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Zanzibar gem 'Dowon'
Zanzibar gem 'Dowon'
Zanzibar gem 'Dowon'
Zamioculcas zamiifolia 'Dowon'
Also known as : Aroid palm 'Dowon', Emerald palm 'Dowon'
Hardiness Zones
Hardiness Zones
10 to 13
care guide

Care Guide for Zanzibar gem 'Dowon'

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Soil Care
Soil Care
Sand, Loam, Slightly acidic, Neutral
Details on Soil Care Soil Care
Ideal Lighting
Ideal Lighting
Full shade, Partial sun
Details on Sunlight Requirements Ideal Lighting
Ideal Temperature
Ideal Temperature
10 to 13
Details on Temperature Ideal Temperature
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Zanzibar gem 'Dowon'
Water
Water
Every 2 weeks
Sunlight
Sunlight
Full shade
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Questions About Zanzibar gem 'Dowon'

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Watering Watering Watering
Pruning Pruning Pruning
Sunlight Sunlight Sunlight
What is the best way to water my Zanzibar gem 'Dowon'?
The best way to water your Zanzibar gem 'Dowon' is to water the soil directly with rainwater or distilled water rather than tap water. Tap water often contains particles that can harm this species. While other plant species may respond well to overhead watering, this is not the case for the Zanzibar gem 'Dowon'. In fact, overhead watering can be quite detrimental to this plant as it drastically increases the odds that a moisture-related disease, such as rot, will arise. To avoid this complication, use a watering can, a cup, or a garden hose to pour water directly onto the soil. Continue applying water slowly until the entire soil area has become moist. Once the soil is entirely moist, you should stop watering right away, as watering this plant too much is one of the main ways to cause its decline. If there is a tray, then you can water from the bottom by adding some water to the bottom of the tray. Usually after 30 minutes - 1 hour, the soil will gradually absorb the water and become moist. When the surface of the soil is found to be moist, it indicates that the soil is completely moist and the watering is finished. After that, pour off the excess water from the tray to avoid overwatering.
Read More more
What should I do if I water my Zanzibar gem 'Dowon' too much or too little?
Resolving the issue of underwatering your Zanzibar gem 'Dowon' is somewhat straightforward. Typically, all you will need to do is begin giving this plant water on a more regular basis, along with pruning any leaves or stems that have died because of a lack of water. After a while, you’re Zanzibar gem 'Dowon' should return to full health. Fixing overwatering can be a bit more difficult. Your first step should be to reduce your watering schedule. Meanwhile, make sure that the place where you grow your Zanzibar gem 'Dowon' has good ventilation and proper light conditions. You should also check your soil’s drainage and correct it as needed to ensure that excess water does not have the chance to collect near your plant’s roots. When overwatering leads to disease, you’ll also need to treat that disease. Often, this means removing the parts of the plant that have been affected by the disease. Overwatering will make the plant die gradually, so please be very cautious when watering your Zanzibar gem 'Dowon'.
Read More more
How often should I water my Zanzibar gem 'Dowon'?
There are two main ways to decide when to water your Zanzibar gem 'Dowon'. The first way is to monitor the moisture of the soil. Observe the soil around your Zanzibar gem 'Dowon' and wait until the surface has become completely dry. Once that has occurred, it is permissible to add water to this plant. The second way is to set a regular watering schedule for your Zanzibar gem 'Dowon'. If you choose this route, you should plan to water this plant about once every two weeks. The frequency may change depending on the growth stage of your plant, the weather and the location. It's suggested testing the moisture of the soil every time before watering rather than simply following the schedule.
Read More more
How much water does my Zanzibar gem 'Dowon' need?
