We plant curry leaves in our yard, on the veranda, or on the roof as a hobby. But it is often seen that the leaves of our hobby trees are turning yellow, the leaves are falling, and the whole tree is becoming lifeless. Even after so much care, the leaves of the curry plant turn yellow. There are many reasons why curry leaves are turning yellow. The leaves of each plant turn yellow for different reasons. If we can’t figure out why a plant is turning yellow, we can’t take care of it properly. Here are a few reasons from my experience.
Curry leaves turning yellow, fall off and its remedy
If the water is low/high
If more or less water is given to the tree than required, the leaves of the tree are likely to turn yellow. If the curry plant is given less water then the leaves will turn yellow and dry out. If you give excessive water to the curry leaves plant, you can understand the feeling of damp wet only by rubbing the leaves a little. Therefore, in case of watering the curry plant, care should be taken so that the amount of water in the plant is not more or less. There is a possibility that the plant will die. Always check the soil of the plant with your fingers whether the soil is dry or wet. It is better to buy a soil moisture meter as an additional precaution in watering the plants. Before watering the plant, this machine will tell you if you need water for the plant.
If the fertilizer is low/high
The leaves of the tree can often turn yellow due to lack of fertilizer. The use of chemical fertilizers makes the trees grow faster, which is why many people nowadays use excessive amounts of chemical fertilizers. Excessive chemical fertilizers are extremely harmful to plants. Excessive use of chemical fertilizers can cause the leaves to turn yellow and burn. For this, it is always better to use NPK mixed fertilizer on the tree. If the level of fertilizer in the plant is high, the existing fertilizer in the soil should be washed with extra water. Only then will it be possible to save the plant. So learn about fertilizers, learn about the dosage of fertilizer application. Learn in detail when, how, how much fertilizer to apply to the plant.
Lack of oxygen in the soil
Even if the soil is deficient in oxygen, the leaves of the curry plant may turn yellow. If there is an oxygen crisis in the soil, a few iron nails should be buried in the soil of the tub. Since nails are made of iron and require oxygen to rust, the supply of oxygen to the soil will increase when the nail is exposed to rust or ferric oxide.
Lack of potassium
Symptoms of potassium deficiency in curry leaves
Mild potassium deficiency is characterized by a slight yellowish tinge to the edges of the leaves. Immediately after this incident, aga burns were born. The leaf blades are slightly faded but the main veins are dark green in color. If this condition is not corrected, these yellowish spots turn into dry skin-like brown glowing spots called necrosis which usually progresses from the edge of the leaf to the middle part. However, the main vein remains green. The leaves wrinkle and crumble and often die prematurely. The leaves are small, pale, and curved upwards. In the absence of potassium, the fruit of the curry plant becomes small and the plant becomes diseased very quickly. Lack of potassium also makes the plant susceptible to drought and snow. In some cases, the plant may have a distorted shape.
Biological control measures to increase potassium
Apply ash and organic manure to the soil at least once a year to increase potassium in the plant soil. Try to use wood ash as it contains a lot of potassium. Applying lime to acidic soils can increase the holding capacity of potassium and reduce leaching.
Chemical measures to increase potassium
To increase potassium in soil, apply muriate of potash, potassium nitrate in plant soil. Consult with an agricultural advisor to find out the best fertilizer and application levels for soil and plants. It is recommended to test the soil before planting the curry seedling to get the best results. It is better to apply fertilizer while preparing the soil and before flowering. The plant can absorb potassium better if it is applied to the soil than sprayed on the leaves.
Preventive measures aimed at increasing potassium
- Excessive levels of acidity and alkalinity in the soil can lead to deficiency of both major and minor nutrients, so check the correct pH level of the soil. Apply lime to the soil if necessary to get the best benefit from the soil.
- Apply fertilizer proportionately so that the plant can collect nutrients properly.
- Use dung manure or plant mulch to increase organic matter in the soil.
- Water the plants regularly and refrain from irrigating excess water.
