The rich colors of Azalea flowers grace our homes like no other indoor plants. They are ornamental, hence their care is a bit different.
Azaleas also face a lot of problems. One of these problems is the shedding of leaves.
So, you might be asking yourself, why are my azalea leaves dropping?
Overwatering and inappropriate temperature are the prime reasons. Besides that, insufficient light, alkaline soil, and transfer shock can cause the leaves to drop. Diseases and infestations are also responsible for this problem.
These are the reasons why your azalea plant leaves are dropping. However, you might want to know further about the reasons and solutions. Read along to know the tips for growing azaleas.
Let’s get started-
Contents
Azalea Leaves Dropping: Why And What To Do?
Azaleas can uplift our boring days with their various colors. But like any other plant, azaleas require a lot of attention.
Otherwise, there might be problems like leaves yellowing and shedding. In extreme cases, all the leaves shred, and the plant dies.
Before that happens, we need to take steps to cure the azaleas. The first step to cure your plant is inspecting it. Then we’d be able to take our countermove accordingly.
In this article, we’re going to walk you through a series of reasons that could cause possible shedding. This will help you to identify and take the necessary action required. You’ll soon find your azaleas healthy and blooming again.
So it’s time to put on our gardening hat and get to work-
Reason 1: Too Much Water
One of the most common reasons for leaves dropping is overwatering. This is not just for Azaleas but for all other indoor plants. For instance, overwatering causes hoya leaves to turn yellow. We tend to believe that indoor water requires more water. And that’s when we go overboard.
This ruins the health of our precious plants. And the excess moisture causes various problems Which also leads to the shedding of dying leaves.
Solution
The steps of solutions to overwatering should be quick. The first step for you would be to check the soil before watering. For which, you need to check the surface and two-inch below the soil‘s surface.
If they are completely dry, you’re okay to water. Otherwise, you’ll have to skip watering for the next few weeks.
The next step is to check the roots. For this, you have to uproot the plant from the pot. This’ll help to identify the rotten roots. Which you can chop them off. Preventing further spread of the rot. Make sure you dispose of the rotten parts carefully.
The last step is to repot the whole plant. Repotting the Azalea to a new soil will help the plant to survive the overwatering accident.
And they will adapt to the new healthy soil. Make sure all the mushy roots were chopped before planting on the new soil.
Reason 2: Alkaline Soil
There is another major reason your plant might be shedding leaves. Which is the pH of the soil. As for Azaleas, they grow well in acidic soil. So if their soil has a pH level of less than 7, their growth will be boosted.
Similarly, the Azaleas can’t thrive if the soil pH level is alkaline. Which means the level has to be more than 7. This causes waterlogging in plant roots. As a result, the nutrition channel gets blocked.
Alkaline soil prevents the plant from making the required chlorophyll. This is the reason the plants suffer from a lack of nutrition and sheds the leaves. You need to be quick before it’s too late.
Solution
To solve this problem, you have to test the soil pH level using a pH meter. If the soil is alkaline, then start the treatment of your plant.
The easiest way to reduce the alkalinity is to put lemon juice on the soil once every day. The amount of juice depends on the pot size. You can also try using other acidic materials.
However, your plant is also suffering from a lack of other mineral nutrients. Such as iron. So you can apply chelated iron to the plant. You can try to spray the diet on the plants. That way, your leaves, and stems will get the essential nutrients on their tissues within the day.
Reason 3: Transfering The Plant
You might have to change the soil of your plant for a number of reasons. And, naturally, your plant will face a transplant shock. Even if no mistakes were made in this process.
That’s because the roots take some time to adapt to the new soil. They grow a new system to provide nutrition to the plant body.
While the roots try to adapt, the leaves start wilting due to insufficient nutrition. And ultimately starts shedding. This is a natural process and can’t be avoided entirely.
Solution
Although the process can’t be avoided entirely, you can surely take steps to reduce the shock. And that includes your 100% attention.
This recently transplanted Azalea requires regular watering and inspection. This will allow the root to develop quickly in the new soil.
Reason 4: Insufficient Light
Azaleas love the sun just like any other plant. They need at least 4 hours of sunlight. They also thrive under partial light.
If your plant is located in a dark place, that’s what’s causing the leaves to drop. It also causes the azalea leaves to turn black.
If plants didn’t receive enough light, they didn’t produce sufficient chlorophyll. Because without light, plants can’t do photosynthesis.
Solution
All you need to do is move the plant and place it in a brighter room. Also, the relocation process needs to be smooth. So that the plant doesn’t face any other difficulty.
If that’s impossible, you can try using artificial light. Such as fluorescent lights. This will work exactly like the sunlight. And the plants will not face any problem with their photosynthesis process.
Reason 5: Variation Of Temperature And Humidity
If none of the reasons above are causing the Azalea to shed leaves. Then it’s probably the variation of temperature. Besides, the humidity level is an important aspect of growing Azalea plants.
The ideal temperature for azalea plants is 22 °C/71.6°F in summer. And in winter, it’s 15 °C/59°F. Any temperature beyond this will affect the plant. Resulting in leaves dropping. The reason is that Azaleas can’t adapt to high temperatures easily.
Azaleas also have a hard time growing in low humidity. Because they require moisture and especially when they are blooming. Generally, they grow well in 80% air humidity. That’s why low humidity might cause the leaves to shed.
Solution
If you find the leaves and stems extremely rough and dry, then there’s a temperature problem. The solution is very simple.
In case of temperature variation-
All you have to do is bring the temperature down. You can either do it with a room cooler. Or spray the plant to help the dry leaves moisturize. This will bring the temperature down significantly.
In case of low humidity:
Try to keep the humidity of the room at 80%. For that, you can use a room humidifier.
If buying one isn’t possible, you can also try making a humidity tray.
So follow these steps, and you’ll see the azalea leaves stopped dropping.
Reason 6: Disease And Pest Infestation
If none of the above treatments work, then there’s only one possibility left. And that is a pest infestation or any kind of disease. You might notice tiny insects on the leaves or stem. Or some parts of the plants might become wilted. These are the symptoms of a pest attack.
Spider mites, aphids, mealybugs, whitefly insects, etc can attack the leaves. And diseases such as rust can also affect the leaves.
Solution
For diseases and infections, you need to take immediate steps. The first step is to cut off the diseases and infected parts. Then washing the plant with soap water will eliminate the insects and infections. Also, use insecticides to keep the bugs and diseases away.
Now that you know your reasons for Azalea leaves dropping, get to the action immediately.
FAQs
Question: How often do azaleas need to be watered?
Answer: Two to three times a week. Since Azaleas don’t like dry environments, they demand a lot of moisture. Especially in summer. You should also make sure they are not moist for a long time.
Question: Why are my azalea leaves falling off?
Answer: The reasons for azalea leaves falling off can be many. These include overwatering, infections, insufficient light, temperature variation, and many more.
Question: What is the best fertilizer for azaleas?
Answer: Slow-release fertilizers that contain a mix of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. They boost the growth and provide the right amount of nutrients to Azaleas.
Signing Off
Now you know what to do when Azalea leaves are falling off. Just make sure you dispose of the rotten or infected parts of the plants carefully.
Let us know if we’ve answered your question- why are my azalea leaves dropping?
Until then, keep making the world green.
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