Provide enough water to soak the soil entirely each time you water Zanzibar gem 'Dowon'. Potted Zanzibar gem 'Dowon' is relatively easy to judge when you have given enough water, all you need to do is water until you see excess water draining from the bottom of the container. Providing enough water for Zanzibar gem 'Dowon' growing in the ground is a bit more difficult to judge. In those cases, just make sure to soak the soil thoroughly during each watering before allowing it to dry completely once again. In some circumstances, rainfall is enough for your Zanzibar gem 'Dowon' to stay healthy and you don't need to water it over a long period of time.
Read More more
How can I tell if i'm watering my Zanzibar gem 'Dowon' enough?
As is true with nearly any plant, it’s possible to overwater and underwater your Zanzibar gem 'Dowon'. As such, you should know the signs of overwatering and underwatering in advance to make sure that you can correct your watering practices before it is too late. Of the two issues, overwatering is a more prevalent concern and is more likely to be a problem for the Zanzibar gem 'Dowon'. Overwatering will likely result in discoloration and deformation in the leaves and stems of this plant. It may also lead to moisture-related diseases such as root rot or black spots. By contrast, an underwatered Zanzibar gem 'Dowon' may not contract a disease. Instead, it’s more likely to have dry, drooping leaves or brown leaf margins. Underwatered Zanzibar gem 'Dowon' may also drop many of their leaves to the ground.
Read More more
How should I water my Zanzibar gem 'Dowon' through the seasons?
The frequency of your watering for the Zanzibar gem 'Dowon' should change depending on the season. For example, your Zanzibar gem 'Dowon' will likely have higher water needs during the hotter summer months than it will during the cold winter months. As mentioned, you should water your Zanzibar gem 'Dowon' about once every two weeks, or when the soil has become completely dry, during most of the growing season. When winter arrives, your Zanzibar gem 'Dowon' will need much less water. Often, it will survive the winter with just one watering every month. Giving too much water during winter is another way to increase the odds that your Zanzibar gem 'Dowon' will contract a disease.
Read More more
How should I water my Zanzibar gem 'Dowon' at different growth stages?
For most of one Zanzibar gem 'Dowon'’s life, its water needs will remain the same. However, there are some differences in how you should water this plant while it is very young. If you have a very young plant that has yet to establish itself, or you are growing this plant from a seed that you wish to germinate, you’ll need to give more water than usual. During establishment, most plants need additional moisture to help their roots establish themselves. For a very young Zanzibar gem 'Dowon', you can water it more frequently. Once the plant has become established, you can use the regular watering frequency of about once every two weeks during the growing season.
Read More more
What's the difference between watering Zanzibar gem 'Dowon' indoors and outdoors?
Your watering habits for the Zanzibar gem 'Dowon' should take into account whether or not your plant grows indoors or outdoors. In some instances, Zanzibar gem 'Dowon' that grows outdoors may not need any supplemental water at all, as it will be able to survive on rainwater alone. However, during long periods of no rain, it’s sensible to water an outdoor Zanzibar gem 'Dowon' about once per month. Zanzibar gem 'Dowon' that grow indoors won’t have access to naturally falling rainwater and will instead rely entirely on your watering practices. In those instances, you should follow the regular watering guidelines for this plant, which include watering about once every two weeks during the growing season and about once per month in winter. If you want to know better about watering your Zanzibar gem 'Dowon', please try our app.
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Key Facts About Zanzibar gem 'Dowon'

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Attributes of Zanzibar gem 'Dowon'

Lifespan
Perennial
Plant Type
Succulent
Bloom Time
Mid summer, Late summer, Early fall
Leaf type
Evergreen
Ideal Temperature
20 - 41 ℃
Growth Rate
Slow

Scientific Classification of Zanzibar gem 'Dowon'

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Common Pests & Diseases About Zanzibar gem 'Dowon'

