The myrtle tree is drying out, what to do. Myrtle leaves have dried up, what should I do? What to do if leaves fall off
Most problems with this plant are caused by improper care; myrtle diseases most often manifest themselves in the drying and falling of leaves, and less often in the appearance of spots on them.
IMPORTANT: Myrtle needs frequent but moderate watering and fertilization every summer, regardless of its .
If your myrtle leaves have turned black or the ends of the shoots, then the reason is excessive watering: by constantly flooding the flower, you do not allow the roots to receive oxygen, which leads to their rotting.
This, in turn, has a bad effect on the health of the plant crown.
There are two possible solutions: loosen the soil and water the flower less often, or replant it in drier soil (with a lower content of moisture-intensive components).
ATTENTION! The water in the pan should not stagnate under any circumstances.
If the leaves begin to turn yellow, This means that the myrtle is either overdried as a result of improper watering or dry air, or is in too much sun.
REFERENCE: It feels best on an east or west window. A dried out plant can be revived by providing it with frequent watering. If the reason is still dry air, if possible, move the flower away from the battery and spray it daily with a spray bottle.
What to do if leaves fall off?
If your myrtle suddenly begins to lose leaves, this often happens with, pay attention to the water with which you water it. Settled water is best suited for irrigation, since it no longer contains chlorine, which harms the condition of the leaves. Also, falling leaves may be the result of overdrying; move it to a cooler place.
ATTENTION! Myrtle reacts sharply to dry soil, do not forget to water the plant regularly.
If it started to crumble immediately after purchase, then the reason is the stress experienced by the plant due to a change in conditions. Provide the flower with sufficient air humidity.
REFERENCE: Small young plants can be kept under polyethylene until the condition of the crown improves.
The health of the plant can deteriorate sharply after transplantation, as this is stress for the flower. Provide him with the most proper care, and he will soon recover.
IMPORTANT: Myrtle is evergreen and has no seasonal leaf loss. Therefore, when answering the question why myrtle leaves fall off, look for the reason in improper care or insect pests (they are described in detail below).
What to do if the foliage has dried out?
Plant demanding watering: The soil in the pot should be slightly moist all the time, otherwise the leaves will dry out and curl.
However, the plant needs to be watered daily. in the autumn-winter period, the frequency of watering can be reduced(unless, of course, the flower is in a hot place). The problem of dry air can be solved by daily spraying; during the heating season, you can place a container of water on the radiator.
ATTENTION: For watering and spraying you should Use only settled water.
Drying can also be caused by excessive feeding; in this case, it is necessary to replant the flower in new soil, washing the roots. This is a risky procedure, but it is the one that can save the plant from death.
Diseases and pests in the photo: 
Impact of temperature
Heat and cold are equally dangerous and can lead to drying out and death of the plant if resuscitation measures are not taken.
As mentioned earlier, for heat and dry air myrtle sheds leaves- what to do to help the plant? You can water and spray the plant daily with a spray bottle; in extreme cases, you can put a plastic bag on the flower to preserve moisture.
It is resistant to air fluctuations and withstands drafts; in addition, in winter it is recommended to keep it in a cool place.
Freezing myrtle is more difficult than drying it. However, such a disaster can happen if you leave the flower near an open window or on the balcony in frosty weather. The reaction to the cold will not be long in coming: most of the leaves will dry out literally within a day.
So what to do if the myrtle dries out? There is a chance to save the plant if the roots have not frozen. The first aid algorithm for a frozen person is as follows: cut off all dried branches, spray living branches with a biostimulant (for example, Epin) and cover with polyethylene.
Pests
It happens that the care is correct, the temperature and humidity are normal, but the plant suffers. What to do if the myrtle has dried up or dropped all its leaves? In the dense crown of a house plant Many small pests love to settle in.
Myrtle of any kind, and both, are affected by the same insect pests that harm other indoor plants. These are aphids, scale insects, mealybugs, thrips, whiteflies and spider mites.
Aphid settles in colonies on the underside of leaves and feeds on their sap, causing the leaves to curl and dry out. You can get rid of aphids by spraying the plants with a special insecticide (for example, Aktara). Before spraying, remove insects from the leaves by washing the flower in the shower with the crown down. 
Shchitovka, like aphids, they suck sap from plants. Characteristic signs of scale insect infection are the appearance of a sticky coating on the leaves and shoots. If you find scale insects on a flower, you need to remove them with a cloth or soft toothbrush dipped in a soap solution, and then treat the plant with an insecticide (Actellik is recommended). 
Mealybug It is clearly visible on plants and can be identified by the white fluffy coating on the leaves and branches. Detected pests must be removed, and the plant itself must be watered with Aktara. 
