Why do the Decembrist's leaves wither and fall - what to do

The Decembrist, or Schlumberger, is an epiphytic cactus that, when grown at home, blooms in the first month of winter, for which it got its name. This plant is undemanding to growing conditions, but there are certain care rules that cannot be violated. Sometimes the florist's mistakes lead to the fact that the Decembrist begins to fade, what to do in this case depends on the main reason.

The Decembrist has problem leaves - what could be the reasons

If the leaves of the plant have become lethargic, then this is an alarming symptom. This condition can be provoked not only by the disease of the Decembrist, but also by other factors. In this case, you must immediately take urgent measures to save the flower. You need to act depending on the main reason that could lead to the loss of turgor.

Decembrist's sluggish leaves are a sign that cannot be ignored

Provoking factors:

• decay of the root;
• the development of diseases;
• damage by pests;
• inconsistency of growing conditions.

After it is possible to find out why the Decembrist flower withers at home, you can start treatment. Therefore, every florist should know what to do in a given situation, and what additional signs may be.

Diseases

If the rules of care are not followed, the immunity of the plant is significantly reduced. Against this background, its susceptibility to the effects of infections that can be transmitted through the soil increases.

Common diseases that can cause a loss of turgor, and lead to the fact that the Decembrist begins to shed leaves:

• Late blight. The disease is characterized by the appearance of brown-gray spots on the lower leaf segments of the Decembrist. Their characteristic difference is the presence of a white border around the edge. Gradually, the spots enlarge, and the disease spreads from the bottom up. As a result, nutrients do not flow from the root to the top of the flower, since the affected areas are unable to perform their function. This results in the leaves being deprived of nourishment and becoming lethargic. An additional symptom of the disease is the massive loss of segments.
• Fusarium. The causative agent of the disease is the fungus Fusarium. It penetrates into open root wounds from contaminated soil during transplantation. Fusarium consists of a highly branched mycelium that invades plant cells. Initially, the disease affects small root processes, then switches to large ones. Subsequently, the disease affects the root collar and reaches the leaves. The lower ones become lethargic, and on the upper ones wateriness appears along the edge. Some areas acquire a light yellow tint. At low temperatures (about +16 degrees), the disease spreads quickly. The fungus releases toxins that provoke browning and complete drying of the leaves of the Decembrist.

A characteristic sign of damage is the destruction of the root collar of the plant.

• Pythium. This disease is transmitted through contaminated soil. As a result of development, the root collar decays. Pythium is most often the reason why the Decembrist does not grow and his leaves become lethargic. With further development, brown spots appear on the plates, the affected segments fall off. The disease progresses at high humidity and temperature +26 .. + 30 degrees.
• Bacterial rot.When affected, a brown, weeping spot forms at the base of the plant, which subsequently spreads up the stem. As a result, metabolic processes in tissues are disrupted, nutrients and moisture cannot be supplied to the leaves of the plant. They begin to fade sharply and then fall off.

When the Decembrist is affected by fungal and bacterial diseases, it is necessary to carry out treatment at the initial stage of development

If the Decembrist has stopped blooming, or soft leaves have appeared on it, then you must first of all carefully examine the root collar. In the presence of obvious signs of damage, it is necessary to use the following drugs for treatment:

• "Speed";
• "Maksim";
• "Topaz";
• Previkur Energy.

If the procedure does not bring a positive result, the Decembrist must be transplanted and completely replaced the soil in the pot, and then sprayed with the fungicide again.

Pests

Withering and dropping of leaves can also provoke pests. They feed on the sap of the plant, so the flower slows down and stops blooming.

Spider mite

This pest is difficult to see with the naked eye. The provoking factor for reproduction is dry air, high temperature. A lesion can be recognized at the initial stage by small light dots along the edge of the segment. Subsequently, the affected leaves are covered with a thin cobweb and lose turgor.

For the treatment of a Decembrist affected by a spider mite, it is necessary to use drugs such as Fitoverm, Aktellik. Carry out processing by spraying the aboveground part. This must be done twice at intervals of 7 days.

Mealybug

This harmful white insect is 3-7 mm long. A flower lesion can be recognized by the appearance of a light fluffy plaque at the junction of the segments. Also, the Decembrist noticeably slows down the growth, the buds wither and fall off, and brown or red spots appear on the opened flowers.

In the process of life of the mealybug, sticky mucus forms on the leaves of the plant, which is covered with a white bloom. Against this background, the leaves become lethargic and may fall off, since metabolic processes slow down in them.

To get rid of the pest, you need to take comprehensive measures. To do this, it is recommended to spray the leaves and stem of the plant with any of the following preparations:

• Inta-vir;
• Fitoverm;
• "Fufanon";
• Apollo;
• "Fufanon";
• "Decis".

It is also recommended to spill the soil mixture in a pot with a working solution. Processing must be carried out three times at intervals of 7-10 days.

Sometimes a mealybug can be found at the base of a flower, as it leaves an oviposition in the upper soil layer

With mass reproduction, hot water helps to eliminate the problem. To do this, you need to remove the plant from the pot. Then rinse with water under running water at a temperature of 45-50 degrees, additionally manually remove the pests and thoroughly wash the root system from the soil.