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Common issues for Zanzibar gem 'Dowon' based on 10 million real cases
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Nutrient deficiencies
Nutrient deficiencies Nutrient deficiencies
Nutrient deficiencies
A lack of nutrients will cause a widespread yellowing of the leaves. The yellowing may begin at the base or top of the plant.
Solutions: There are several easy ways to remedy the nutrient deficiencies in soils. Use a water-soluble fertilizer. Fertilizers will include most or all of the macro and micro-nutrients the plants need to thrive. Adding some fertilizer to the soil will make those nutrients available and can combat deficiencies. Regularly apply organic fertilizer pellets. Organic fertilizers such as animal manures and bonemeal can supply plants with all the nutrients that they need to grow strong and healthy. Apply compost. Though not as finely tuned as artificial fertilizer, compost can nevertheless be rich in important nutrients and should be applied to the soil regularly. Apply nutrients via foliar application. In addition to supplementing the soil with nutrients, foliar fertilizer can be applied directly to the plant's leaves. Nutrients offered via foliar application are often taken up even quicker than those put in the soil, so the foliar application can be great for swiftly addressing specific deficiencies.
Aged yellow and dry
Aged yellow and dry Aged yellow and dry
Aged yellow and dry
Natural aging can cause leaves to turn yellow and dry out.
Solutions: If the yellowing and drying of leaves and flowers is a natural progression due to age, nothing can be done to slow or stop the process. Once hormones within the plant begin the process of senescence, it’s irreversible.
Underwatering
Underwatering Underwatering
Underwatering
Leaves may wilt for a variety of reasons.
Solutions: The easiest (and most obvious) way to address underwatering is to fully hydrate the plant. However, this must be done carefully. A common mistake that many gardeners make is to douse their underwatered plants with water. This can overwhelm the roots of the plant and shock its system, something that can be even more damaging than the lack of water to begin with. Instead, water thoroughly and slowly, taking breaks to let the water slowly saturate through the soil to get to the roots. Use room temperature water, as cold water might be too much of a shock. In the future, shorten the time between waterings. A good rule of thumb is to check the soil around each plant daily. If it’s dry to at least two inches down, it’s time to water. If a container plant is repeatedly drying out very quickly, repotting into a slower-draining container might be a good idea, too.
close
Nutrient deficiencies
plant poor
Nutrient deficiencies
A lack of nutrients will cause a widespread yellowing of the leaves. The yellowing may begin at the base or top of the plant.
Overview
Overview
Nutrient deficiencies can be seen in many different ways on plants. Basically, the lack of nutrients will inhibit plant growth, produce weak stems and leaves, and leave plants open to infection from pests and diseases. Plants use the nutrients from the soil to help them with photosynthesis. This, in turn, produces healthy plant growth. Plants that lack adequate amounts of nutrients will look lackluster and unhealthy. Eventually, if this is not addressed, it will cause the plants to die. The most important nutrients that plants need are nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur. Additionally, plants require small amounts of micronutrients such as iron, boron, manganese, zinc, copper, and molybdenum.
Symptom Analysis
Symptom Analysis
A common sign that plants are experiencing nutrient deficiencies is the yellowing of leaves. This may be an overall yellowing or leaves that are yellow but still have green veins. These leaves will eventually brown off and die.
Another sign is the loss of plant vigor. The plants may not be growing as well as they should or their growth may be stunted.
Below are some common symptoms that appear when plants are lacking in nutrients.
Nitrogen (N): Inner, older leaves yellow first. If the deficiency is severe, yellowing progresses outward to newer growth.
Potassium (K): Leaf edges may turn brown and crinkly, with a yellowing layer forming just inside of the edge. Older leaves tend to be impacted first.
Phosphorus (P): Lack of vigorous growth. Plants will appear stunted.
