It's not uncommon to see a plant losing its leaves; in some cases, this a natural process of plant growth. However, in other cases, it might be a sign that something is wrong with the plant.
What can you do if your plant is losing leaves? The following guide will help you understand why plants lose their leaves and what you can do about it.
Common Causes of Plants Losing Leaves
Natural Loss
In some cases, leaf drop is a natural process during the growth of a plant. A plant might lose its old leaves to make way for new growth. In this case, the plant itself appears healthy, and you won't see any signs of problems.
Not Enough Light
If your plant requires a certain amount or intensity of light per day, then it may lose its leaves if it is not getting those requirements fulfilled. If you notice stems or blossoms reaching toward sunlight or spindly leaves, then it's time to move the plant to a sunnier location.
Shock
If your plant has experienced some kind of shock, it will also begin to drop leaves. Plant shock can occur in a number of different ways, such as bringing a plant home from a nursery, moving the plant to a new location, repotting, or experiencing temperature swings. Unfortunately, there is no “cure” for shock; you will simply have to wait and see if your plant will recover.
Not Enough Humidity
All plants require a certain amount of humidity to thrive, whether it is low humidity or higher humidity. If your plant is a tropical plant, it may begin to drop leaves in a low humidity environment. If you live in a dry environment, buy a humidifier to bring up humidity levels in your home, or create a pebble tray.
Physical Contact
One surprising cause of leaf loss is physical contact. If your plant is often being brushed up against by people walking nearby or touched on a regular basis, it may begin to drop its leaves. Move the plant to an area where it will not be touched.
Pests
Pests can cause all kinds of havoc on your plants, so it is best to address it as soon as possible. If you notice signs of pests, such as holes in your plants, white spots, black mold, or visible pests crawling around, make sure to take action immediately. Remove the insects manually and then use a gentle organic insecticide to treat the leaves and the soil.
Nutritional Problems
Sometimes plants may not be getting enough macronutrients. This will cause nutritional deficiency, which will show itself in numerous ways. In addition to the loss of vibrant colors, slow growth, and lack of blossoms in flowering plants, plants with poor nutrition may begin to lose their leaves.
The best solution is to fertilize the plant. Make sure to use the right fertilizer for your plant and follow the recommended doses.
Not Enough (or Too much) Water
It's a problem when your plant does not receive enough water, but it's also a problem if your plant receives too much water. If your plant is losing leaves, consider changing your watering habits.
What Else You Can Do
If your plant is still losing leaves and none of the above solutions worked for you, or you still aren’t sure why your plant is struggling, then you need to consider the overall health and history of your plant. You will need to perform a diagnostic test to determine why your plant is losing its leaves.
Examine your plant’s history
First, consider your plant history and how it may be impacting the leaves. Have you moved the plant to a new location recently? Did the plant experience any type of temperature changes or changes in light? Did you just repot the plant, brought it home for a shop o received it by mail? Has the plant ever experienced leaf loss before, and if so, what was the cause?
Consider your plant’s health
Is your plant in overall good health, aside from its leaf loss? Or is it showing signs of stress? Take the time to implement a plan by checking the state of the root system, adjusting the watering frequency, or changing its location.
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