From my perspective as a Daphne, my decline is a desperate signal that my fundamental needs are not being met. I am a notoriously sensitive soul, and my demise is often a complex interplay of several factors, not just one simple cause. To understand what is going wrong, you must look at the world through my roots and leaves.
This is perhaps the most common reason for my distress. My roots demand perfect drainage; they absolutely despise sitting in soggy, waterlogged soil. It suffocates them, leading to root rot which you will see above ground as my leaves wilting, turning yellow, and dropping—symptoms that are often mistaken for drought. Conversely, I also cannot tolerate being completely dry for extended periods. If my soil becomes parched, my fine roots will die back, and I will respond by abruptly dropping my leaves and flowers. The goal is consistently moist, but never wet, soil.
My location is everything. I detest having my roots disturbed, so where you initially place me is critical. I crave dappled sunlight or very light shade; the intense, hot afternoon sun will scorch my beautiful leaves. I also need protection from harsh, drying winds which can desiccate my foliage. Furthermore, I am very particular about soil pH. I require a slightly acidic to neutral, humus-rich soil that is also well-draining. Alkaline, heavy clay soils will cause my leaves to chlorinate (turn yellow) and I will slowly starve.
I am not a heavy feeder, and I am sensitive to over-fertilization, especially with synthetic fertilizers high in nitrogen. These can burn my delicate roots and force a flush of weak, sappy growth that is vulnerable to pests and diseases. A little well-rotted compost or a slow-release, balanced organic fertilizer applied in spring is usually all I need. My main complaint is often a lack of available iron and other nutrients due to incorrect soil pH, not a lack of fertilizer itself.
I am highly susceptible to environmental stress. A sudden late frost can damage my new growth and flower buds. Fluctuations in temperature, especially warm spells followed by hard freezes, are very hard on me. Furthermore, I abhor being transplanted. If you move me, I will likely go into a prolonged state of shock, drop most of my leaves, and may never fully recover. It is always best to choose my forever home carefully from the very beginning.
When I am weakened by any of the above conditions, I become an easy target for pests like aphids, scale, and spider mites, which suck my sap and weaken me further. Fungal diseases, particularly root rot from overwatering and leaf spot, are also common killers. These are usually secondary symptoms; the primary cause is almost always a cultural issue that has compromised my natural defenses.