Zinc (Zn): Yellowing tends to occur first at the base of the leaf.
Copper (Cu): Newer leaves begin to yellow first, with older leaves yellowing only if the deficiency becomes severe.
Boron (B): Newer leaves are impacted first. Foliage may also become particularly brittle in cases of boron deficiency.
Disease Cause
Disease Cause
There are several factors that can lead to nutrient deficiencies, a situation where plants are not receiving the nutrients that they need. This could be because they are planted in nutrient-deficient soils, or that the soil's pH is too high or low. Incorrect soil pH can lock up certain nutrients, thus making them unavailable to plants. Lack of soil moisture can also be a problem, because plants need water to be able to absorb the nutrients from the soil.
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Aged yellow and dry
plant poor
Aged yellow and dry
Natural aging can cause leaves to turn yellow and dry out.
Overview
Overview
Regardless of the type of plant or where it is grown, at some point, it will begin to aged yellow and dry. This is a natural, unavoidable process that happens when the plant has completed all of the steps in its life.
Annual plants go through this process at the end of a single growing season. Perennial plants live for multiple years, if not tens or hundreds of years, but will still ultimately exhibit these symptoms.
Symptom Analysis
Symptom Analysis
When plants have progressed through their natural developmental stages and are nearing the end of their lifecycle, they begin showing signs of decline. Leaves will start to yellow and droop, and over time they turn papery brown and dry.
Once completely dry, the leaves begin to fall from the plant until the entire plant has dried out.
Disease Cause
Disease Cause
At the end of its life, genetic coding within the plant increases the production of ethylene, a phytohormone that controls senescence or natural aging and death. Cell division stops, and the plant begins catabolizing resources to use in other parts of the plant.
As this happens, the tissues begin yellow and drying until the entire plant is desiccated and perishes.
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Underwatering
plant poor
Underwatering
Leaves may wilt for a variety of reasons.
Overview
Overview
Underwatering plants is one of the quickest ways to kill them. This is something that most gardeners are well aware of. Unfortunately, knowing exactly how much water a plant needs can be tricky, especially considering that underwatering and overwatering present similar symptoms in plants.
Therefore, it’s important to be vigilant and attentive to each plants’ individual needs.
Symptom Analysis
Symptom Analysis
As mentioned earlier, overwatering and underwatering present similar symptoms in plants. These symptoms include poor growth, wilted leaves, defoliation, and brown leaf tips or margins. Ultimately, both underwatering and overwatering can lead to the death of a plant.
The easiest way to determine whether a plant has too much water or too little is to look at the leaves. If underwatering is the culprit, the leaves will look brown and crunchy, while if it’s overwatering, they will appear yellow or a pale green in color.
When this issue first begins, there may be no noticeable symptoms at all, particularly in hardy or drought-tolerant plants. However, they will begin to wilt once they start suffering from a lack of water. The edges of the plant’s leaves will become brown or curled. Soil pulling away from the edges of the planter is a telltale sign, or a crispy, brittle stem.
Prolonged underwatering can cause a plant’s growth to become stunted. The leaves might drop and the plant can be more susceptible to pest infestations, too.
Disease Cause
Disease Cause
Underwatering is caused by, quite simply, not watering plants often or deeply enough. There is a heightened risk of underwatering if any of these situations apply:
  • Extreme heat and dry weather (when growing outdoors)
  • Grow lights or indoor lighting that is too bright or intense for the type of plant
  • Using fast-draining growing media such as sand
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Zanzibar gem 'Dowon'
Zanzibar gem 'Dowon'
Zanzibar gem 'Dowon'
Zamioculcas zamiifolia 'Dowon'
Also known as: Aroid palm 'Dowon', Emerald palm 'Dowon'
Hardiness Zones
Hardiness Zones
10 to 13
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Care Guide for Zanzibar gem 'Dowon'

