Elephant bush or Portulacaria Afra is resilient and needs proper light to grow. When you experience elephant bush dropping leaves, you can change your care and find out the cause.
Although this is an easy-going succulent, they can get sick at any time. And one of the frequent phenomena is elephant bush dropping leaves. With the round leaves growing around the red stem, you can observe the defoliation to give proper treatment.
Follow these signs and treatments to help the elephant bush thrive again.
The Main Cause Of Elephant Bush Dropping Leaves
Elephant bush sheds leaves due to many different reasons during care. Some of the basic causes include too much watering causing the soil to be wet and waterlogged, lack of water, unsuitable soil or pest attack. Below are the details of these causes.
With Too Much Watering, The Soil Is Always Wet
When you water too much without checking the soil moisture, Elephant bush will drop many leaves and become sick. Some fungal diseases or root rot appear when the soil is too wet. The leaves begin to wilt, change color and fall off a lot. Then the stem turns black or mushy.
In the case of poorly drained soil or a humid environment, you need to fix the situation as quickly as possible before the plant gets sick and dies. With indoor potted plants, this situation is aggravated when the plants do not get enough light and the soil cannot dry out as quickly as outdoor plants.
The Tree Is Severely Lacking In Water
Besides, defoliation occurs when the elephant bush lacks water. The leaves are not as succulent as they used to be. They begin to dry out and fall off. Check the soil and watering schedule for special care. Watering intervals also vary depending on the environment and the season of the year.
The process of dropping leaves helps the plant retain water for growth. Detect this phenomenon early to add water to the plant to develop young shoots and plump the leaves.
Soil Is Not Suitable
The cause of elephant bush dropping leaves is soil that does not drain well. Choose a soil mix specifically for succulent plants. You can make sure they get enough nutrients and drain quickly even if you over-water them. Add perlite or pumice to loosen the soil. In addition, gardeners can completely choose a balanced fertilizer to help plants not lose leaves in any case.
To arise from sudden habitat change, defoliation will also occur. Take into account the growing conditions of the soil, temperature, and humidity in the new growing medium when you are thinking about relocating the plants.
Do not plant the plant in a dimly lit location. When moving plants from hot areas to cold areas or vice versa, the phenomenon of leaves shrinking and falling will also occur. Therefore, the suitable temperature for growing is 21 to 29°C.
Some Diseases For Elephant Bush
The main cause of the leaves of elephant bush is the disease that invades mealybugs, spider mites, and gnat fungus larvae. The sources of fungal worms seriously affect the growth of plants. Check the soil, and moisture and place the plant in a location with plenty of light to grow and prevent pests.
Some Ways To Deal With The Above Phenomena
To limit leaf drop in Elephant bush, you need to have a specific care schedule and important notes during watering, fertilizing and removing pests. Do not over-water as this will cause the soil to become waterlogged and create favorable conditions for the growth of fungi. Here are some ways to help you limit leaf drop in this plant.
When The Soil Is Too Wet
You can let it dry completely and remove the plant from the soil. You can then replant it in freshly drained soil. Keep plants away from wet environments to make sure they don’t re-infest waterlogging.
In case the roots begin to rot, you can remove the rotten part and let the plant dry for a few days. Then, plant the plant into the soil to re-incubate the new roots with appropriate nutrition.
Leaf drops and root rot usually appear when you bring the plant home from the store. Therefore, learn planting and care techniques with your favorite strain. Choose the correct soil type, and potted plant, and care when you talk to the shop owner and friends.
When Plants Lack Of Water
You provide plants with water immediately and increase the frequency of watering the next time after checking soil moisture. The leaves become plump again after the special care period. At last, you can use the right fertilizer for the plant.
In addition, the growing environment and type of soil that causes the soil to dry out too quickly also affect your watering process. Properly moistened potting soil also helps with the care you have. Choose a pot that is not too big or too cramped, the right pot will be good for the roots of the plant. When the plant is provided with enough water, new roots will grow and help the plant to become strong again.
Elephant bush can be propagated from leaves or cuttings like many other succulents. However, this process is lengthy and requires precise techniques to complete. You can challenge yourself with your favorite elephant bush care.
After choosing a suitable planting location with lots of light and avoiding strong sunlight, frost, or wet rain, you can add the right nutrients to the plants in good soil. We offer the above suggestions for gardeners to understand this strain throughout their intensive care journey. Don’t hesitate to change your habits to make your garden more vibrant.
To Summarize
The phenomenon of leaf drop occurs in many plants, especially succulent plants such as elephant bush, mainly due to moist soil, dry soil, or changing the care environment with unsuitable soil types. Change the care requirements as in the article we have listed. You will have a beautiful elephant bush garden. Some plant lines also have different leaf expressions that you can learn about.
Stop root rot and fungal diseases immediately before your plants die. Workarounds and suggestions will help you.