IMPORTANT: Insecticide preparations are very toxic; strictly follow the concentration indicated in the instructions.
Trips- a small insect, the presence of which can be determined by light spots on the upper side of the leaves and dark dots on the back. Thrips harm not only the leaves, but also the buds, so if you want myrtle to delight you with abundant flowering, you need to get rid of thrips as soon as possible. The popular method is to water the plant with an infusion of garlic or tobacco dust, but a more effective method is to treat it with Actellik. 
Whitefly looks like a small moth, settles in colonies on the inside of leaves and feeds on plant sap, like an aphid.
Whitefly larvae are covered with a coating through which chemicals do not penetrate, making it difficult to combat this pest. Adults are removed from the leaves by hand, then the flower is thoroughly wiped with soapy water. After this, the plant must be treated with Actellik.
Spider mite forms a cobweb on the shoots of myrtle, you can get rid of it by thoroughly wiping the leaves and branches and spraying the flower with an infusion of tobacco dust or the same “Aktellik”.
So, it is affected by many insect pests, but fortunately, you can get rid of all of them using systemic insecticides. The main cause of diseases of indoor myrtle is neglect of watering and spraying.
Also in our article you learned about how to care, how to replant, what to do if the myrtle dries out, why the leaves of the plant fall off? Follow the rules of care, and myrtle will feel great.
Interesting information about decorative indoor trees:
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The leaves are all dry, but for some reason they don’t fly off, the trunk under the bark is still green, when you look at it it looks like a bath broom, dry but fragrant, please advise how to revive it correctly.
Myrtle loves coolness: when kept in a warm and dry room in combination with excessive watering, the leaves of myrtle dry out. Do not cut off the bare branches yet, place the plant in a “mini-greenhouse” (Place sticks - spacers at the edges of the pot, put a transparent plastic bag on the pot and secure it along the rim of the pot with an elastic band) and regularly spray the myrtle branches and the ground with Epin solution; ventilate the greenhouse and, if necessary, occasionally water the substrate sparingly. Be patient - if the roots are alive, after restoration of immunity, young shoots will appear in the myrtle. Before the start of the active growing season (in March), cut off the bare branches.
Plant care:
Myrtle loves bright, diffused light and tolerates some direct sunlight. Suitable for growing near western and eastern windows. At south-facing windows in the summer, it is necessary to provide the plant with protection from the midday sun. It can grow in a north window, but flowering will be less abundant. In winter, myrtle is placed in the most illuminated places.
In summer, myrtle can be placed outdoors, in a place where protection from direct midday sun is provided. The plant should be accustomed to the new level of illumination gradually. Some gardeners bury a pot of myrtle directly into the ground to harden the plant for the summer.
Myrtle loves cool weather; in spring and summer it needs moderate or slightly below moderate temperatures (18-20°C). During the winter months, the myrtle tree is best kept at a temperature of 5°C and not higher than 8-10°C. At higher than optimal winter temperatures, the plant may lose its leaves.
Myrtle needs an influx of fresh air.
Myrtle is watered regularly and abundantly from spring to autumn (as the top layer of the substrate dries), in winter - limitedly, with soft, settled water. Under no circumstances should the soil be allowed to dry out even briefly. If the substrate is nevertheless dry, watering is used by immersing the pot in a container of water. At the same time, you need to make sure that the water does not stagnate in the pan.
You should carefully monitor air humidity. Although in the natural conditions of myrtle growth the air humidity rarely exceeds 60%, in rooms with central heating it is usually half that. From spring to autumn, the plant should be sprayed regularly. For spraying, you should use only soft, settled or filtered water. In winter, when kept cool, the plant is not sprayed.
From spring to autumn, myrtle is fertilized weekly with floral fertilizer.
Myrtle has a pronounced dormant period. Depending on the position in the room, myrtle is at rest from 3 (on the north window) to 1.5 (on the south) months.
Complex issue. A green stem under the bark does not mean it is alive. But we will assume that this is still the case.
Trim the tops until they are green (we will assume that they are alive). Remove dry leaves if possible. And regular watering with soft water. Under no circumstances should the lump be dry. Try replanting it in fresh soil, preferably with an acidic reaction (Soils: Azalea, Citrus).
And myrtle leaves don’t fly off at all if they dry out. That's how he is. You didn’t water it, so the leaves dried up. Myrtle loves good watering. Just resume normal watering and spray it (the myrtle will be very happy). New leaves and twigs will appear soon. And the dead are a pity, but they will remain a silent reproach to the highest negligence. However, sometimes I shake them off by hand myself - after which the myrtle is a rather wretched sight. Then, after a couple of months, when it is already noticeable which branches have really died, I form a tree.
