Why rosemary in a pot dries at home is a question for summer residents who grow or keep the plant on the windowsill. Just yesterday the bush delighted me with its cheerful leaves and spicy aroma, but today it has already withered away.
Why this happens is unclear. The care is well organized. The summer resident does not leave the container with the plant: waters it, feeds it. And the bush suddenly dropped its narrow leaves and dried up. The search for reasons begins.
Rosemary is a plant from the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. There it densely populates valleys and mountain slopes. Salty, humid winds blow across it. Sometimes you have to endure a short drought.But the winters are warm: the temperature does not drop below 0 degrees. And the sun always shines brightly. If the gardener creates the same atmosphere at home, the problem will solve itself.
Features of growing rosemary on a windowsill
Rosemary is forced to exist in city apartments. He won't be able to fully adjust. He should be helped:
- Even in warm and sunny regions, the illumination of a plant on a windowsill is hundreds of times lower than outside. The bush needs additional lighting. According to the spectrum, an agricultural lamp is most suitable. In summer, the duration of daylight hours is 16-18 hours, in winter - 6.
- Indoor air humidity is very different from the Mediterranean. In summer the heating is turned off. The gardener can cope with the problem by spraying the bush once a day.
- In winter it becomes too dry: humidification of the air in the rosemary area is required. It is optimal to place rosemary in the winter garden. If this is not available, it is recommended to place containers of water next to the bush (in regions with a cold climate - ice and snow).
- An original way to increase air humidity: pour expanded clay into a tray or on top of the soil of the pot. The material easily absorbs water. As it dries, it moisturizes the air around the rosemary.
- In summer, rosemary requires a temperature of 23-25 degrees Celsius. It is not difficult to fulfill this condition.
- During the rest period (November to April), the temperature should be reduced to 6 degrees Celsius. To do this, the pot of rosemary is brought close to the glass and fenced off from the hot air of the room with a transparent cover. In old houses, the container is placed between the frames and the temperature is controlled using a thermometer.
- Rosemary should be watered only after the top layer of soil has dried. You cannot wait for the soil to be completely dry.
- It is recommended to turn rosemary towards the light twice a day: otherwise the gardener will get a one-sided plant. The shaded crown develops more slowly.
It becomes clear why a gardener growing rosemary at home has problems. The bush grew quietly in the garden bed and did not require attention. But at home everything has turned upside down: one plant needs to be created in a greenhouse.
Basic care requirements
The main question for gardeners is: why do the leaves of the spice turn black? This is how the plant reacts to unsuitable conditions. Drying and subsequent falling of leaves occurs when:
- overwatering or irregular watering;
- too low air humidity;
- combination of low illumination and high air temperature;
- applying too much fertilizer;
- pest invasion.
Summer residents often wonder why, when moving from the site to the house, the spice sheds its leaves. The conditions of detention are reasonable. This is how the plant adapts to changed conditions.
Pot and soil
The spice has a developed root system. He requires regular annual transplantation for the first 5 years. It is held in the spring.
The size of the next container should be such that it will accommodate the plant in the current container. Usually the volume of a new pot is 2/3 larger than the previous one.
The flower prefers slightly alkaline soil, loose with an admixture of crushed stone. You can prepare it yourself or buy it in a store. Soil composition for the bush:
- 1 part neutral peat;
- 1 part humus or mature compost;
- 2 parts of turf land;
- 1 part crushed stone.
All components should be thoroughly mixed and moistened.
Lighting
Gardeners are interested in why rosemary at home stops growing and developing. The reason is insufficient lighting.
In winter, the plant is dormant. Daylight hours do not exceed 6 hours. Stunting is normal.
In spring and summer, lack of light leads to the death of rosemary. It is recommended to keep the plant illuminated for up to 16-18 hours. Placing a pot with a bush on a balcony or loggia in good weather will restore the health of your green pet.
Pests and diseases indoors
Often on forums, gardeners ask the question: why do pets’ leaves dry out? This is a formidable signal: the bush is sick or infested with pests.
Spider mite
This is a sap-sucking insect. It can be detected only when through points appear on the leaf plates and cobwebs on the back side of the foliage. The pest attacks weakened plants. The conditions for its parasitism are dry air and high temperature.
The bush loses strength if the conditions of maintenance are violated. Once the situation is corrected, the spider mite will disappear. Spraying with insecticides is ineffective: it has no effect on laid eggs.
Aphid
If a pest is detected, rosemary should be washed with a solution of laundry or tar soap. It is recommended to process only the ground part. To protect the soil, the pot should be placed in a plastic bag and tied tightly.
Whitefly
This is a small butterfly. Its larvae feed on rosemary juice. Appears with a combination of high temperature and humidity. Signs of appearance:
- when the bush is shaken, white butterflies fly out;
- leaves become sticky;
- white scales (larvae) are visible on the plant;
- leaves are covered with black dots.
To eliminate the pest, the conditions for keeping the flower should be improved. At the same time, spray the plant with insecticides. Sticky fly traps placed around the bush will help.
Mildew
Gardeners ask why rosemary in the room gets downy mildew. A guest from the Mediterranean is an unusual plant. Downy mildew is detected on it too late: the leaves have already turned black and fallen off.
The cause of the disease is a combination of high humidity and coolness.
It is impossible to save a bush with severe damage. At the beginning of the disease, the damaged parts should be cut off, sprayed with copper-containing preparations, and the soil should be completely replaced. It is recommended to wash the pot thoroughly and scald it with boiling water.
