.

In winter, euphorbia is not watered as often as in summer. After winter, the plant needs more moisture, increased watering is resumed.

What diseases and pests adversely affect the condition of the leaves

If all the conditions for keeping milkweed, caring for it are met, and the flower still withers, withers, turns yellow, falls off, then it is sick. Fungal and viral diseases can cause this condition.

Root and stem rot

The disease is noticeable by black dents on the stem. They appear just above ground level, increase, spread along the stem. Later they get inside and destroy plant tissues. The stem breaks, the flower dies.

The following circumstances could lead to decay:

nitrogen overfeeding;
frequent watering;
high air temperature;
lack of light;

For the treatment of euphorbia in the early stages of the disease, systemic fungicides are used ("Ridomil", "Previkur"). The flower is stopped watering, the nutrient medium is changed.

Grey Rot

The causative agent of the disease is a fungus. Brown spots form on the leaves of the plant, as if rotten. The spots grow, cover the entire leaf. High air humidity accelerates the development of the fungus, which is why the pathogen does not leave a he althy place on the leaves, they turn gray.

The plant becomes infected through the soil, water. In this environment, the fungus lives for a long time. Circumstances supplementing the threat of disease:

oversaturated air;
poor ventilation of the room;
excess nitrogen in the earth.

Fungal disease is treated with systemic fungicides ("Bona forte", "Bravo" and others). As a preventive measure, in order to avoid illness, it is necessary to monitor the humidity of the air, plant the plant in disinfected soft soil.

Rust

The surface of the leaves is covered with brown, as if rusty, oval-shaped layers. Then they join and form rusty ribbons. Usually mushrooms appear on the inside of the leaves, may be on the petioles. Occasionally, red ribbons appear on the stem of milkweed.

If the flower is left untreated, it will die. Fungicides will help save spurge. Proper watering of the plant and spraying will prevent the appearance of rust.

Alternariosis

Fungal disease is manifested by the appearance of large dark spots on the foliage of euphorbia. More often they affect depleted, aged leaves. Excess moisture, too warm air enhance the development of fungal infection. The source of the disease may be the soil in which live pathogens have survived.

"Skor", "Ridomil Gold" - systemic fungicides that will cure the fungus if it has managed to hit the flower. Biological fungicides ("Fitosporin", "Bactofit" and others) are used as preventive measures.

Bacteriosis

With this disease, spurge grows poorly, develops, does not bloom. Foliage, stem covered with brown, as if rusty spots. A strange discharge with an unpleasant odor follows from the spots. Excess moisture, nitrogen in the soil contribute to the rapid development of the disease.

Europe is treated with care, because it is through mechanical damage that the infection enters the plant.

Powdery mildew

Fungal disease. Foci with a fluffy dark gray coating appear on the leaves. Before that, the foliage dries up. The disease is contagious, the infection is carried by the wind. Too hot weather, dryness, lack of moisture in the soil aggravate the situation. Proper care of milkweed will help prevent the disease. If the flower is sick, they are treated with antifungal drugs ("Topaz", "Fundazol").

Tobacco mosaic

The causative agent of the disease is a virus. The infection is most often spread by whiteflies. Diseased leaves are deformed. Spots appear on the leaf plate: white, yellow and even reddish. As a preventive measure, they are treated with insecticides. The source of the disease can be infected cuttings. Planting he althy cuttings will get rid of the tobacco mosaic.

Red Spider Mite

A half-millimeter spider mite eats young leaves of milkweed.It is small enough to see the harmful insect with the naked eye. The appearance of white, yellow spots on the leaves of the plant indicates the presence of a tick. Infected seedlings are separated from he althy ones, doused with a solution of laundry soap, which is rubbed on a fine grater.

From a tick, the plant is treated with acaricides, for example, "Aktara". Urgent action is taken at the first sign of a tick as the insects spread quickly.

Aphid

Signs of the disease are manifested in a change in the shape of milkweed leaves, they curl, look underdeveloped, ugly. Then they begin to turn yellow and fall off. Loss of color in some areas. The plant stops growing and developing.

Sometimes yellow and light green insects are picked by hand and can be seen with the naked eye. Branches with large lesions are removed. The flower is treated with "Fitoverm", "Aktellik", "Decis".

Root Mealybug

Parasites infect the root system of milkweed. They gather on the roots of the plant in colonies in the form of scattered flour. With a strong infection, pests are visible.

The plant stops growing and developing. Euphorbia leaves turn yellow, dry out, fall off.

At the first sign of the appearance of insects, in order to save the spurge, they dig it up with the roots, free it clean from the soil, and treat it with insecticides. The bowl from under the flower is disinfected, fresh earth is poured. Before planting, the roots are carefully examined for any parasites.

Whitefly

Clusters of insect larvae can be observed from the inside underside of milkweed leaves. They live by feeding on the juice of plant cells. They appear as yellow and white marks. The leaves of the plant curl up, change from green to yellow, die off.

The offspring of the whitefly is greenish, while the adult parasite is white. The midge can be easily seen. Heavily infested areas are removed and the spurge is treated with insecticides at least once every three days.

Mosquitoes on milkweed

Mosquitoes themselves are not dangerous to the flower. But they leave their larvae on the plant, which will feed on milkweed. The offspring of mosquitoes, although small (larvae 0.5 cm), but poses a serious threat to young seedlings. Sick seedlings are separated from he althy ones. As a preventive measure, the soil is treated with insecticides. To get rid of mosquitoes, they hang sticky tapes.

The causes of yellowing, dying of leaves lie in the wrong care. Subject to all the recommendations of flower growers, the threat of infection is minimal. In order for the spurge to be he althy, to please with flowering, it is necessary to regularly inspect the plant and take action in time.