The Nerium oleandercommonly known as oleander, is a Mediterranean ornamental plant appreciated among flowering outdoor plants for its abundant flowerswhich appear from June to September. Your tones pink, salmon, white or deep red They fill patios and terraces with life.

However, despite its vigor, it often begins to show yellow leaves, especially on the lower part. This sign draws attention to certain carelessness in its maintenance.

Yellow leaves do not always indicate a disease. In fact, in most cases, they are a consequence of Common Watering, Location or Fertilizing Mistakes. Understanding each possible cause is the key to correcting the problem and helping the plant recover.

Inadequate watering of oleanders, the most common cause

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When oleander leaves turn yellow, the most common error that is usually behind it is lack of waterespecially when the potting medium dries completely between watering.

The oleander is a great drinker. In its natural habitat It grows next to streams, with moist roots and foliage in the sun. If the root ball dries out, the plant reacts quickly with bright, showy yellow leaves.

To avoid this, a constant water supply must be guaranteed. In summer, Ideally, the pot saucer should have a little water, or water several times a day. if the heat is intense.

Nevertheless, On rainy or colder days, excess water can be harmful, so the saucer must be drained to avoid rotting.

Tips to improve oleander irrigation

• Use tap water: Oleander likes the calcium in tap water. You can leave the water in the bucket for a few hours so that the chlorine evaporates.
• If the plant is in a small pot and the roots are protruding through the holes, Consider moving it to a larger pot. More substrate means greater moisture retention.
• In winter, drastically reduce watering, since the plant goes to rest.

Lack of nutrients also yellows the leaves

The oleander is a demanding plant. It needs rich soil and constant fertilization to maintain its greenness and flowering.

Lack of nitrogen is the most common cause of yellow leaves due to nutritional deficiency, first affecting the old leaves at the bottom.

Other key nutrients such as iron, magnesium or zinc may also be lacking, necessary for the formation of chlorophyll.

If you detect yellowing accompanied by poor growth or weak flowering, You are probably facing a case of nutritional deficiency.

How to prevent and correct the problem

• Apply liquid fertilizer for flower plants once a week during the summer.
• When transplanting, mix horn meal or compost in the new substrate.
• In winter, do not fertilizethe plant does not need it during its rest.

An incorrect location that detracts from the sun

An oleander in the shade will suffer. This plant It needs full sun to stay strong and bushy. If it is placed in a dark corner or if a wall or hedge blocks the light, it may develop yellow leaves due to lack of lighting.

The upper leaves, receiving the little available light, shade the lower ones, which are the ones that are affected first. If there are also constant drafts, environmental stress is accentuated.

What to do to improve exposure

• Move the oleander to a sunny location live all day.
• Avoid windy or shady places constant partial.

Natural leaf loss: a process that should not alarm you

The oleander It is perennial, but it does not keep its leaves forever. These usually live one or two years, and then the plant discards them progressively. Before falling, they turn yellow, which is completely normal.

No intervention required

If the yellow leaves are few and the plant is in good general condition, it is best to do nothing. Remove them only if they are dry or aesthetically undesirable.

Diseases and pests that turn leaves yellow

Sometimes, Yellow leaves can be a symptom of fungal or bacterial diseases. If the leaves also have brown spots or localized necrosis, it may be fungi.

A more serious threat is oleander cancer, which causes black spots surrounded by a light halothickening and necrosis in the stems.

Regarding pests, the most common are mealybugs and yellow aphidsespecially in winter when the plant is indoors. A weakened plant is more vulnerable to these invasions.

How to act against pests or diseases

• Eliminate stems affected by the disease.
• Increase light and adjust irrigation and fertilizer to strengthen the plant.
• If there are pests, resort to potassium soap or natural insecticides such as neem oil.

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