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Questions About Zanzibar gem 'Dowon'

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Watering Watering Watering
Pruning Pruning Pruning
Sunlight Sunlight Sunlight
What is the best way to water my Zanzibar gem 'Dowon'?
more
What should I do if I water my Zanzibar gem 'Dowon' too much or too little?
more
How often should I water my Zanzibar gem 'Dowon'?
more
How much water does my Zanzibar gem 'Dowon' need?
more
How can I tell if i'm watering my Zanzibar gem 'Dowon' enough?
more
How should I water my Zanzibar gem 'Dowon' through the seasons?
more
How should I water my Zanzibar gem 'Dowon' at different growth stages?
more
What's the difference between watering Zanzibar gem 'Dowon' indoors and outdoors?
more
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Keep your plants happy and healthy with our guide to watering, lighting, feeding and more.
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close
plant_info

Key Facts About Zanzibar gem 'Dowon'

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Feedback
feedback

Attributes of Zanzibar gem 'Dowon'

Lifespan
Perennial
Plant Type
Succulent
Bloom Time
Mid summer, Late summer, Early fall
Leaf type
Evergreen
Ideal Temperature
20 - 41 ℃
Growth Rate
Slow
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Scientific Classification of Zanzibar gem 'Dowon'

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Common Pests & Diseases About Zanzibar gem 'Dowon'

