If you don’t like mixing materials you can use a very porous mix like cactus jack. The most common problem people have with this plant is dropped leaves. Make sure the pot you are using is not too big for the plant you are potting. You can still save the plant by saving the viable parts of the plant. That’s because it usually is. Click. The plant might be going through shock and it will take some time for it to adjust. The first sign of this is the stem turning brown/black from the bottom. Check fallen leaves carefully for telltale signs of infestation. A grow light may help supplement the sunlight that the plant needs. Or if you do not like to mix materials you can use a very porous material like cactus jack. If your plant experiences this leaf-drop in winter, along with low humidity levels, consider whether the plant is getting enough light. A grow light may help supplement the sunlight that the plant needs. Transplant the plant in a suitable potting mix. And from experience, the easiest and quickest way to save the plant is to remove it from the pot, let it dry and recover for about a week or so, and transplant it into a brand new potting mix. Leaves drop for many reasons, including environmental stress, pests and disease. -Lynn S. ANSWER: There are several reasons why a poinsettia plant might start dropping its leaves. I season it with maybe 1/2 strip of bacon, because I can't buy fatback pork here. Listed below are some of the most common causes for leaves falling off. If you find your Portulacaria Afra dropping leaves from sudden changes in the environment, give the plant some time to adjust. Limited time offer. You can also use an all-purpose potting soil (which is a cheaper alternative) and combine it with perlite, or a combination of these three materials I mentioned. Because portulaca’s root system is very shallow, too much water could actually drown the roots thus killing the plant . The plant may be able to survive freezing temperatures for short periods of time, as long as they get enough warmth or sunlight during the day. If the leaf is isolated from the rest of the portulaca before the bumps rupture and disseminate spores, the infection can be halted. If you must grow your plant indoors, make sure to find the brightest spot in the house. White powdery mildew is a common problem in damp areas. It reaches about 6 inches tall with a 12-inch spread. Simply deadhead flowers and pinch stems back to the length you want, and portulaca will continue to bloom. They can be found in the cluster of leaves at the stem end and they open only briefly in the morning hours. What I like to do when I get a brand new plant from the store (it doesn’t matter from what store, it could be from the hardware store, grocery store or even from a fancy florist) is to repot the plant. Why are the leaves falling off your Portulacaria Afra? Portulacaria Afra generally likes fast-draining soil. I have about 20 portulaca plants. The plant is self-fertile. However, we just had an unexpected cold snap. Thanks for visiting and as always, happy gardening! Giving succulents too much water too often will swell their leaves and, if they do not get a chance to dry out, cause them to drop off the plant. You become confused and start doing either of these two things: You either start watering your plant more because the leaves have shriveled and fallen off, or you withhold watering because the leaves have fallen off and the plant looks too wet. If it is completely dry, water your plant thoroughly. Are you having trouble with your Portulacaria Afra? As I mentioned above, Portulacaria Afra plants generally like fast-draining soil. asked Jun … Shaping portulaca plants is an aesthetic preference that varies among gardeners. What are some of the common problems with Portulacaria Afra plants? Click here to find some of the materials I mentioned. Make sure the pot you are using is just the right size for your plant, not too big so your plant is not drowning, and not too small that it will outgrow the pot very soon. I think some plants have a tough time overwintering in containers because of the extra cold winters we've had lately. By now you may have noticed something–that I’ve mentioned repotting as the solution for almost all problems with this plant. Gather Spring to fall, eat leaves and stems, grows in disturbed sites throughout Florida. If you see pests, treat the plant and the leaf-drop should stop. Click here to find some of these materials online. ... You can cut the dead leaves back on the perennials and they'll come back. Enjoy! Victoria Lee Blackstone is a horticulturist and a professional writer who has authored research-based scientific/technical papers, horticultural articles, and magazine and newspaper columns. You can also use an all-purpose potting soil (which is a cheaper alternative) and combine it with perlite, or a combination of these three materials I mentioned. You can start with morning sun and gradually increase the intensity to minimize shock and avoid burning the plant. Stop pinching off portulaca flowers late in the growing season. As I mentioned above, I like to use cactus mix combined with perlite. When the cutting roots the bloom is still there so you'll know what color you're planting. please help asap! From my experience with this plant or other succulents, you can save a dying plant by repotting it in more suitable soil and the right size pot. Germinate should be in a bright environment.Easily propagated by cuttings 5-10 cm long. After studying botany and microbiology at Clemson University, Blackstone was a University of Georgia Master Gardener Coordinator. That’s why I tend to leave my succulents on the dry side. LeadCamp, Inc is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Jade plants add leaves and shoots during the summer and need more water during those months. The wrong soil, coupled with the wrong watering technique, can make your plant deteriorate rapidly. Provides a brilliant display in beds, borders, and