Find What Makes Leaves Shrivel in Plants and How to Save Them with this detailed post and make your plant keep thriving.
Read this post and learn What Makes Leaves Shrivel in Plants and How to Save Them with simple tips. Many conditions make the foliage look wrinkled; you can easily fix them by following easy tricks.
What Makes Leaves Shrivel in Plants and How to Save Them
1. Dehydrated Plants
Thirsty plants shrivel and percolate instantly when you water them. The affected foliage appears soft and leathery, whereas badly drought-affected plants show flagging, limp, dry brown leaves.
How to Fix: Adequate soil moisture is the key to avoiding such issues. Water the plant thoroughly according to its type and climatic conditions (hot or cold).
Remember that outdoor plants continue to drink water in winter, so it is necessary to hydrate them in the fall before winter arrives and the ground freezes, especially for evergreens and newly cultivated plants.
2. Overwatering
Overwatering causes shriveled foliage in indoor plants. When soil is entirely saturated with water and lacks oxygen, roots fail and cannot absorb water efficiently.
How to Fix: Allow the plant to dry out between waterings. Use your finger to check the soil moisture. Read about signs of overwatering and how to save an overwatered plant here.
3. Heat Stress
Heat stress causes fast evaporation, so leaves curl up to preserve moisture. Plants placed near high-intensity lights can lead to heat stress, but it can be an issue in any home where the temperatures are constantly above 80 F.
How to Fix: Install fans to extinguish hot air and bring cool air. To prevent this, watch the temperature in the room and around the upper area of plants. Maintain consistent ventilation and provide adequate spacing between the plants and light.
4. Pests
Many pests make leaves shrivel. Aphids, for example, can deform leaf appearance and cause shriveled foliage. Whiteflies and thrips are some other pests that can cause shriveled or curled foliage.
How to Fix: Aphids can be seen on the growing tips and undersides of leaves; spray them using insecticidal soap. If the infestation is serious, cut the affected parts.
5. Cold Weather
Extreme cold temperatures can starve and freeze the cells of plants, stopping the natural paths for water and nutrients. This makes the foliage shriveled and parched.
How to Fix: If the leaves are shriveled or parched, it could be because the plant was placed near an air-conditioning vent or close to a window that catches a cool breeze. Chilling air blustering directly on plants can strip off their moisture.
Check the plant’s location; if it is kept in an air-conditioned room, move it to a room that is not air-conditioned.
6. Low Humidity
Dry air and low humidity in homes can make the leaves dry, yellow, and shriveled; it is also a sign that plants require more humidity. People who live in cool climates face this issue the most.
How to Fix: You can save the plants by placing them on a tray filled with water and pebbles or grouping them together. You can also install a humidifier to boost the humidity around the plants.
7. Over Fertilization
Overfertilization can lead to many problems, including brown leaf margins, leaf drop, black-brown or rotting roots, and yellow wilting or shriveled lower leaves. Some beginner gardeners tempt the plant to fertilize more in the greed of fast growth, which results in a weak plant that is susceptible to pests and diseases.
How to Fix: Every plant has specific fertilization needs; usually, plants have to be fertilized in spring and summer. If you find it difficult to ascertain when and how to fertilize a plant, follow the instructions on the label. In the case of a new plant, ask the nursery staff about its feeding requirements.
Avoid feeding the plant when plants go dormant in fall and winter. Keep the soil moist while using fertilizer, or feed the plant when watering.
