Why Do The Leaves On My Plant Turn Black? Now Answered

Plant cultivation is an interesting and simple practice. It’s difficult to envision a yard today without flowers, plants, and trees. They’re all live entities with whom we occasionally have issues. Environmental conditions and bacterial diseases can cause plant leaves to turn black for a variety of causes.

In some circumstances, the plant can be saved. The majority of the issues that create black leaves in plants, on the other hand, are permanent. In any situation, the best method to cope with the sickness and dehydration that are widespread in blackened leaves is to avoid them.

The most common causes of plant leaf turning black include overwatering and root rot, poor nutrition, fungal infections, and pests. Water your plant just until the top 1 to 2 inches of soil are dry and fertilize sparingly to avoid blackening. Also, sprinkle the plant with horticultural oil and enable it to breathe freely.

Why Do The Leaves On My Plant Turn Black

1) Overwatering

Overwatering causes a variety of issues with the plant, along with the blackening of the leaves. The problem is that if the plant’s roots are consistently damp, the air exchange is disrupted, and the plant begins to die.

The plant will then succumb to root rot, which can kill it. The leaves might turn black, brown, yellow, or even curl due to the type of plant and the growing conditions. If the plant is in a pot, taking it out may reveal mushy roots.

Symptoms

1. After a while, the leaves turn black and perish.
2. The plant appears to be in poor health.
3. For an extended period, the soil surrounding the roots is fully wet.

Management

1. Find the source of the overwatering and eradicate it.
2. Once the soil is at least 1 to 2 inches dry, irrigate the plant.
3. If you’re growing the plant in a pot, ensure it has drainage holes.
4. If feasible, move the plant to a less wet, well-drained site. However, only do this in the early spring.

2) Excess fertilizer

An oversupply of minerals (salts) in the soil is the second leading cause of blackened leaves. To expedite plant growth, gardeners frequently employ highly nutrient soil and excessive fertilizer. However, not all plants are heavy eaters and will react to a change in color.

This is particularly true in the case of nitrogen. Green leaves will grow quickly if there is a lot of nitrogen in the soil; they will not develop in time and will be mushy. These leaves are susceptible to rot and mildew, and if infected, will turn black or dark brown. Soft leaves, on the other hand, can start turning black and die.

Symptoms

1. The plant’s leaves have huge black spots on them.
2. The leaf dies as portions of it turn black.
3. Too much fertilizer has been applied to the plant.
4. Organic matter is abundant in the soil where the plant is developing.

Management

1. If the plant is in a pot, make sure to give it lots of water. Some of the surplus salts will be flushed out of the soil as a result of this.
2. Discard any leaves that have been destroyed.
3. Fertilize the plant no more than twice during the growing season.
4. Transplant the plant into new soil if necessary.

3) Fungal damage

The next source of black leaves is a disease. Plants, like other living beings, can get ill at times. This is an important element to consider because it can result in the plant’s death.

Botrytis Cinerea and powdery mildew, for example, make the leaves black. The leaves are also dressed with a white layer when powdery mildew is present. The formation of disease is primarily caused by a lack of airflow, extreme moisture, or overwatering.

Symptoms

1. The leaves turn entirely black and a white powder appears on them.
2. Black mold patches appear on the leaves.
3. The plant is developing in a humid environment with insufficient ventilation.

Management

1. Remove any leaves that have been damaged.
2. Airflow exchange should be provided.
3. Apply a multi-purpose fungicide or a copper-based fungicide to the plant.
4. The plant should not be overwatered.