rock gardens from early summer through fall. A portulacaria afra that is too wet will look sickly and drop leaves. This usually happens when the plant is being underwatered and/or the soil medium is too fast draining and unable to retain any moisture at all. Common Reasons for a Plant Dropping Leaves. As I mentioned above, I like to use cactus mix combined with perlite. This usually happens when the plant has been overwatered and/or the soil medium does not dry out fast enough, or both. Water a jade plant every time the top inch of its soil is dries out. Move it to a windowsill or the brightest spot in the house. Its specific epithet oleracea means "vegetable/herbal" in Latin and is a form of holeraceus (oleraceus).. It will regrow new leaves again once it gets acclimated to its new surroundings. As I mentioned above, Portulacaria Afra plants generally like fast-draining soil. It takes the appearance of a light off-white to gray-colored powder on the petals and leaves of the portulaca. What causes this and how can I stop it? Many other types of plants, particularly perennials, stop blooming unless you remove the spent flowers, which prompts the plant to produce more blooms. Also a great groundcover for dry rocky slopes. https://succulentplantcare.com/is-your-portulacaria-afra-elephant-bush-dying The lower leaves are cut off at a distance of 2.5 cm from the cut. If the location is not working out for your plant, move it to a brighter location. But when portulaca flowers have faded, they naturally fall from plants without your having to remove them, and the plants will continue to produce flowers throughout the growing season. Their leaves are wrinkled. Portulaca, also called purslane or moss rose, is a genus comprising roughly 100 species of tropical and subtropical plants. If you leave the blooms to dry on the plant and fall off on their own, they develope seed heads. If, for example, you’ve planted portulaca in a mixed-planting container as the “filler” plant, you may not want its stems with a potential length of 12 inches to interfere with your “spiller” plant as it trails down the side of a container. I try to choose a pot that is just the right size for my succulents with a few inches extra for them to grow. If you find your Portulacaria Afra dropping leaves from sudden changes in the environment, give the plant some time to adjust. If you use hand shears or long-handled lopping pruners, wipe the blades with a solution of 70 to 100 percent ethanol or isopropyl alcohol to sanitize them. I believe it’s easier to fix an underwatered succulent than an overwatered one. We’re not kidding when we say that over-watering is the number one cause of death for succulents, as the excess water causes the succulent’s cell walls to swell up. You may want to increase the watering frequency if you find this happening to your plant often. Fall Spring Summer Flower Shape: Star Flower Petals: 4-5 petals/rays Flower Size: < 1 inch Flower Description: Flowers are small (1/4 inch), yellow, and have five heart-shaped petals that can appear any time of year. Sprout in a sand poured on a layer of peat. The very tips are fuzzy. Click. And this is the reason you wouldn’t want to deadhead the flowers before they form seeds. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Rather than pinch off spent flowers, you can use sharp, clean scissors or another cutting tool to remove the spent flowers. Make sure you also save some stem cuttings because they are easier to replant and you’ll have greater success rates with them than leaves alone. In my experience, Ficus trees are highly reactive to … Moss rose, Portulaca grandiflora, is a drought and heat tolerant annual native to hot, dry plains in Argentina, southern Brazil, and Uruguay.This herbaceous plant in the purslane family (Portulacaceae) is cultivated throughout the world as a garden annual for its showy flowers that bloom all summer long with little care. The stems are round, thick, and succulent. I tend to underwater my succulents, including my Portulacaria Afra plants so I often see my plants shriveled. The bottom leaves usually go first, but leaves can drop from anywhere along the stem. If the pot is too big you run the risk of having too much soil for the plant and depending on your watering technique and the soil you use, the plant can either be too dry or too wet. Yikes! This lovely mixture produces a colorful carpet of narrow, pointed leaves and dainty rose shaped flowers in vibrant shades of yellow. While it’s true that Portulacaria Afras are easy-going plants, you can still run into problems when caring for them. [Native Nursery, LLC] Water Requirements Dry; Additional Water Information Once plant is established, let plant dry out between waterings. The species has thick stems covered with succulent, needle-shaped leaves. Move the plant indoors or provide some protection from frost to help the plant survive the cold. Hold back on watering until the plant is dry. Capsule dehiscing by a circumsciss split below the summit of the ovary, the operculum falling off with sepals and withered petals, remaining base cup- or saucer-shaped; seeds numerous, mostly subobovoid to lenticular or subreniform, often tuberculate. They come in a wide range of bright … This could lead to overwatering and even more leaves dropping. These are some of the most common problems you will encounter with Portulacaria Afra plants and some simple solutions you can do to save your plant. I do this by removing the plant from the soil and letting it dry completely for about a week or two in a shaded area away from direct sunlight. Please advise. The cutting just keeps right on blooming. I have seen this happen with Ficus trees. Portulaca makes a beautiful flowering edging along garden paths and walkways. 8 inches tall with a few blooms that have not opened yet want deadhead! Off succulents, including my Portulacaria Afra can withstand temperatures as low 20℉. 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