For a long time it just looked beautiful with its sun-yellow flower balls. Now its appearance is losing vitality as brown spots have spread across the leaves. What can be behind it and how can the ranunculus bush be helped now?
An unfavorable location can be the reason for brown spots on the ranunculus bush
Possible cause 1: diseases
Ranunculus shrubs are considered to be robust and not very susceptible to diseases. But these trees are not 100% immune to fungal and viral diseases. For example, leaf spot disease can occur. This manifests itself in brown spots on the leaves.
If you can trace the brown spots to a fungal pathogen, you should cut off the affected areas with clean pruning shears and dispose of them. Any discolored leaves are also discarded. If necessary, you can use an appropriate fungicide if cutting does not help as a measure.
Possible cause 2: Adverse location
Excessive exposure to the sun, especially at midday, can take a toll on a ranunculus bush. It is therefore advisable to plant this tree in a sunny location, ideally in a sheltered location.
The wrong substrate can also be the cause of brown spots on the leaves. Is it too wet? Too condensed? Too chalky? It should have the following characteristics to prevent stains:
- permeable
- slightly acidic to neutral
- low in lime
- sandy-loamy
- moderately moist
Possible cause 3: Poor maintenance
Have you perhaps over-fertilized your ranunculus bush? Or could it be that he is lacking in nutrients? Brown spots can be an indication of an unsuitable nutrient balance. In the event of a nutrient deficiency, you can act quickly by providing the ranunculus bush with compost or another organic fertilizer. In the case of over-fertilization, it is better to transplant the plant before it completely dies!
Even if the shrub suffers from waterlogging, its leaves can discolor and develop brown spots. The wetness in the root area often leads to rot. The roots slowly die off, the leaves are no longer properly supplied with nutrients, discolour, dry up and eventually fall off.
tips
Watch your ranunculus bush! Brown spots on the leaves are often just a temporary phenomenon caused by transplanting or stress.