If the compost manure is not applied while planting in the tub
Curry leaves can turn yellow even if compost manure is not applied properly in the tub soil before planting. Prepare the soil before planting curry leaves in the soil of the tub. Let’s talk a little bit about how to prepare the soil in the tub well.
Dry the soil well in the sun and mix five hundred grams of powdered lime with one hundred tubs of soil measuring ten inches in size. Mix wood and burnt ashes in a tub and keep it in an open place for more than two months. This will increase the fertility of the soil by mixing all the things with the soil. It should be covered during heavy rains. Organic fertilizers like bone meal, horn powder etc. take a long time to mix well with the soil. Planting curry trees in freshly mixed soil reduces the benefits of fertilizers and often causes the plants to die due to the heat generated in the soil as a result of the digestion process. Another good aspect of preparing the soil in advance is that the warmth that is created during fertilization does not exist in the soil. As a result, the tree is able to receive fertilizer from the time of planting.
As a result of insect attack
Insect infestation results in yellowing of curry leaves. Aphids, ants and spiders are among the various seasonal insects that attack curry leaves. Regular insecticide measures should be taken and pesticides should be used as required.
Lack of chlorophyll
In the absence of chlorophyll, the leaves turn yellow. When the leaves turn yellow, the photosynthesis process cannot produce food for the plant. In this case, the plant may die due to lack of food. Chlorophyll deficiency usually occurs when the leaves of the plant are deficient in magnesium and the plant becomes completely pale. If the leaves are deficient in magnesium, Epsom salt or mag salt should be used. Mix 1 to 2 grams of Epsom salt in 1 liter of water and spray on the leaves after 15 to 20 days.
Outbreaks of winter
In winter, curry leaves cut off all its leaves and survive in winter. It is very common for curry leaves to turn yellow at the beginning of winter and fall off later. It’s called winter dormancy. Since curry plants grow well in warm regions and require six to eight hours of sunlight daily, special care should be taken with curry plants in winter. During winter, soil-borne pathogens disseminate pretty quickly due to rapid fall in temperature or extra fog. The raid of several harmful pests on the ground boosts. In addition, the progress of curry plants is less within the winter.
Here are some things you need to do regularly to protect your curry leaves from hostile weather during the winter:
Irrigation of trees should be reduced
Since plants have no leaves in winter, the demand for water per plant is very low. Irrigation of curry plants should be reduced in winter. In the winter season, watering the plant twice a month will be enough. Excess water can cause the roots to rot and the plant to die. You can buy a good-quality soil moisture meter to determine the amount of water in the soil. Reading this will tell you the exact time when you need to water the curry shrub.
How to protect the root rot tree?
- Take out the root rotted plant from the old pot.
- Cut the brown and rotten roots with scissors.
- Give the plant a few days to heal and grow new roots. At this time, wrap the roots of the plant with a light wet cloth.
- Disinfect the old pot using a sanitizer and replant the tree with new composted soil in the pot. Ensure a good drainage system before planting in pots.
If you plan to reuse old soil, you must prepare the soil by drying it well in the sun and disinfecting it with fungicides.
- Newly planted plants should be watered at least a week later. During this time the plant will grow new roots and will try to adapt slowly to the new atmosphere.
- Use regular rooting hormones on newly planted plants.
- Ensure adequate sunlight and temperature on the plant. Never keep the plant cold.
The plant should be given adequate amount of sunlight
Since curry plants grow well in warmer climates and require six to eight hours of sunlight per day to grow, adequate sunlight should be provided to the curry plants for winter growth. Curry plants cultivated inside the house should be brought out of the house in the morning and exposed to sunlight. Before the sun sets in the afternoon, the curry plants should be brought inside the house to protect them from the cold. In case of excess foggy weather, artificial white light should be provided inside the house. Artificial white light should be used as an alternative to sunlight. In winter, potted curry plants should be taken out of the house in the morning and indoors in the afternoon to take care of the plant. Good quality plant caddy is essential for frequent movement of potted plants inside and outside the house.
