Reasons why mandarin leaves fall and methods for saving the plant

Mandarin is popular with citrus growers because it looks attractive all year round. It is an evergreen deciduous plant that, with proper care, blooms and bears fruit even at home.

Falling leaves in citrus fruits are a clear sign of a violation of the rules of care, damage by diseases and pests, or a stressful situation. A healthy tree does not shed its leaves. Why mandarin leaves fall and how to save it, read on.

Reasons for falling leaves in indoor mandarin

Falling greens in tangerines is a rare phenomenon... If several leaves have fallen off the tree, but the crown has not thinned out from this, you should not worry. The lifespan of each sheet plate is 3 years. Then they fall off, and new greenery grows in their place.

Slight leaf fall can be observed in autumn, usually in November, but this will also not affect the density of the crown. This phenomenon is associated with the cyclical nature of plant life.

If the leaves fall in large numbers, the plant is examined for infection and pests, and also change the cultivation technology. Such a problem speaks of errors in leaving.

Note! Mandarin is an evergreen plant. Abundant leaf fall should not be observed even in the cold season.

Unsuitable growing conditions

Indoor citruses are demanding on conditions cultivation... In uncomfortable climates, they begin to shed their leaves and turn yellow. The following unfavorable factors are the cause of this problem.

Low or high temperature

For mandarin, the most comfortable room temperature is considered (+ 20 ... + 22 ° С), but the indicators can vary within + 18 ... + 26 ° С. If the temperature is below + 2 ° C, the tree freezes, loses leaves and dies. At temperatures less than + 15 ° C, the plant enters a dormant state, in which it will stay for several months. If, with the arrival of spring, the degree does not rise to a comfortable level, the tree will begin to shed its leaves. At temperatures above + 30 ° C, the tangerine crown will dry out.

Temperature changes

Sudden changes in temperature are detrimental to mandarin. The problem arises if you take a tree outside the apartment, bring it back into the house, or send it for the winter without preliminary hardening. To avoid leaf fall and other symptoms of stress, the plant is brought into new conditions gradually, increasing the time of stay there every day.

Drafts

They are dangerous for citrus fruits and often cause wilting, yellowing and crown dropping. Mandarin should not be placed next to an open window or placed on a window in winter, the cracks of which are blown by a cold wind.

Lack of lighting

Leaves fall off if the tangerine is in the active growth phase under intense light for less than 12 hours. To avoid a problem, the plant is placed on a southern or southwestern windowsill. If there is not enough light, fluorescent lamps are used.

Scorching sun exposure

Direct sunlight for a tangerine tree is as harmful as lack of light. From 12:00 to 16:00 the sun can scorch the leaves. During this period, the window is shaded with a translucent curtain.

Reduced humidity

Citruses are tropical and subtropical plants. They need high humidity. To ensure suitable conditions, the tree is sprayed daily with warm water in summer, spring and autumn. In winter, if the tangerine pot is in a cool room, you do not need to do this.

If he stands in a heated room, spraying continues, and a humidifier or a container of water is placed near the citrus. If the tree is on a windowsill, under which there is a battery, a damp rag is hung on the device to protect the plant from hot, dry air.

Improper wintering

In winter, citrus needs a state of rest. To provide it, the temperature is lowered to + 8 ... + 10 ° С. This should be done at least once every 3 years. Otherwise, the tree will become depleted, dry up and shed its leaves.

Care errors

The reason for the abundant leaf fall often lies in improper care. Consider the most common gardening mistakes that cause this problem.

Waterlogging of the soil

If soil is poured, water will stagnate... In such conditions, quickly multiply fungi and bacteria, the root system rots, nutrients are washed out of the soil. All this causes leaves to fall off.

In order not to face such a situation, the tangerine is watered as the top layer of the soil dries up with a small amount of water in summer and 2-3 times a week in winter.

Dry ground

Rare watering also does not contribute to the normal development of citrus fruits. Dry soil provokes the development of some types of fungi and pests, and also prevents the absorption of nutrients.

Lack of transfers

Transplants are done as the pot is filled with the root system. If this is not done, the plant will be cramped, it will not be able to fully develop, and the roots will begin to die off. For several years, the soil in the pot is depleted and saturated with harmful salts. This cannot be corrected by feeding, a complete replacement is required. soil.

Incorrect transplant

When replanting a tangerine, it is important to work carefully. With significant damage to the root system, the leaves dry and fall off. The same happens if too small a container is selected for transplanting.

Lack of elements

Flowers, green ovaries, and ripe fruits are often present on tangerines. This plant spends a lot of resources. So that it has time to recover and does not dump the greens, top dressing is applied every 1-2 weeks.

Sour soil

Citrus requires a slightly acidic or alkaline soil. In acidic soil, problems begin with the crown (leaves and branches).

Watering with cold water

For watering lemon, water is used, the temperature of which is as close as possible to the indicators in the room. The cold liquid damages the roots and causes them to rot.

Diseases

Many diseases eventually lead to leaf fall. It is from this that the tree dies. The list contains the most common mandarin diseases with a similar symptom:

1. Chlorosis. Occurs with iron deficiency. This leads to both the lack of dressings with the desired element, and watering the tangerine with chlorinated water or the use of fertilizers with chlorine. To get rid of the problem, iron sulfate is added to the soil.
2. Malsecco. The main symptom of this disease is dropping of leaves by the plant. Moreover, they begin to fall from the top. The disease is not treated, the diseased citrus is thrown away.
3. Gommoz. Also leads to thinning of the crown. The disease is recognized by characteristic cracks in the bark and gum secretions. To save the plant, the affected areas are cleaned with a sharp knife, after which they are treated with garden pitch and copper sulfate.
4. Root rot... The disease affects only the root system, therefore, it is possible to notice it only in the later stages, when the leaves turn yellow and leaf fall has begun. To save a tree, it is dug up, the root is washed with warm water, after which all the affected areas are cut off. The remaining root system is disinfected with copper sulfate. The treated plant is transplanted into disinfected soil, watered with a root formation stimulator and provide greenhouse conditions.

