Help the development of the site, sharing the article with friends!
Growing avocados at home is becoming increasingly popular. Just one core of the right type of avocado is enough to grow a tree that can be attractively integrated into the living environment with its flair. It is not difficult to grow a buttercup, but there are many mistakes that can be made when caring for them, resulting in brown and dried-up leaves.
Is your avocado getting brown or dry leaves? The big advantage: Usually only minor measures are necessary to bring the plant back into shape and to enjoy the tropical plant. Before taking any action, you need to find out what is causing the problem.
causes
Brown or dried up leaves on the avocado are usually open care mistakes attributed to this, since these laurel plants (bot. Lauraceae) are extremely robust plants that are rarely attacked by diseases or pests. However, since the avocado is dependent on precise care measures, small mistakes can lead to a stressful situation, which is reflected in brown and dry leaves. There isn't just one cause to look out for, as avocados can be upset by several mistakes. The advantage: there is a suitable solution for all of these, with which you can save your little tree.
lack of water
Lack of water is the most common cause of brown and dry leaves on Persea americana. Since it is a tropical plant, it needs sufficient moisture and does not survive long periods of drought. You can tell if it is a lack of water by the following symptoms:
- Earth very dry
- Leaves turn brown at the top and dry
- in severe cases they crumble
- may extend to the leaf margin
This problem often occurs on particularly hot days or in winter when the plant is too close to the heater and for this reason gets a lot of dry air. If this happens, increase the water additions and see if the avocado recovers. Only when entire leaves have dried up or turned brown are they removed. Don't forget to water when the avocados droop their leaves. Only from this point on does it depend on water supplements.
Low humidity
Low humidity often goes hand in hand with too much dryness. This is especially the case in winter, since German apartments are usually dry and only have stagnant air. This is particularly noticeable in the leaves, which, despite regular water additions, are increasingly drying up and turning brown. In this case, proceed as follows:
- use lukewarm water
- this should be low in lime
- Spray leaves directly every two to three days
This is very important over the winter. Over the summer you will need to mist the foliage less often unless it is very hot and the crop is in direct sun. You do not need any special utensils for this care step, a conventional, clean spray bottle is sufficient. Alternatively, you can place a humidifier near the avocado. This regulates this automatically and you can save yourself the additional spraying.
tip: In addition to the actual humidity in the room, the leaves can dry up if the plant is in direct drafts. For this reason, it is best to choose a place away from windows and doors that are opened frequently, especially in winter.
waterlogging
Waterlogging is usually worse than drought. This causes the roots to begin to rot and this rot can continue into the trunk. Check your substrate and if it is too wet, repot the plant immediately. When repotting, be sure to check the roots and remove any rotten or dead ones with a sharp knife. This is the only way to avoid the spread of rot, which could lead to the possible death of your entire plant. Feel free to remove more of the roots. Avocados are hardy and will hold up as long as any rotten parts have been removed.
over-fertilization
Many people like to fertilize avocados too much, although the plants are still quite frugal in the first four to six months. During this time, they use the nutrients from the core and can thus sprout quickly and effectively. Therefore, you should only fertilize half a year after sprouting from the core. The plants are fertilized every four to six weeks with one of the following fertilizers, which are added to the irrigation water:
- citrus fertilizer
- green plant fertilizer
- balcony plant fertilizer
- universal fertilizer
- container plant fertilizer
Wrong substrate
Be sure to use the right substrate for the avocado. The trees often do not tolerate classic soil and react to it with withering and brownish leaves. For the tropical plants is above all palm soil recommended as it offers the best properties for growth. Compacting substrate is particularly bad, as this prevents the sensitive roots from functioning properly. So repot your avocados with the right soil to restore vitality to the leaves.
space issues
Check if the roots of the Persea americana reach the edge of the pot or have enough space left. The more constricted the avocado is, the more difficult it becomes for it to stock up on nutrients. The result is dry and brown leaves that just don't show any improvement despite the ideal care. If this is the case, simply repot as usual and give the plant a little more space. The effect is usually noticeable within a short time.
Wrong location
Is your avocado in the blazing sun? Then the plant suffers from sunburn and heat stress. The laurel plants should never be in the direct sun for too long, as this can cause them to suffer from sunburn, which ends up with the symptoms mentioned above. The location should be as follows:
- Light requirement: bright
- no direct sun, especially around midday
- only old avocados tolerate the midday sun
In summer you can put your specimen in the garden, because the fresh air and the sun optimize growth outdoors. It also protects against spoiling, which is a typical problem with avocados. Just move your copy and it will feel at home in a suitable place.