Ensure safe temperature
Temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit are very critical temperatures for curry plants. If the temperature drops below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, the curry plants will not grow and the plants may die. In temperate regions or areas where snow falls, potted plants should be brought out during the day to provide adequate sunlight and try to increase the temperature. Light lukewarm water can be given at the base of the tree to increase the temperature. When the sun goes down in the afternoon, bring the potted plant inside the house and wrap the base of the tree with black cloth or brown paper. Wrapping the roots of the plant with black cloth or brown paper can raise the soil temperature up to 5 degrees Fahrenheit. Heaters, plant seedlings protector, or lighting can be arranged to protect it from excessive cold.
Due to the lack of iron, the leaves of the plant turn yellow
Symptoms of iron deficiency
Iron deficiency diseases are first observed in the young leaves of curry plants. The upper leaves turn yellow which is called chlorosis. But the midribs and leaf veins remain distinctly green. If no action is taken in the next stage, the entire leaf will be whitish-yellow and brown spots will appear along the edges of the leaf blade. Which often turns into dead spots. In the absence of iron, the growth of curry leaves is stunted and the tree becomes easily diseased.
Biological control to meet iron deficiency
You can use green manure made from the extract of algae and nettle leaves. Applying animal manure, peat, and compost manure adds iron to the soil. You can plant a dandelion tree near your curry leaf plant as it provides iron to the nearby plant.
Chemical control to meet iron deficiency
Use iron-rich fertilizers such as ferrous sulphate heptahydrate where the iron content is 20%. Consult with an agricultural advisor to find out the best products for plants and doses to use. It is advisable to test the soil before planting the curry plant for maximum results.
Preventive measures to meet iron deficiency
- Collect good quality seedlings.
- Plant a dandelion tree near your plant.
- Use iron attached fertilizer.
- Improve the drainage system and do not keep the ground submerged.
- Refrain from applying lime to the soil otherwise the pH of the soil will increase.
Remedial measures for curry leaves turning yellow
| What is lacking? | Symptoms | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Potassium deficiency | Yellowish tinge to the edges of the leaves, leaf blades are slightly faded, main veins are dark green in color, yellowish spots turn into dry skin-like brown glowing spots called necrosis, leaves wrinkle, crumble and often die prematurely. | Apply muriate of potash, potassium nitrate in plant soil. |
| Chlorophyll deficiency | Leaves turn yellow, photosynthesis process cannot produce food. | Epsom salt or mag salt should be used. |
| Iron deficiency | Upper leaves turn yellow which is called chlorosis, midribs and leaf veins remain distinctly green, entire leaf will be whitish-yellow and brown spots will appear along the edges of the leaf blade. | Apply iron-rich fertilizers such as ferrous sulphate. |
| Lack of oxygen | Curry plant may turn yellow. | Few iron nails should be buried in the soil of the tub. |
| Excess watering | Leaves of the plant are likely to turn yellow, feeling of damp wet only by rubbing the leaves a little. | Before watering always check the soil of the plant with your fingers whether the soil is dry or wet. |
| Fertilizer is low/high | Leaves of the plant can often turn yellow. | Apply NPK mixed fertilizer. |
| Insect attack | Curry leaves turning yellow. | Pesticides should be used as required. |
| Outbreaks of winter | Leaves to turn yellow at the beginning of winter and fall off later. | Cutoff the watering, the plant should be given adequate amount of sunlight, ensure safe temperature, wrapping the roots of the plant with black cloth or brown paper, light lukewarm water can be given at the base of the plant |
Last words
We have been discussing in detail why the leaves of the curry plant are turning yellow for so long and what we should do when the leaves turn yellow. If the leaves turn yellow and the center stems are brown, reduce the amount of watering, discard the yellow leaves, give the plant regular nutrients, and apply regular seaweed fertilizer to the plant. Also, ensure the presence of sunlight and the necessary temperature. Hopefully, the leaves of your curry plant will turn green and new leaves will sprout. Let us know via the contact page what steps you have taken to protect your curry leaves from turning yellow and to grow curry leaves faster.