According to my observations (and I’ve had myrtle for about 5 years now), its leaves dry out somehow “suddenly”, so one day you let it go and... oh my! And a broom.. and 5 months of recovery.. And now. I left for 10 days and the myrtle immediately dried up, the orchids are not so capricious..
This is how he is, he doesn’t let you relax even for a day.
spray with acidified water (infusion of citrus peels, or with the addition of vinegar)
I sawed mine off almost at the root, watered it and put it outside the balcony, after a month I think I need to empty the pot, look, there is growth around the stump. Now it is growing like a bush for me.
Nowadays it is very rare in indoor culture, as it requires constant attention and careful care. But the time spent will not be wasted. This plant is valued for its fragrant and shiny small leaves, which are not only beautiful, but also very useful. The phytoncides and essential oils released by myrtle cleanse the air of pathogenic microbes and have a beneficial effect on the nervous system and heart.
Two types of myrtle that came to us from the Mediterranean are most often grown in the house. Common myrtle (Myrtus communis) up to 3 meters high, with glossy, fragrant and small, dark green and variegated leaves. Blooms in June-July. The flowers are white, fragrant, with a fan of delicate stamens. The fruits are black berries. AND compact species (M. communis tarentina), with narrower leaves and white berries. Any well-drained soil in a secluded, sunny place protected from drafts and wind, with constant access to fresh air, is suitable for myrtle. During the autumn-winter period, leaves may fall off significantly. This happens for several reasons. But the main thing is that myrtle, like all subtropical crops, does not like changes in the length of daylight hours. When daylight hours are shortened, the plant does not have time to accumulate enough nutrients. And the leaves continue to consume them, as before. Having used up the entire supply, they fall off. Therefore, in the autumn-winter period, it is necessary to keep myrtle in a cool and well-lit place at a temperature of 10 C. In such conditions, life processes slow down, and the plant will not overuse its reserves of nutrients from the leaves. Spraying them daily with warm water will slow down the falling of leaves. The plant is responsive to a weekly warm shower.
Due to lack of light, shoots may stretch. During growth, myrtle must be placed in a well-lit place. The second, common reason for leaf drop is that the plant does not like the soil drying out. Myrtle, unlike other plants, consumes a lot of water in winter, especially if there are open central steam heating radiators under the windowsill. As soon as you water at the wrong time, the leaves immediately fall off.
In spring, a rested plant will quickly regain its previous appearance. New leaves grow and the plant becomes fluffy again. You should not allow water to stagnate in the pot, as this causes rotting of the roots. Myrtle will not be able to cope with frequent drying and waterlogging and will die. It is not recommended to frequently feed it with mineral and organic fertilizers at the root. Two is enough. The first feeding is given in the spring at the beginning of shoot growth, the second during budding. Foliar feeding of myrtle is useful. They can be carried out once every 10 days during the period of shoot growth with a weak 0.5% solution of complete mineral fertilizer with microelements. To prepare the solution, take 5 g of a ready-made mixture of complete mineral fertilizer for indoor flowers per 1 liter of water and add ready-made microelements according to the instructions. Then the leaves are sprayed with the prepared solution. The shape of the bush is formed in the spring before the growth of young shoots and in mid-summer after flowering.
In indoor culture, with good care, myrtle can live for a very long time and can reach a height of 1 meter (or more). Myrtles are propagated by sowing seeds under glass in the spring or by rooting green cuttings taken in summer. Under unfavorable conditions, the myrtle tree is affected by whitefly and scale insects.
Myrtle leaves are smooth, shiny, small. They delight the eye with a rich green hue that remains unchanged throughout the year, and if you pick one leaf and rub it between your fingers, you can feel a pleasant aroma. But often this capricious tree begins to lose its “decoration” - if measures are not taken in time, the owner will soon have to admire only the bare, dried trunk.
Why myrtle leaves fall: causes and solutions
Myrtle is quite picky - it requires adherence to a watering regime, does not tolerate a lack of humidity in the air, and is susceptible to various diseases. In winter, it enters a dormant period - during this time you need to move the flower to a cool place, reduce the frequency of watering and abandon fertilizers. If myrtle leaves dry out, the reason often lies in improper care of the plant.
By carefully trimming the myrtle leaves, you can form a crown of any shape.
If leaf fall has just begun, it is important to pay attention to the following parameters:
- The humidity level in the room - to maintain this plant it should be about 70%. It is recommended to use a humidifier, or place a fountain or vase filled with water near the flower, and spray it daily.
- Spider mite - this harmful insect can only be found under a magnifying glass; it often looks like tiny black dots on the leaves. In this case, only comprehensive pest control treatment will help save the plant.
