Do you see yellow leaves on your gardenia plant? There could be a lot of reasons, including poor acidity of the soil and lack of iron in the soil, causing these leaves to turn yellow. The yellow discoloration can be treated with a simple home remedy like vinegar. Gardenias are beautiful creamy white, fragrant flowers, and therefore, home gardeners take all the steps to secure the beauty of this plant. Read the article further to know the main reasons for the yellowing of leaves and the ways to treat them.
Reasons for Yellow Leaves in Gardenia
Lack of Magnesium
Gardenia leaves turn yellow if they lack magnesium. Generally, the old leaves are affected first, which turn yellow before dropping from the plant. You can either use a fertilizer with high magnesium content or sprinkle a teaspoon of Epsom salts into the soil around the plant and water it.
Lack of Iron or Manganese
If the new leaves of the gardenia are turning yellow or dropping from the plant, it's likely due to an iron or manganese deficiency. You can conduct a soil test to know the deficient nutrients in gardenia because the symptoms for both deficient nutrients are the same. Use a balanced fertilizer to address the issue. You can also apply iron chelates to the plant if the yellowing is caused by iron deficiency. Home remedies like diluted vinegar and pickle juice also work in this case.
Overwatering
Overwatering or poor soil drainage can cause root rot in your gardenia plant, which leads to yellowing of the leaves. Gardenias love humidity but not soggy roots. To prevent this, you can gently tip it out of the pot or dig a little soil at the base of the plant if it's planted in the ground. Check the roots; if it is brown and squishy, it's an alarming stage. If the root is white and firm, let the excess water drain out of the bottom.
Underwatering
Underwatering can also be the cause of yellowing leaves of gardenia. Water the plant as you notice the top inch of soil feels dry, regardless of whether the plant is kept indoors or outdoors. Also, remember that potted plants need more water than grounded plants.
Insufficient Light and Temperature
Gardenia needs bright, indirect light and ideal temperature for it to thrive. The lack of either can lead to yellowing of leaves. Consider placing your plant where it gets a minimum of 4 hours of morning sun but is also protected from direct harsh afternoon sun. Try to maintain the ideal temperature, that is, 65 to 70 degrees during the day and 60 to 62 degrees at night. It is difficult to maintain this temperature and, therefore, leads to yellowing.
Use Vinegar to Treat Your Plant
How to Use Vinegar?
It's important to check if the alkalinity of the soil is affecting the health of your plant before using vinegar. Buy a soil testing kit or pH meter to test the soil pH. If the pH is higher than required, use vinegar to lower it.
Keep in mind that gardenia needs slightly acidic soil with a pH range of 5.0 to 6.5. After the testing, follow these steps to use vinegar for your gardenia:
-
Mix a cup of vinegar in a gallon of water to prevent any harm to the gardenia.
-
Once the vinegar solution is mixed, apply it to the soil around the gardenias.
-
Distribute the solution evenly using a watering can or sprayer.
-
Do not pour the solution directly on the leaves or flowers, as it might cause sun damage or fungal infections.
-
Test the soil pH regularly and use vinegar if needed to create a better environment for the gardenias to thrive.
Why is Vinegar Helpful?
Vinegar helps the gardenias plant to thrive apart from other benefits of using vinegar. Here are the list of benefits:
-
Apart from maintaining the required pH level in the soil, it can also prevent fungal infections in the flowers. This is because it contains acetic acid, which helps control fungal diseases like powdery mildew.
-
It kills the weeds that hamper the growth of gardenia by using their nutrients and water. Spraying the vinegar mixture directly on the weed kills them without harming the gardenias.
-
Vinegar prevents gardenia from harmful pests, such as aphids, mealybugs, and slugs, as they can damage the plants. Spraying a diluted vinegar solution can repel these pests and prevent further damage.
-
Vinegar also improves nutrient absorption, improving the health of gardenias. The acetic acid present in vinegar breaks down minerals in the soil, making them more accessible to the plants.
Should the Yellow Gardenia Leaves Be Removed?
Generally, the yellow leaves fall on their own because they have turned yellow due to aging. If you feel the yellow leaves are a cause of fungus or rot, snip them off where the leaf meets the branch to prevent further infection. You can also prune off the yellow leaves to improve the growth of the plant. Be careful of the new buds when pruning leaves, as buds are delicate and don't remove more than one-third of the plant in overall pruning.