Pests

Pests are no less dangerous than diseases. Moreover, the greatest threat is borne by those that feed on plant sap. It is they who lead to abundant leaf fall and the imminent death of the mandarin:

1. Shield. On the trunk and the underside of the leaf plates, yellow or brown convex formations appear along the veins. To remove the larva, the affected areas are wiped with kerosene or scraped off with a knife directly from the pest. After the main treatment, the tree is washed under the shower and sprayed with soapy water.
2. Spider mite. The inner side of the leaf plates is covered with cobwebs and small, often red insects. To get rid of the pest, the tree is washed in the shower and then sprayed with soapy water. The procedure is repeated every 5 days at least 3 times.
3. Aphid. The inner side of the leaves and young shoots are covered with colonies of green or black insects. They are fought with like a spider mite.
4. Thrips. Small black or transparent insects. The method of fighting is the same as with aphids or spider mites.

How to save a tangerine tree

If the problem lies in the repeatedly flooded soil, watering is temporarily stopped. When the soil dries out, the tree is dug up, the root system is examined for diseases and damage. The tangerine is then transplanted into a new disinfected soil. It is recommended to water it at first not directly, but by pouring water into a pan under the pot.

With prolonged overdrying of the soil, you cannot immediately water the tangerine abundantly. Water is poured into the pot little by little, making 2-hour breaks between waterings. After two days, they begin to water the tangerine according to the correct scheme.

Normalizes the room temperature. The plant is placed on the southern windowsill. Correcting other shortcomings.

After eliminating the cause of the fall leaves, the mandarin is resuscitated. This process consists of the following steps:

1. The tangerine is covered with a bag, the edges of which are fixed on the pot. This will help create the greenhouse conditions necessary for plant recovery. The package is removed every day for 15-30 minutes.
2. It is advisable to remove the tree from the windowsill for a while. Instead, a phytolamp or a luminescent device is placed near it, which should work for at least 12 hours.
3. Every day the plant is sprayed with Epin solution. Once a week, add "Kornevin" to the water for irrigation.

Such conditions are provided to tangerine until new leaves begin to appear on it. After that, the frequent use of growth stimulants is stopped, and the duration of ventilation is increased, gradually completely disassembling the greenhouse.

To accelerate the growth of green mass, fertilizing with nitrogen (ammonium nitrate) is introduced. It is also recommended to add superphosphate and potassium salts to the fertilizer.

When young leaves become larger, the tree is watered with a solution of trace elements or a multicomponent fertilizer prepared according to a folk recipe.

Other problems and methods of solving them

In stressful situations and when improper care mandarin leaves may not fall off, but change the view for the worse. By the way they look, they judge the cause of the problem.

Leaves dry

If the leaves turn yellow, curl inward and dry, the reason lies in poor and rare watering or lack of lighting. In both cases, not only greens but also branches often dry out.

To remedy the situation, resume the normal watering of the mandarin. The pot with the tree is moved to a well-lit place.

Note! In summer, it is useful to display the tangerine in the garden or balcony.

The tips dry out or the leaves turn yellow

If the tips of the leaves dry out, the problem lies in over-watering. To remedy the situation, the plant is not watered until the soil is at least half dry. Then the tangerine is transplanted or watered with a light pink solution of potassium permanganate.

The same symptom occurs with dry air. Regular spraying of the crown and installation of a humidifier in the room will help to cure tangerine.

The leaves turn yellow and become stained if the plant is affected by spider mites or other pests. How to deal with them is described above. The reason often lies in disease.

Mandarin dropped all the leaves

If absolutely all the leaves have fallen from the tree, this indicates the extreme degree of neglect of its condition. This can happen for any of the reasons described above, if the citrus grower has ignored the alarming symptoms for a long time.

Note! Mandarin will drop leaves abruptly if the soil has been very dry and then flooded.

What to do if the mandarin has dropped all the leaves:

1. It is placed in greenhouse conditions. To do this, put a bag on the tree, which is fixed on the pot. Air the tangerine every day, removing the bag for 15-20 minutes.
2. Every day the crown and trunk of the tree are abundantly sprayed with warm Epin solution.
3. At this stage, the plant is not watered. It is recommended to put a wet floristic oasis, expanded clay or ordinary cotton wool soaked in water in the pallet under it.

In such conditions, the tree will remain until shoots or leaves appear on it. After that, the plant is watered with Kornevin solution and the duration of airing is increased.

When leaves and shoots grow back, dry branches and other parts of the plant are cut off. The cut sites are covered with garden pitch.

Preventive measures

It is not always possible to save a mandarin that is losing its foliage. Therefore, it is important to follow the rules of prevention:

• provide frequent watering with a small amount of warm water;
• spray the tree with a spray bottle;
• deposit every 2 weeks feedingalternating mineral and organic;
• provide optimal temperature and light performance;
• wash the mandarin in the shower every week;
• inspect for pest damage;
• harden the plant before taking it to new conditions;
• transplant the first 3 years annually, then once every 2-3 years.

Conclusion

Mandarin is an evergreen plant. With proper care, it has a beautiful, dense crown of the correct shape. Each year, inflorescences and fruits are formed on it.

A healthy mandarin should not shed its leaves. However, the fall of several leaf plates is not a reason for panic, but a completely natural process. It's time to sound the alarm only if the tree is rapidly "balding". This symptom suggests that the cultivation technology is violated.