If you have a garden and want to enhance its beauty then planting Sunshine Ligustrum is a must. Most gardeners prefer them for their easy care and low maintenance. However, the sunshine ligustrum plant has some issues too and that can make you suffer a lot; such as
- Leaves Browning
- Leaves Yellowing
- Leaves Curling
- Thinning
- Damage Brunches
- Dying Hedge
But there is no reason to worry. In this article, I will discuss in detail how to solve all these problems. If you know that, you can easily fix any problem with your sunshine ligustrum plant. So let’s get started.
How To Fix 6 Common Sunshine Ligustrum Problems
1. Leaves Curling
The curled leaves of your sunshine ligustrum plant spoil its beauty. So you need to be careful when you see the affected leaves. If proper measures are taken at the right time, this problem can be fixed quickly.
Causes
- Drought
- Lack of Watering
- Dry Wind
Treatment Guide
Inadequate water supply and drought are almost the same things. Moderate watering should be done on your plants to avoid drought. If your plant is mature, watering two to three times a week is sufficient. However, the amount of water may vary depending on the weather.
Deep watering should be preferred when applying water to sunshine plants. So what I do is before applying water I use a small stick to get a sense of how dry the soil is.
Dry air can absorb moisture from your plants, so it’s important to protect your plants from this air. If your plant is indoors, you can easily solve this problem by changing the location. If it’s in the landscape, you can use a piece of cloth to block the hot air.
2. Thinning
Sunshine ligustrum tree thinning mainly indicates the direction of leaf shedding. But you are not alone in facing this. Most gardeners have to deal with such problems. So it is necessary to focus on finding a solution without getting frustrated.
Causes
- Lack of Sunlight
- Extreme Cold
- Water Issue
Treatment Guide
Sunshine ligustrum prefers five to six hours of full sun a day. So if it is indoors then keep it in a place in your house that gets morning sun. It can be an east-facing window or balcony.
My plant is in the landscape and that place doesn’t get enough sunlight. If you have the same problem then you can apply a trick. Place a medium-sized mirror in a location where the sun shines and reflects onto your plant.
To protect your plants from extreme cold, you can choose late summer to plant Sunshine ligustrum. A shade cloth can also protect your plants from the cold wind. However, the tree should be wrapped with a thick cloth to protect it from frost damage.
I would suggest not using tap water for watering. You can make fresh water easily by using a filter machine. But if absolutely not possible, store tap water for at least 24 hours and use it.
3. Leaves Browning
The problem of sunshine ligustrum leaf browning is well-known and complex. The brown leaves curl quickly and fall off crispy. Plants can die if left untreated.
Causes
- Sunburn
- Fertilizer Burn
- Over Watering
Treatment Guide
Although the Sunshine Ligustrum plant prefers full sun, more than six hours of sunlight per day is harmful. Protect your plants, especially from the afternoon sun. You can put a shade cloth over your landscape plants in the afternoon.
You can move the balcony plants to another place for some time. Apply fertilizer once or twice a year in summer or spring to ensure normal plant growth. However, the amount of fertilizer should be fixed according to the instructions written on the packet.
If the plant shows signs of excess fertilizer, apply plenty of water to the plant. If the amount of fertilizer is excessive, soil amendment is necessary. In that case, the plant should be soaked in water for a day to remove excess salinity.
Be careful when applying water. Water should not be applied when not required. If you have any problem with the water application, you can use an automatic watering machine.
4. Leaves Yellowing
Sunshine plant leaves turn yellow mainly due to chlorosis. However, in addition to chlorosis, leaves may turn yellow. Sometimes the leaves develop holes and all the leaves are affected which makes the plant die.
Causes
- Lack of Moisture
- Lack of Nitrogen and Iron
- Pests
Treatment Guide
The plant should always be kept in a moist place. A humidity level of 50-60% is best for sunshine ligustrum plants. However, if the leaves turn yellow due to moisture, you can shift the plant to the kitchen or washroom.
Ensuring adequate nitrogen and iron is important to prevent chlorosis. An NPK (10-10-10) is effective in correcting nitrogen deficiency. For iron deficiency, a liquid iron fertilizer can be sprayed on the yellow leaves of the plant.
In that case, chelated iron should be used. But for iron deficiency, I use a lot of organic materials in my plants.
In a medium-sized jar, combine two spoons of neem oil and three spoons of soap solutions. After adding 200–250 ml of water, stir well. Then mix one spoon of vinegar into the solution. Gently shake the mixer. Your Neem oil pesticide is prepared for use. Apply it on your plants twice a day and see the magic.
5. Damage Brunches
You may suddenly notice that parts of your sunshine ligustrum plant’s branches are wilting or drooping. This is called branch dieback. The problem is so severe that the tree can die within days.
Causes
- Poor Soil
- Improper Watering
- Fungal attack
- Lack of Nutrients
Treatment Guide
Well-drained and alkaline soil is preferred by Sunshine Ligustrum plants. So choose soil that will not stay wet all the time. The pH will be 6.5-7.5. You can easily raise the pH level of the soil by using agricultural lime. Aluminum sulfate is used to lower the pH.
Utilizing organic compost to enhance soil quality is a good idea. Additionally, earthworms improve soil quality and supply enough oxygen to the soil.
Antifungal sprays should be used as soon as signs of fungal infection appear. The infected branch of the tree should be pruned to prevent infection. Disinfecting equipment should be sterilized.
Applying a phosphorus-rich fertilizer once a year will stimulate your plant’s growth. It also helps to make the plant stronger.
6. Dying Hedge
Pests such as spider mites, caterpillars, scales and aphids destroy the leaf borders of sunshine ligustrum. Also, these sap-sucking insects absorb all the moisture from the leaves of the plant. As a result, the tree is quickly damaged.
Causes
- Pests
- Waterlogging
- Low Humidity
Treatment Guide
Such pests can be easily destroyed by using a good quality insecticide. To completely remove the infected branches and leaves, you must cut them off once more. To reduce the possibility of additional issues, burn the infected shears.
Regular sunny ligustrum pruning can improve the health and development of your plants. Use organic approaches to get rid of pests. Use insecticides if natural remedies are ineffective. Check the soil, water, and weather conditions to take care of the plant.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What causes brown spots on Sunshine Ligustrum?
Basically, fungal attacks and chlorosis are the main causes of this problem. But both reasons can be solved very easily. You can combat the fungus with anti-fungal sprays, and chlorosis can be corrected by using an adequate amount of nitrogen and iron-rich fertilizers.
Does sunshine Ligustrum need a lot of water?
Water the plant frequently initially, but give it plenty of time to drain. Once the plant has grown, it can withstand heat and drought. However, be sure to water it frequently enough to keep the soil around it moist.
Conclusion
Sunshine ligustrum usually overcomes the problem easily. But it needs proper care. So you need to know all ligustrum tree problems and solutions. Leaves yellowing, damaged brunches, thinnings like problems can damage your plants very quickly. So be careful if you see any symptoms.
Hope my experience can fix any problems with your Sunshine Ligustrum very quickly. Happy gardening.
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