Ixora plant loves tropical climates to perform the best. Even after providing the best growing conditions, we may witness brown spots on our Ixora plant leaves. One of my Ixora plant leaves started turning brown. In this article, I will share the reason for ixora plant leaves turning brown.
Ixora plant is also known as Jungle geranium or Flame of the Woods.
I believe you have already seen the picture I have added at the top of this article.
One of the leaves of my Ixora plant started turning brown from the tips and a few other leaves are showing brown spots in the center of the leaves. (The spots are scattered as well)
I have been treating plant diseases for a long time. Do you know how the experience helps? It will help you to identify the exact reason for any specific disease by just looking at the leaves. This is why I consider a disease in a positive way. This helps me to identify the reason and treat it in the early phase.
Ixora plant is a hardy plant and does not die easily.
Brown leaves might be an indication of many reasons like.
- Sudden cold or climate change.
- Overfertilization.
- Windburn.
- Salt damage.
- Underwatering.
If I tell you all these reasons, you will get confused. That's why I'll help you identify the symptoms for each cause with treatments.
Know the reasons for Ixora leaves turning brown based on symptoms - with treatments
You are taking care of your Ixora plant and that will help you to find the actual reason easily.
Sudden cold or climate change
I have already told you that Ixora loves to grow in tropical climates.
When it enters winter, due to sudden cold or sudden temperature decline Ixora leaves turn brown.
If you notice brown spots on the edges and center as well, the possible reason is sudden cold.
Note: Only the leaf tips browning is not for sudden cold.
You can clearly see in the above picture, the brown spots are not only at the tips. The spots are scattered and like dots as well.
Hold on! there might be multiple reasons for a brown leaf at the same time. It's better to check the next points before you start treating your Ixora plant.
You can see the similar symptoms when placed in a sunny spot but the plant is in underwatering. In this case, water thoroughly.
How to cure:
Sudden cold damage usually gets recovered after 20 days unless you are growing this in a colder region( Below Zone 9 ). If you are from zone 9 or above, do nothing.
If you are from a colder region and your plant is potted, bring it inside (to a warmer place). You can check: when to bring plants inside in winter
If your plant is planted in the ground, use a bedsheet to cover your Ixora plant. (You can also use a frost cloth or wintering covers for plants)
Overfertilization or chemical damage
It is best to use 10-10-10 fertilizer (balanced) or any fertilizer formulated for acid-loving plants.
But feeding your Ixora plant more than enough might be dangerous.
For experimental purposes, I feed one of my Ixora excessive fertilizers. Want to see what happened to my plant? Look at this:
Overfertilization turns the leaf tip brown.
If you apply more than enough fertilizer outside the active growing season, you can also witness the leaves curling and shrinking abnormally. This is also known as chemical damage.
Even the new leaves might turn brown and crispy.
How to treat:
Make sure, the soil water drainage system is good and working properly.
Place your plant in a shaded place for the first few days and water your plant thoroughly. Keep it in a sunny spot. Do not fertilize for the next 3 months.
Windburn and salt-damage
Due to heavy storms or salt-damage you can see the symptoms I mentioned in the sudden cold damage point.
Normally this happens after hurricanes. You can check my guide: Post-hurricane windburn - what to do?
If somehow the flooded saltwater reaches your plant you should check: Save your plant flooded by saltwater
If none of the above-mentioned reasons are applicable as per your caring schedule, you can use my ultimate tip to cure your Ixora plant:
Apply Iron Chelate Spray (foliar spray - needs to be sprayed on the leaves).
After 15 days apply Epsom Salt Solution (Dissolve 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt in a gallon of water. Now apply on the leaves)
It might not fix your brown leaves, but you will not see brown spots on any of the new leaves.
I would be glad if you share the result in the comment section below.
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