It was only in the spring that she was sown from a tiny and inconspicuous seed. In early summer it grew and bore glossy green leaves. But now they are falling off. Normal or state of emergency?
There can be various reasons when the desert rose loses its leaves
Losing leaves in winter is completely normal
You don't have to worry about leaf loss if the desert rose sheds its leaves in winter. That is normal. First, the leaves turn yellowish from the tips, then brown, and finally they dry up and fall off.
The desert rose has a hard time making friends with the poor light conditions in this country from October to March. She falls into a natural dormant mode. Only in this way can it survive the low-light period largely unscathed. In its homeland, the Desert Rose Sea enters its dormant mode during the dry season. She sheds her leaves.
If leaf fall is worrying
But falling leaves is not always a sign of a natural cycle and therefore harmless. If the leaves are already dropped in spring or in the middle of summer, something is very wrong…
Unsuitable location
An inappropriate location can cause the desert rose's leaves to say goodbye. Is the plant in a draft? Are the temperatures at the site too low? Or was the desert rose not sufficiently accustomed to the blazing sun after the winter? This can result in leaf loss. Too hot and full sun in summer is usually tolerated by this plant.
Care: poor to wrong
Poor care can also be behind the loss of leaves:
- too wet substrate - root rot
- over-fertilization
- Nutrient deficiencies (especially with nitrogen deficiency)
- Pest infestation (often by scale insects)
In heated rooms, desert roses are often attacked by scale insects. Normally, their high poison content protects them from pests. However, if the plants are weakened, for example due to poor care, they become more susceptible to pest infestation. The scale insects suck the leaves and mainly sit on the underside of the leaves.
tips
If root rot or some other reason is behind the leaf loss and you are worried about the plant, take top cuttings to propagate to preserve at least part of the healthy plant.