What to do if cicas leaves turn yellow?

Tsikas - an evergreen, exotic and beautiful plant from the tropics, belongs to the family Sagovnikovyh. Zicas is considered quite whimsical in care, can cause difficulties in growing in inexperienced florists. It is very often heard that the leaves turn yellow in the plant. Further in the article we will consider the possible reasons, and also we will figure out what to do in order to save the room pet.

Should I worry?

First of all, it is necessary to find out whether there is a dormant period for cicasum, which begins in late autumn and lasts until the beginning of spring. Being a tropical plant, the cicas does not shed the foliage, but it ceases to grow and does not throw out new leaves, that is, the vegetation stops. During this period, a slight yellowing of individual sheets is possible. If the old leaves, located at the trunk, become yellow, then they dry up and fall off - you can not worry, as this is a natural process of getting rid of old leaves, after which fresh, young leaves will appear on the plant. In this case, cicasus can be helped by removing all the old parts of the plant.

Improper care as a cause of yellowing

The most common cause of yellowness on the leaves lies in the wrong care, and there may be many reasons for this:

• poor lighting;
• insufficient or excessive watering;
• pest attack and disease infection;
• drafts;
• lack of dressings.

Also plays a huge role humidity. Since cicas is home to Asia, it needs an increased moisture content in the air. If you do not spray the leaves with a spray bottle, they will gradually become yellow.

As you can see, there are many reasons why cicas leaves turn yellow. If you take action as early as possible, then there is a high probability of saving the evergreen and returning the leaves a rich green color. Let's take a closer look at every reason for the yellowing of foliage in cicasas and methods of treatment.

Fertilizer shortage

The tsikas needs top dressing only in the spring and in the summer. During this period, fertilizers must be applied every two weeks. It is best to choose organic fertilizers, for example, you can use mullein, diluted in water. In the winter time for the plant comes a period of rest, so fertilizing should stop.

Quite often flower growers note that the tskass turned yellow after applying mineral fertilizers with potassium and magnesium. What to do in this case - to exclude such mixtures and use only organic fertilizer. Zicas may turn yellow if not a single supplement has been taken since its acquisition. This can happen in about six months. In this case, you need to carry out dressing with minerals - it is possible that you will not succeed in planting yellowed leaves, but new leaves will grow healthy. Also, the problem may lie in the application of too hard water for irrigation.The fact is that hard water acidifies the soil, which makes it impossible to assimilate microelements from it. To save the flower, you need to transplant the tsikas and partially or completely replace the soil. In the future, it is necessary to apply rain or other soft water for irrigation (preferably, settled).

Draft spot

Putting the pot on the balcony, on the windowsill under the open window or next to the open window, you also risk getting yellow on the foliage. The fact is that the plant does not tolerate drafts even in the summer, and even lower temperatures in winter. What to do in this case? The answer is obvious - the flower pot must be moved to a place protected from drafts, but it must have normal air circulation. In winter, the temperature in the room should not fall below 12 ° C, otherwise the leaves will also become yellow, begin to curl, then dry out completely and fall off.

Bad light

The heat-loving southern plant needs enough light for normal development. Obviously, poor lighting is another reason why the cyclone turns yellow. The best location for it will be a place in a spacious room with good lighting, the windows of which face south, southeast or southwest. Illumination must be diffused - tsikas also can not tolerate direct sunlight. If the flower is placed in the garden, on the veranda or terrace, it is necessary to create a penumbra. However, remember that the plant needs time to adapt to the new light, so a gradual change in the amount of light is recommended. It should be borne in mind that tsikas tend to asymmetrical growth, so periodically it should be turned the other side to the light. The number of light hours per day should be at least 12-14. In the winter time (from November to the end of March) the lack of lighting can be filled with fluorescent lamps and fitolamps.

Lack of moisture

The main rule for watering is regularity and moderation. The soil in the pot should not dry out completely, so as soon as it dries to half (at least 2-4 cm), the soil should be moistened.In the summer, this should be done about once a week (sometimes every 5 days). Water for irrigation must be defended at least 12 hours, preferably a day, heated to room temperature. In winter, during the dormant period, the frequency of watering is reduced, but the plant still needs moisture, so watering is done 3 times a month. However, it should be taken into account - if the period of rest is weak or not expressed at all, the moisture regime can not be changed. Also in winter it is necessary to avoid close proximity of the flower to the batteries and other heating devices - this can cause a yellow border on the foliage.

High demand for moisture is often experienced not only by the root system, but also by foliage. Therefore, it is desirable for the plant to arrange a "shower" - the stem part and roots must be covered with a film or other waterproof material, and the green part of the flower should be generously sprayed with a spray bottle. Such bathing can be arranged cicasu once every few days. If it is not possible to use a spray bottle, at least wipe the leaves with a damp cloth.Excessive dryness of the air can be eliminated in this way - pour river sand onto a wide pallet, pour water on it and install a plant on it or next to it - moisture from the sand will evaporate and moisten the air in the room. Instead of sand, you can use peat or expanded clay. There is an opinion that in the stem part of the plant accumulates water, but this is a myth, therefore regular hydration for cicas is vital.

Excess moisture

Excessive watering is another reason why the tsikas may lose a green tint, most often from the base of the leaf. Excess moisture is dangerous not only the yellowing of the foliage, but also the decay of the root system, which will inevitably lead to the death of the plant. The water in the pot should in no case be stagnant.

If, however, an overmoistening of the soil has occurred, the plant can be saved by transplanting it and completely replacing the soil. At the same time, rotten, damaged roots must be carefully removed, otherwise the flower may rot in a few weeks.It is very important to use drainage for flowerpots - the thickness of expanded clay or other material should be at least 1/3 of the entire mixture. Also at the bottom of the pot (sometimes on the sides) must have holes for the flow of water.

Yellowing due to pests

Cicas rarely suffers from pests and diseases, but is not completely protected from them. If all of the above reasons are eliminated, and the leaves still continue to turn yellow, it is necessary to inspect the plant for infection with a small parasite - a shield. Typically, when the disease begins, the foliage begins to turn yellow from the tips, and the plant itself is enveloped in fluff or cobwebs. All pests and especially their eggs must be removed from the plant, and the foliage itself must be treated with special preparations: Actellic, Phosbecid, Aktara, Bankola. You can also use safe folk methods:

• soap solution (you can add alcohol);
• an infusion of pepper, garlic or onion;
• kerosene (it can also be added to the soap solution).

At the time of therapeutic measures the plant must be isolated from other indoor pets. Most often, diseases and pests affect the plant in winter and spring, when it is weakened, therefore, in order to prevent it, during this period, the foliage should be regularly inspected for lesions.So, we have considered the most frequent reasons why leaves turn yellow on a tsikas palm tree, including problems with lighting and watering, diseases, lack of nutrients and poor placement of the pot. When eliminating all of the above reasons, an exotic room pet will certainly delight you with its razlohoy and healthy green foliage!