Is your rosemary dry? If your plant isn't doing well, there are several ways to help it get back on track, but first you should figure out what's causing the problems. In this article we will help you with both questions!
Most common reasons why rosemary dries up and what to do
If your rosemary has dried out and is showing signs of stress, find the cause in this list and apply the appropriate treatment to save your plant.
Overwatering and underwatering are usually the main cause
- Overwatering rosemary causes the roots to drown. How does this happen? When you see the leaves turning brown, the first thing you usually do is add more water. But this causes the roots to die and root rot to spread.
What to do? Stop watering the plant and allow the soil to dry out completely before watering again. Make sure the plant has adequate drainage in its current location. You may want to transplant them and replace the soil to improve drainage. - If you don't water the rosemary enough, the leaves also turn brown. But unlike overwatering, the plants become branchy and dry.
What to do? The solution is to add water and soak the plant well. Cut off any brown, dry areas and feed the roots with a liquid fertilizer. Do this for two weeks and you should see new growth emerge.
Incorrect soil or pH levels can cause death
- False ground: Heavy clay soil is not good for rosemary as it causes problems with waterlogging and root rot. It also compacts easily and prevents oxygen from reaching the roots.
What to do? Before planting, add plenty of organic matter or coarse sand to the soil to improve drainage. If the plants are already in heavy clay soil, you should dig them up and transplant them. You can also plant them in pots or raised beds where the soil can be easily amended by adding something like perlite to the potting mix.
Notice: With the exception of heavy clay, rosemary is tolerant of most soils, especially poor, calcareous or stony, sandy soils. - Incorrect pH value: Rosemary prefers slightly acidic to neutral soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. This is actually what most gardens have. However, if the pH is too acidic, the plant will react by turning yellow and dying. Why is that? Acidic soil causes the roots to be unable to absorb nutrients, causing the plant to become stressed and yellow.
What to do? With an inexpensive soil test probe, you can determine the pH of the soil so you can make the right adjustments.
Insufficient light and incorrect temperatures
- Rosemary – sun or shade? Rosemary needs to be planted in full sun to grow well. In the shade, the soil cannot dry out sufficiently, so the problems associated with overwatering come to the fore. If the foliage begins to yellow, it may also mean that the plant is getting too much shade and needs to be repotted.
What to do? Rosemary requires at least 6 hours of sunlight per day, but preferably 8 hours per day. Any smaller amount has an impact on the health of the plant. - Incorrect temperatures: Rosemary likes mild winters because it is not frost hardy and needs to be protected from frost. Additionally, cold, wet soil quickly leads to root rot and plant death.
What to do? If the temperature drops below -1 Celsius, it is better to grow rosemary in pots on a sheltered terrace or bring it indoors in winter. Rosemary prefers temperatures between 13 and 27 degrees Celsius.
Rosemary dries up – Check for root rot and pests
- Root rot occurs when there is too much water around the plant's roots. A fungus, or more specifically a parasitic water mold called Pythium, attaches itself to the roots and causes them to rot.
What to do? Change your watering schedule immediately if you see parts of the plant turning brown, drooping, or wilting. In severe cases and if it is planted in the garden, you should pull up and dispose of the rosemary before it can infect others in the area. If caught early enough, the damaged roots can be cut off. Transplant rosemary into a fresh potting mix with adequate drainage and treat with an appropriate fungicide to eliminate any traces of the problem around the roots. - Rosemary pests: Although not common, when stressed, rosemary can attract pests such as aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies. When the foliage becomes dry and falls off the stems, these sucking pests need to be dealt with quickly.
What to do? You can combat minor infections by washing the pests off the plant. Alternatively, treat the rosemary plant with neem oil or an insecticidal soap and keep an eye on it to see if the infestation reappears.
Cutting woody rosemary – which cutting methods should you use?You can find out here!
