Content
You can understand why the leaves of cucumbers dry in a greenhouse after carefully studying the conditions for growing vegetables. There can be many reasons: from improper watering and excess fertilizer to attacks by insect pests or the occurrence of viral diseases. By eliminating the error, you can quickly restore the normal state of the cucumber bushes and save the harvest.
Dry leaves: what could be the cause
Cucumbers are a rather capricious crop. Beginners taking their first steps in vegetable growing have to deal with many problems, one of which is the gradual yellowing and drying of leaves. There can be many reasons, among the main ones:
- insufficient watering;
- too dry air in the greenhouse;
- excess or lack of nutrients in the soil;
- damage to the plant by insect pests;
- sunburn;
- viral or fungal disease.
To understand what exactly caused the leaves to dry out, it is important to examine the affected plant. Pay attention to the appearance of the affected leaves, their color, the presence of dust, cobwebs, spots or spots. Much depends on the general condition of the cucumber bush, as well as on how the rest of the plantings look.
Problems with care
Dry leaves can appear even on very young seedlings. Among the main reasons:
- lack of moisture;
- incorrect soil composition;
- insufficient or excess nutrition;
- poor place to place plants;
- indoor air is too dry.
You cannot use purchased soil for planting seeds; it is not nutritious enough. The ideal option is a mixture of garden soil with peat or humus.
It is possible to add a small amount of sand. Heavy clay soils cause moisture stagnation, the leaves on the plants will turn yellow and fall off. It is important to use the same soil that will be laid out in the beds in the greenhouse.
A sudden change in soil can affect the condition of the plants; they will stop growing and begin to shed leaves.
Proper watering is very important. It is necessary to use only warm water, melted, settled or boiled. Hard or cold water can cause shock to young plants, causing leaves to curl and dry out and then fall off. The same phenomenon occurs with insufficient watering.
The soil in containers with seedlings must be moistened daily; until seedlings emerge, the boxes are covered with plastic wrap.
Young plants need to be protected from drafts and sudden changes in temperature.
Before planting, complex mineral fertilizer is applied to the soil. Fertilizing with a minimum nitrogen content is preferable; it can also affect the condition of the leaves. Instead of mineral complexes, you can use organic matter: an aqueous solution of mullein or bird droppings. After feeding, the plants must be watered with clean warm water. Fertilizers on the leaves will dry them out, weakening the plants.
Features of keeping in a greenhouse
The condition of the leaves can be affected by too dry air. For normal growth of cucumbers, a constant humidity level of at least 85% is required.Barrels of water for irrigation placed next to the plantings will help provide the right atmosphere. Sprinkler irrigation is very useful; moisture is sprayed over the plants, maintaining the normal condition of the leaves and stems. If there is no rainfall installation, water the cucumbers from a hose with a fine-mesh sprayer.
Many gardeners install an automatic drip irrigation system in their greenhouse.
It provides normal soil moisture without the presence of the owner and saves water. In order not to harm the cucumbers, you need to organize a water settling system without connecting the watering system directly to the water pipes. If this is not done, cold water will flow to the roots of the plants, which can cause root rot and rapid drying of the leaves.
Very often the leaves dry out due to direct exposure to sunlight. The bright sun is especially dangerous after watering. Drops of water act as lenses, refracted rays burn holes in the cucumber leaves, and the plants begin to wither and dry out. In hot sunny weather, it is necessary to cover the windows with special curtains.
Drying leaves can also be caused by improper selection of fertilizers. To understand what do cucumbers lack?, just carefully inspect the plantings.
With a lack of nitrogen, the leaves become pale, lethargic, gradually dry out and fall off.
A lack of phosphorus will be indicated by very dark leaves with a purple tint; they wrinkle, become brittle and brittle. With a deficiency of magnesium, the leaves become brown, quickly dry out and fly off.
An aqueous solution of complex fertilizers, which is applied before transplanting the seedlings into the greenhouse, will help correct the situation. During the season, the plants need to be fed 2-3 more times.Birch ash is very useful; diluted bird droppings are also suitable. After fertilizing, the plantings must be watered, this will help avoid burns.
Diseases and pests
Greenhouse maintenance does not protect plants from pests.
Larvae and adult insects suck the juices from the plants, the leaves dry out, turn yellow and fall off. The most common pests include spider mites, aphids and whiteflies. The presence of a mite is indicated by thin whitish threads on the petioles and stems.
Whiteflies can be identified by light spots on the back of the leaves.
The lashes affected by aphids are covered with a sticky coating. With severe damage, the leaves weaken, turn pale, and dry out. Insect larvae suck out the juices, preventing plants from developing normally.
Pest control needs to be comprehensive. Destruction is mandatory weedWhen ventilating, greenhouse windows are covered with gauze. Affected plants are generously sprayed with a solution of potassium permanganate or ready-made insecticides. Chemical treatment can be carried out only before flowering begins.
Cucumber leaves can also dry out due to disease. Plants are often affected by viruses that cause spotting, yellowing, and curling of leaves. Diseased cucumber bushes need to be dug up and destroyed. As a preventive measure, spilling the soil with a hot solution of potassium permanganate is used (the procedure is done before planting). It is recommended to pickle cucumber seeds by briefly soaking them in an aqueous solution of potassium permanganate or hydrogen peroxide.
A very common disease is downy mildew.
This fungal disease can be provoked by: too much watering, cold water, contaminated planting material.Small yellowish spots appear on the leaves of diseased plants, which are gradually replaced by a noticeable bluish coating. Affected leaves gradually curl, dry and fly off. The same fate awaits the ovaries of cucumbers.
Spraying fondants with Bordeaux mixture or other copper-containing preparations will help fight downy mildew. It is better to dig up bushes with a high degree of damage and burn them. They should not be placed in a compost heap; tenacious spores can cause diseases of other plants.
Drying cucumber leaves can indicate diseases, pests, or insufficient care. It is important to notice the problem at an early stage and take action as soon as possible. Complex treatment will help to quickly cope with the disease and save the future harvest.