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Common issues for Zanzibar gem 'Dowon' based on 10 million real cases
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Nutrient deficiencies
Nutrient deficiencies Nutrient deficiencies Nutrient deficiencies
A lack of nutrients will cause a widespread yellowing of the leaves. The yellowing may begin at the base or top of the plant.
Solutions: There are several easy ways to remedy the nutrient deficiencies in soils. Use a water-soluble fertilizer. Fertilizers will include most or all of the macro and micro-nutrients the plants need to thrive. Adding some fertilizer to the soil will make those nutrients available and can combat deficiencies. Regularly apply organic fertilizer pellets. Organic fertilizers such as animal manures and bonemeal can supply plants with all the nutrients that they need to grow strong and healthy. Apply compost. Though not as finely tuned as artificial fertilizer, compost can nevertheless be rich in important nutrients and should be applied to the soil regularly. Apply nutrients via foliar application. In addition to supplementing the soil with nutrients, foliar fertilizer can be applied directly to the plant's leaves. Nutrients offered via foliar application are often taken up even quicker than those put in the soil, so the foliar application can be great for swiftly addressing specific deficiencies.
Learn More About the Nutrient deficiencies more
Aged yellow and dry
Aged yellow and dry Aged yellow and dry Aged yellow and dry
Natural aging can cause leaves to turn yellow and dry out.
Solutions: If the yellowing and drying of leaves and flowers is a natural progression due to age, nothing can be done to slow or stop the process. Once hormones within the plant begin the process of senescence, it’s irreversible.
Learn More About the Aged yellow and dry more
Underwatering
Underwatering Underwatering Underwatering
Leaves may wilt for a variety of reasons.
Solutions: The easiest (and most obvious) way to address underwatering is to fully hydrate the plant. However, this must be done carefully. A common mistake that many gardeners make is to douse their underwatered plants with water. This can overwhelm the roots of the plant and shock its system, something that can be even more damaging than the lack of water to begin with. Instead, water thoroughly and slowly, taking breaks to let the water slowly saturate through the soil to get to the roots. Use room temperature water, as cold water might be too much of a shock. In the future, shorten the time between waterings. A good rule of thumb is to check the soil around each plant daily. If it’s dry to at least two inches down, it’s time to water. If a container plant is repeatedly drying out very quickly, repotting into a slower-draining container might be a good idea, too.
Learn More About the Underwatering more
close
Nutrient deficiencies
plant poor
Nutrient deficiencies
A lack of nutrients will cause a widespread yellowing of the leaves. The yellowing may begin at the base or top of the plant.
Overview
Overview
Nutrient deficiencies can be seen in many different ways on plants. Basically, the lack of nutrients will inhibit plant growth, produce weak stems and leaves, and leave plants open to infection from pests and diseases. Plants use the nutrients from the soil to help them with photosynthesis. This, in turn, produces healthy plant growth. Plants that lack adequate amounts of nutrients will look lackluster and unhealthy. Eventually, if this is not addressed, it will cause the plants to die. The most important nutrients that plants need are nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur. Additionally, plants require small amounts of micronutrients such as iron, boron, manganese, zinc, copper, and molybdenum.
Symptom Analysis
Symptom Analysis
A common sign that plants are experiencing nutrient deficiencies is the yellowing of leaves. This may be an overall yellowing or leaves that are yellow but still have green veins. These leaves will eventually brown off and die.
Another sign is the loss of plant vigor. The plants may not be growing as well as they should or their growth may be stunted.
Below are some common symptoms that appear when plants are lacking in nutrients.
Nitrogen (N): Inner, older leaves yellow first. If the deficiency is severe, yellowing progresses outward to newer growth.
Potassium (K): Leaf edges may turn brown and crinkly, with a yellowing layer forming just inside of the edge. Older leaves tend to be impacted first.
Phosphorus (P): Lack of vigorous growth. Plants will appear stunted.
Zinc (Zn): Yellowing tends to occur first at the base of the leaf.
Copper (Cu): Newer leaves begin to yellow first, with older leaves yellowing only if the deficiency becomes severe.
Boron (B): Newer leaves are impacted first. Foliage may also become particularly brittle in cases of boron deficiency.
Disease Cause
Disease Cause
There are several factors that can lead to nutrient deficiencies, a situation where plants are not receiving the nutrients that they need. This could be because they are planted in nutrient-deficient soils, or that the soil's pH is too high or low. Incorrect soil pH can lock up certain nutrients, thus making them unavailable to plants. Lack of soil moisture can also be a problem, because plants need water to be able to absorb the nutrients from the soil.
Solutions
Solutions
There are several easy ways to remedy the nutrient deficiencies in soils.
  1. Use a water-soluble fertilizer. Fertilizers will include most or all of the macro and micro-nutrients the plants need to thrive. Adding some fertilizer to the soil will make those nutrients available and can combat deficiencies.
  2. Regularly apply organic fertilizer pellets. Organic fertilizers such as animal manures and bonemeal can supply plants with all the nutrients that they need to grow strong and healthy.
  3. Apply compost. Though not as finely tuned as artificial fertilizer, compost can nevertheless be rich in important nutrients and should be applied to the soil regularly.
  4. Apply nutrients via foliar application. In addition to supplementing the soil with nutrients, foliar fertilizer can be applied directly to the plant's leaves. Nutrients offered via foliar application are often taken up even quicker than those put in the soil, so the foliar application can be great for swiftly addressing specific deficiencies.