After that, soak the Decembrist completely in an insecticide solution for a couple of hours, allow it to dry, and then plant it in a new substrate.

Shield

The pest begins to multiply actively at high humidity combined with moderate temperatures. It can be found on the underside of the leaves and along the main stem.

The scale looks like a small brown bump that can be easily removed with a fingernail. As a result, initially yellow spots appear on the leaves, and subsequently they fade. In addition, the affected flower drops its buds, stops growing. In the absence of treatment, the Decembrist fades completely.

To save a flower when pests appear, it is necessary to completely remove the wilted leaves, and then treat the plant with Fitoverm, Aktellik. And additionally spill the substrate with the Aktara working solution (1.4 g per 6 l of water). The treatment of the plant must be carried out twice at a frequency of 7 days.

Soil moisture

The reason why the Decembrist flower withers at home may be improper care, and in particular watering. It is necessary to moisten the soil in the pot depending on the temperature of the content. It is possible to determine whether the Decembrist needs to be moistened by the state of the top layer of the earth. If it is dry, then the flower needs to be watered.

• In hot conditions, it is necessary to moisturize 1-2 times a week, depending on the rate of moisture evaporation.
• And at low temperatures, watering should be moderated up to 1 time in 2 weeks.

Excessive moisture sometimes leads to reddening of the leaves of the Decembrist. On this basis, you can determine the problem. The Decembrist's leaves turn red, what should I do in this case? It is necessary to adjust the watering regime, and if this does not bring a positive result, then you can help the flower by transplanting it into a new soil.

It is necessary to water the Decembrist with settled water

If the leaves have lost their turgor as a result of drying out of the roots, then the plant can be restored by abundant watering in the pan, as well as by spraying the aerial part.

Air temperature

The reason why the Decembrist's leaves turn red and wither may be the hypothermia of the flower. For the Decembrist, the temperature of +14 degrees is considered critical. With it, necrotic processes begin in the tissues of the plant. With a further decrease, the plant begins to wilt sharply. Initially, the upper leaves lose their turgor, and then the rest.

You can save a flower only by increasing the temperature of the content to +18 or more degrees with moderate watering.

Only knowing the main reason why the Decembrist's leaves turn red and wither, and what to do in this situation, can the plant be restored, otherwise it will die.

An increased air temperature can also provoke a problem with leaves in a Decembrist. With insufficient watering, the plates vigorously evaporate moisture, and they cannot replenish it. Therefore, it is recommended to water the plant regularly during the hot period, preventing the earthen coma from drying out. Also, you should additionally spray the aerial part in the morning so that the flower has time to absorb moisture until the evening.

In winter, the flower should not be placed close to the heating system. To prevent hot air from the battery to the pot, it is recommended to lay a sheet of Styrofoam that is slightly wider than the windowsill.

Decay of roots

Stagnation of moisture in the soil at the level of the root system can provoke wilting of leaves in a Decembrist. You can identify a problem if the plant sits unstably in the soil and sways with little impact, and also if it can be easily pulled out of the pot. This occurs as a result of the death of root processes, which are unable to fully function.

The main causes of decay:

• insufficient number of drainage holes in the pot;
• cool flower content combined with abundant watering;
• the presence of drafts in the room;
• using heavy soil for planting, retaining moisture.

Decay of roots leads to a sharp wilting of foliage

You can revive the plant if the problem was identified at the initial stage. In this case, it is recommended to limit watering and spill the substrate with the working solution of the Maxim or Previkur Energy preparation.

If root decay was detected late, then the only way to save the Decembrist flower is to root the apical segments. To plant cuttings, it is necessary to mix leafy soil with river sand in a 1: 1 ratio.

Other possible problems

If it was not possible to establish the reason why the Decembrist's leaves turned red and began to fade, then other options should be considered.

Possible problems:

• Excessive fertilization. Decembrist belongs to the category of home flowers that tolerates a lack of nutrients better than an excess of them. The increased concentration of fertilizers has a depressing effect on the plant roots and burns them. In this case, the plant sheds its buds, and its leaves become lethargic. For feeding, it is recommended to use fertilizers intended for cacti, reducing the indicated dosage by half.
• Cramped pot. For full growth and development, the Decembrist must be transplanted regularly. Over time, the roots of the plant completely fill the pot, as a result of which water cannot accumulate in the substrate. Therefore, the plant lacks moisture between waterings and, as a result, its leaves begin to fade.
• Lack of nutrition. Lack of phosphorus in the soil can also provoke a loss of turgor. You need to feed the Decembrist correctly. During the period of active growth of green mass, it is necessary to use fertilizers with a high nitrogen content, and, starting in autumn, transfer the plant to phosphorus-potassium agents, which will strengthen the immune system and improve flowering.

Timely transplanting helps prevent foliage from wilting

Knowing why the Decembrist flower can wither at home, you can establish the cause and carry out the appropriate treatment. But you need to act quickly, as a weakened plant may die. Therefore, in order to prevent a repetition of a similar situation in the future, it is necessary to adhere to simple rules of care, as well as periodically examine the Decembrist. The sooner the problem is detected and fixed, the less damage it will cause to the plant.