Hello, it's your Azalea here. First, please don't panic. Some of my leaf loss is completely normal and part of my natural cycle. I am an evergreen plant, which means I don't drop all my leaves at once like a deciduous tree in autumn. Instead, I undergo a gradual renewal. Typically in late spring or early summer, after my magnificent bloom, I shed my older, inner leaves. These are usually the leaves that have been with me for two or three seasons. They will turn yellow, then red or purple, and finally drop to make way for new growth. This is a healthy process, allowing me to channel my energy into producing fresh, new foliage. If the leaf drop is confined to the inner part of my branches and coincides with this post-bloom period, it is likely just me taking care of my own housekeeping.
My fine, shallow root system is both a gift and a curse. It allows me to absorb nutrients efficiently but also makes me incredibly sensitive to water levels. If my soil dries out completely, I become severely dehydrated. To survive, I will sacrifice my leaves, curling them and dropping them to conserve what little water remains in my stems and roots. Conversely, if I am left sitting in saturated, waterlogged soil, my roots will suffocate and rot. Without healthy roots, I cannot drink at all, leading to a similar outcome: wilting and leaf drop. The key is consistently moist, well-drained soil. Think of it like a perfectly wrung-out sponge—damp but not dripping.
This is a direct and serious consequence of the overwatering I just mentioned. When my roots are constantly drowning, fungi like Phytophthora thrive. They attack my root system, causing it to turn brown, mushy, and ineffective. You might notice my leaves not just dropping, but wilting and looking generally unwell despite the soil feeling wet. The damage is happening underground, out of sight. This is a critical situation that requires immediate attention, often involving improving drainage, potentially applying a fungicide, and removing the severely affected parts of my root system.
I am a creature of specific preferences. Sudden changes in my environment put immense stress on me. If you recently moved me from a sheltered nursery to a windy, full-sun exposure in your garden, I am likely protesting. I thrive in dappled sunlight or morning sun with afternoon shade. Too much intense, direct sun will scald my leaves, causing them to turn brown and crisp before falling. Similarly, a sudden hard frost after a warm period can damage my foliage, leading to leaf drop. I need a stable, suitable home to keep my foliage lush and green.
To maintain my evergreen foliage and spectacular flowers, I require a specific set of nutrients, and I am particularly hungry for iron. I demand acidic soil (a pH between 4.5 and 6.0) to properly access these nutrients. If my soil is too alkaline, I can develop iron chlorosis. This condition prevents me from producing chlorophyll, causing my leaves to turn yellow between the veins while the veins themselves stay green. Eventually, these yellowed, weakened leaves will drop. If you see this pattern of yellowing, it is a clear sign my soil chemistry is wrong, and I am starving for nutrients I can't reach.