- Soil mixture - when replanting, it is important to use the same substrate as the one that was before. Otherwise, the myrtle sheds its leaves - the plant reacts very sharply to changes in conditions.
This flower needs bright, diffused light - for the winter it is better to place it on the windowsill of a western or northern window. And with the onset of summer, you can even take the flower pot out onto the balcony - and the myrtle will feel great.
Treatment of the root system and rules for replanting myrtle
If it was not possible to save the flower, and the leaves of the myrtle fall off, despite all the manipulations carried out, it is worth studying its root system. To do this you will need:
- Carefully remove the plant from the pot along with the layer of soil.
- Remove the soil mixture from the roots, inspecting their condition.
- Trim off rotten or dried parts.
- Replant in the old pot, in the same substrate that was used previously.
After this, you need to actively continue to water the plant and spray its leaves daily. Within 2 weeks, the myrtle should recover completely. If this does not happen, you should carefully pry off the bark of the plant with a sharp object - the brown color of the trunk underneath indicates that the flower has died, and manipulations to save it can be stopped. But the green tint makes it possible to hope that there is still a chance for recovery.
So, what to do if the myrtle leaves have dried up? You need to make sure that the conditions meet the requirements of this rather capricious house flower, check the humidity and try to find pests. Without finding the cause, it is worth trying to replant the indoor tree - in most cases, such a set of measures successfully helps in saving it.
Myrtle trees are found in the wild in the Mediterranean, on the Florida Peninsula, with a dry and seasonally humid subtropical climate typical for these regions. The summer months are warm and dry, with occasional thunderstorms, but winter accounts for almost all of the year's precipitation. Temperatures in the winter months rarely drop below zero, and winters are mild and humid.
If your evergreen plant suddenly begins to lose leaves, you need to understand the reason for what is happening.
- In an apartment it is very difficult to recreate the natural conditions for the normal development of myrtle. The plant needs a sufficient amount of sunlight, because there is a lot of sun in the Mediterranean regions. At the same time, myrtle bushes grow under the canopy of evergreen trees, where sunlight is scattered by their foliage. Homemade myrtle will grow best on eastern and western windows; at midday, the pots with the plant should be shaded from direct sunlight.
- Myrtle trees do not tolerate heat well; they will grow better in a cool room; in summer the temperature should not exceed 17-20 * C, in the winter months - no higher than 10 * C. This is most often the main difficulty when growing myrtle. In summer, our apartments are usually hot (unless, of course, there is air conditioning), and even more so in winter, hot radiators do not allow the temperature to drop below 20*C.
One of the reasons for leaf fall may be precisely the unsuitable temperature, especially in the winter months. If your apartment has a cool windowsill, place the myrtle tree there.
- Dry air can harm myrtle. In summer, the plant responds very well to spraying; you can place the pot on a wide tray with pebbles, pour in a little water, but so that the bottom of the pot does not touch it. This will slightly increase the humidity around the plant. In winter, myrtle does not need to be sprayed.
- The myrtle root system cannot withstand even short-term drying out of the soil, so it is important to regulate proper watering. The substrate in the pot should always be slightly damp. If the plant is watered abundantly and often, the roots may rot, which can also cause leaf loss. Therefore, watering is carried out after the top layer of soil has dried a couple of centimeters. At the bottom of the pot there must be a layer of drainage made of expanded clay, broken bricks or shards. After watering, excess water must be drained from the pan.
What to do when leaves fall
First of all, check the plant for pests. Myrtle is very problematic in this regard; all imaginable and inconceivable “animals” love it. It can lose foliage when attacked by spider mites, thrips, mealybugs, and scale insects.
If you do not find any pests, you regularly spray the myrtle, it is not exposed to direct rays of the sun, the temperature is maintained within the required norm, most likely there is something wrong with the root system. It is advisable to remove the plant from the pot, shake off the soil and carefully examine the roots, not only the external ones, but also those inside at the base. Healthy myrtle roots are usually white, but if there was a lot of peat in the soil, they may turn a little yellow. There should be no soft, brown rotten roots. They need to be trimmed back to healthy tissue. It is advisable to rinse the plant in the shower and dip the roots in a weak pink solution of potassium permanganate for half an hour. Then powder all the cuts with crushed coal.
Replant only in fresh soil; the pot must match the size of the root system; do not take a large one, so that the soil does not turn sour when watering. You can take a universal soil mixture; a substrate for palm trees or ficuses is also suitable; the alkaline reaction should be neutral or slightly acidic (pH 5.0 - 6.0). After replanting, water very carefully, just a little; if the soil was slightly damp, it is better not to water at all, and cover the pot with a plastic bag.