Prevention
Prevention
There are several easy ways to prevent nutrient deficiencies in plants.
  1. Regular fertilizing. Regular addition of fertilizer to the soil is one of the simplest and most effective ways to prevent deficiencies.
  2. Proper watering. Both over and under watering can adversely impact a plant's roots, which in turn makes it harder for them to properly take up nutrients.
  3. Testing the soil's pH. A soil's acidity or alkalinity will impact the degree to which certain nutrients are available to be taken up by plants. Knowing the soil's pH means it can be amended to suit the needs of the individual plants.
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Aged yellow and dry
plant poor
Aged yellow and dry
Natural aging can cause leaves to turn yellow and dry out.
Overview
Overview
Regardless of the type of plant or where it is grown, at some point, it will begin to aged yellow and dry. This is a natural, unavoidable process that happens when the plant has completed all of the steps in its life.
Annual plants go through this process at the end of a single growing season. Perennial plants live for multiple years, if not tens or hundreds of years, but will still ultimately exhibit these symptoms.
Symptom Analysis
Symptom Analysis
When plants have progressed through their natural developmental stages and are nearing the end of their lifecycle, they begin showing signs of decline. Leaves will start to yellow and droop, and over time they turn papery brown and dry.
Once completely dry, the leaves begin to fall from the plant until the entire plant has dried out.
Disease Cause
Disease Cause
At the end of its life, genetic coding within the plant increases the production of ethylene, a phytohormone that controls senescence or natural aging and death. Cell division stops, and the plant begins catabolizing resources to use in other parts of the plant.
As this happens, the tissues begin yellow and drying until the entire plant is desiccated and perishes.
Solutions
Solutions
If the yellowing and drying of leaves and flowers is a natural progression due to age, nothing can be done to slow or stop the process. Once hormones within the plant begin the process of senescence, it’s irreversible.
Prevention
Prevention
Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent plants from dying of “old age.” To help prolong their life, and put off symptoms of aged yellow and dry for as long as possible, take care of them by giving them enough water, fertilizing them appropriately, and making sure they get enough sunlight.
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unlimited guides at your fingertips...
close
Underwatering
plant poor
Underwatering
Leaves may wilt for a variety of reasons.
Overview
Overview
Underwatering plants is one of the quickest ways to kill them. This is something that most gardeners are well aware of. Unfortunately, knowing exactly how much water a plant needs can be tricky, especially considering that underwatering and overwatering present similar symptoms in plants.
Therefore, it’s important to be vigilant and attentive to each plants’ individual needs.
Symptom Analysis
Symptom Analysis
As mentioned earlier, overwatering and underwatering present similar symptoms in plants. These symptoms include poor growth, wilted leaves, defoliation, and brown leaf tips or margins. Ultimately, both underwatering and overwatering can lead to the death of a plant.
The easiest way to determine whether a plant has too much water or too little is to look at the leaves. If underwatering is the culprit, the leaves will look brown and crunchy, while if it’s overwatering, they will appear yellow or a pale green in color.
When this issue first begins, there may be no noticeable symptoms at all, particularly in hardy or drought-tolerant plants. However, they will begin to wilt once they start suffering from a lack of water. The edges of the plant’s leaves will become brown or curled. Soil pulling away from the edges of the planter is a telltale sign, or a crispy, brittle stem.
Prolonged underwatering can cause a plant’s growth to become stunted. The leaves might drop and the plant can be more susceptible to pest infestations, too.
Disease Cause
Disease Cause
Underwatering is caused by, quite simply, not watering plants often or deeply enough. There is a heightened risk of underwatering if any of these situations apply:
  • Extreme heat and dry weather (when growing outdoors)
  • Grow lights or indoor lighting that is too bright or intense for the type of plant
  • Using fast-draining growing media such as sand
Solutions
Solutions
The easiest (and most obvious) way to address underwatering is to fully hydrate the plant. However, this must be done carefully. A common mistake that many gardeners make is to douse their underwatered plants with water. This can overwhelm the roots of the plant and shock its system, something that can be even more damaging than the lack of water to begin with.
Instead, water thoroughly and slowly, taking breaks to let the water slowly saturate through the soil to get to the roots. Use room temperature water, as cold water might be too much of a shock.
In the future, shorten the time between waterings. A good rule of thumb is to check the soil around each plant daily. If it’s dry to at least two inches down, it’s time to water. If a container plant is repeatedly drying out very quickly, repotting into a slower-draining container might be a good idea, too.
Prevention
Prevention
Always check the soil before watering. If the top inch of soil feels moist, though not wet, the watering is perfect. If it’s dry, water it immediately. If it feels soggy, you avoid watering until it dries out a bit more.
Also, make sure the lighting is sufficient for the species. Plants grow faster and need more water when there is intense light or lots of heat. Being aware of these conditions and modifying them, if possible, is a good way to prevent underwatering. Many container plants are potted in soil mixtures mean to be well-draining. Adding materials that retain moisture, like compost or peat moss, can also prevent these symptoms.
Other tips to prevent underwatering include:
  • Choose pots with adequately-sized drainage holes
  • Avoid warm temperatures
  • Use large pots with additional soil (these take longer to dry out)
  • Avoid terracotta pots, which lose water quickly
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