Reasons why date palm leaf tips dry and what to do
The date palm is a common home grown crop. Thanks to the spreading crown and feathery foliage, the plants look spectacular in any room. When growing trees, the question often arises as to why the tips of the leaves begin to dry on the date palm. Having dealt with the cause of the problem, it will be possible to restore the state of the plantings and ensure correct growth.
Why does the date palm dry?
There are many reasons why palm leaves dry up and begin to turn yellow. Most often, the problem occurs as a result of improper care, violation of landing rules or adverse environmental conditions. The plant may develop poorly due to non-observance of the heat, humidity and lighting regime.
Air humidity
Drying of the tips of the leaves and the acquisition of a brownish tint indicates inappropriate humidity. In particular, the following problems may be observed:
- too dry air;
- through blowing;
- sharp temperature drop.
It is important to take into account that a plant that has been growing for several years, due to natural processes, gradually begins to turn yellow, dry and die off the leaves in the lower part of the palm tree. Drying can also begin during hot dry summers.
Soil moisture
Excessive application of liquid to the soil leads to the fact that the trunk of the palm tree becomes soft, rotting and exudes an unpleasant odor. At the same time, the leaves of the date palm begin to darken and dry. Insufficient moisture also provokes abnormal development of the green part of plants.
When faced with a problem, it is necessary to do moderate watering or temporarily suspend the moisture if necessary to allow the soil to dry out. If possible, remove the palm from the pot and examine the roots for signs of decay. If the roots have acquired a dark shade, become soft and watery, then the chances of plant recovery will be minimal. The damaged parts of the roots are pruned, allowed to dry and treated with a growth stimulant.
Pests
The attack of harmful insects leads to abnormal development and deterioration of the appearance of plants. If a houseplant is affected by pests, it is necessary to establish their variety in order to begin an appropriate fight. The following parasites are dangerous for the date palm:
- Shield. The insect absorbs sap from the palm, leaving brown discoloration on the leaves. In the future, the foliage becomes yellow, dries up and falls off.
- Red spider mite. The parasite occurs on a tree due to a violation of temperature and humidity regimes.The mite damages the stem and leaves, leaving gray and yellow plaques.
- Thrips. You can detect the attack of thrips by the brown spots on the back of the leaf. Pests lay eggs on the foliage and lead to drying out of the ground part.
- Common spider mite. A sign of the appearance of an insect is the formation of a cobweb on the leaves. The pest is especially active in excessively dry air.
- Mealybug. The parasite is capable of infecting the branches and crown of the date palm. Due to the influence of the worm, the foliage quickly dries up and crumbles.
Diseases
The most common date palm disease is gray spot. The characteristic signs of the disease are gray darkening on the surface of the leaf plates. Mostly spots appear on old leaves. If you do not take measures to combat the disease, due to the development of spotting, black blotches will begin to form, which represent the spores of the fungus.
In order to treat the disease, you will need to carefully cut off all infected parts to prevent the spread of the infection. Then carry out the treatment with fungicidal antifungal drugs.
Also, the plant is characterized by the appearance of root rot due to excessive moisture in the soil. With the development of the disease, the leaves turn yellow, and then gradually darken and die off. The spread of rot is accelerated with abundant watering, strong temperature changes and a lack of nutrients in the soil. Root rot treatment is possible only at the initial stage of development. The plant is pruned the affected roots and soaked in a solution of a suspension of fungicides. The soil from the pot is steamed and disinfected.
What to do with this problem?
Having discovered the abnormal development of the date palm and drying out of the foliage, it is necessary to establish the cause of the problem. If the leaves of a tree turn yellow and dry due to improper care, it is enough to follow the recommended watering regime, equip a drainage system, apply fertilizers and remove dying plant parts. Provide a favorable environment, including bright lighting, humid air, room temperature and no blowing.
If the cause of the disease is an invasion of parasites, protective treatment will be required. For this:
- moisten a sponge in a soapy solution and gently wipe the leaves;
- the plant is sprayed with a biological product selected to combat a specific pest;
- repeat the treatment at intervals of 5-7 days until the complete destruction of the parasites.
To fight diseases of the date palm, fungicidal preparations are used. You can also use the folk method and do rubbing the affected areas with medical alcohol.
How to prevent the leaves from drying out?
A favorable microclimate and regular maintenance can help reduce the risk or completely prevent drying of the date palm foliage. It is recommended to periodically spray the plant for prophylaxis. You should also constantly inspect the planting in order to timely detect signs of damage by pests and diseases.
