Admittedly, myrtle has a lot of leaves. If she loses a few of these, the branches will still remain green. But what to do when the falling leaves just won't stop? Something can't be right! So the myrtle does not stand there with bare branches.

If the myrtle does not like its location, it sheds leaves

A delicate plant

Myrtle is one of the oldest potted plants, having been cultivated by humans for thousands of years. In ancient Greece, the shrub was even considered a symbol of beauty and youth. But the plant only conveys a vital image if it keeps all its leaves together.

As an evergreen plant, the myrtle should show us densely green branches all year round. But some living conditions cause her to have a patchy foliage dress:

  • bad lighting conditions
  • sodden earth
  • Change of location or repotting

A lot of green - high light requirement!

The myrtle needs a lot of light to meet the light needs of the numerous leaves. As an evergreen plant, it even needs a bright location throughout. While this requirement can easily be met in summer, a plant lamp (€21.99) may have to help out in winter.

Furthermore, even at an ideally lit location, the light must be able to penetrate unhindered to all leaves. However, due to the very dense foliage, which is very beautiful in itself, the leaves shade each other. This can lead to balding inside the crown over time. Therefore, the myrtle must be thinned out at regular intervals.

tips

Use the accrued cuttings to propagate the myrtle. The cuttings are first rooted in water and then potted.

Wetness damages the roots

Myrtle bushes in the sun are extremely thirsty and have to be watered almost every day. In winter, on the other hand, they only need modest amounts of water. Satisfying your water balance according to your needs is a challenge. The roots must not remain wet for long.

If the myrtle is exposed to waterlogging for a long time, it will lose more and more leaves. Because the affected roots can no longer cope with the complete supply.

  • repot a myrtle that is too wet in fresh soil
  • Use pot with drainage holes
  • create a drainage layer
  • only water when the top layer dries
  • Discard excess water promptly

Relocation and repotting

A new location can be beneficial in the long term, but initially it causes stress for the plant. This also applies to repotting, even if it is urgently necessary. In the acclimatization phase, the myrtle can therefore lose some leaves.

Be patient, because the myrtle will sprout again. However, you should not expect her to make any further changes in the period that follows and give her the required care.

Category:

Garden design