The main reasons why the leaves of pelargonium turn red and how to deal with it?

Pelargonium is one of the most popular plants for home growing. Soft pubescent leaves and unusual inflorescences can be found on balconies, window sills and summer flower beds of many amateur gardeners.

Pelargonium adds to the room home comfort and freshness. A variety of varieties allows you to choose the optimal color and size of the bush. But what if the leaves began to deform? We will talk more about the possible causes and treatment methods in our article.

What it is?

This is an indoor (balcony) herb, which has umbrella-shaped inflorescences and foliage of various shapes: whole, lobed, dissected. Homeland of Pelargonium - South Africa. The botanical difference from geraniums is bilaterally symmetrical flowers (in geraniums, flowers are of the correct form). Some subspecies are used in the manufacture of essential oils and cosmetics. The main purpose of the plant is the decoration of living rooms and an exhibition in the botanical gardens.

Plant features

The shape of the leaf depends on the particular variety. Different subspecies have different leaflets:

• simple form;
• palmate;
• dissected.

Also, the aroma emanating from the leaves depends on the type of pelargonium. They contain a high percentage of essential oils, vitamins, acids and flavonoids - the bush gives off a pleasant fresh smell. The leaves of the pelargonium are soft and covered with thin villi (fluff). The first signs of illness or improper care appear on the foliage (for more information about the common diseases and pests of pelargonium can be found here).

What if foliage is curled?

Pelargonium leaves curl due to improper care at low temperatures - This is one of the main reasons for this problem in the winter. To resolve the situation, you need to provide the bush with a suitable temperature regime (not higher than +12 degrees). Pelargonium pot must be kept away from drafts and heating appliances.

The next reason is excessive soil moisture. Excess moisture leads to putrefactive processes that are reflected on the leaves. Solve the problem will help drainage and mulching the soil. Lack of moisture also causes curling. It is important for the grower to create a watering schedule.

Other common causes include a lack or excess of nutrients. Lack of nitrogen causes the sheet to curl, dry and thin. An excess of potassium causes deformation of the entire bush. It is important to comply with the measure and make top dressing on a schedule (more on how to feed pelargonium can be found here).

Twisting of the lower leaves may occur due to infection with a spider mite. Among the other characteristic signs of pathology are dark spots and holes in the leaf, small bugs on the stem. You can solve the problem using special tools (buy at a veterinary store).

Why is she blushing?

Among the main factors causing redness (or a brown tint) are leaf rust, plenty of moisture, lack of phosphorus, or zinc deficiency. Fungi cause rust, which can be eliminated by isolating the plant and spraying it with fungicides (colloidal powdered sulfur). Neighboring bushes for prophylactic purposes should be treated with Kratan or Acrex.

If the leaves turn red: a detailed algorithm of actions:

1. We determine the condition of the soil. If waterlogging is determined, drainage and loosening will help.
2. Check the stem for infections. To do this, cut off the top and examine the place of cut. Green color is a sign of lack of infection, brown - the infection has infected the entire bush (it makes no sense to save the plant at this stage). In the normal state of the stem, pelargonium must be transplanted into a new soil mixture (more information about the composition of the soil for pelargonium and planting recommendations can be found here, and how to transplant and root the plant can be found in this material).
3. A sign of phosphorus deficiency is the appearance of red spots on the lower leaves. With zinc deficiency, pinkish pigmentation is observed on the surface. Complex fertilizers will help normalize the condition.

Causes of the yellow tint

Yellow shade and lethargy are the most common symptoms of an unhealthy state of pelargonium. The most common reasons why this happens are care errors:

• cramped pot (roots take up the entire volume, the plant lacks nutrition and moisture);
• lack of watering (leaf edges begin to dry);
• lack of nutrients (intensive feeding with nitrogen, potassium and trace elements is required);
• damage to the bush by insect pests (high risk when growing the bush in the summer outdoors).

You can fight insects by manual collection of pests and subsequent processing of the bush with insecticides. Drying of the leaves is also often due to a sharp temperature difference - pelargonium is painfully sensitive to drafts and hot air currents.

More information on why the leaves turn yellow in pelargonium can be found in this material.

General preventive measures

To protect pelargonium from diseases of various kinds, It is important to adhere to the rules of competent care and prevention:

1. Before planting in the soil, its disinfection is mandatory (even parasite larvae may remain in the mixture purchased).
2. The moisture balance in the soil. Pelargonium does not like top watering: it is better to water the bush under the root.
3. Balanced and regular feeding. An overabundance of nutrients leads to active growth, the formation of lush foliage, but the lack of flowering (for more details on why pelargonium does not bloom at home, see here).
4. Good drainage will prevent the onset of root rot.
5. It is important to clean the soil under the bushes from fallen leaves and weeds in a timely manner.
6. When the first signs of the disease appear, be sure to treat the plant with fungicides and other drugs.

Proper care of pelargonium is the key to the health of the bush, bright and long flowering. Moderate watering and adhering to the feeding schedule, mulching and loosening the soil are simple, but mandatory actions of an amateur grower.