NOTE: In this article, Black Diamond Watermelon and Citrullus lanatus‘Black Diamond’ may be used interchangeably; in fact, Citrullus lanatus‘Black Diamond’ is the botanical name for Black Diamond Watermelon.
Black diamond watermelons are known for their large size and sweet flesh. This variety is popular for home gardens as well as large commercial farms. The dark, blue-green-black melons have a rich red colour. The melons, which can weigh up to 50 pounds, require a long growing season to produce mature fruit.
Why does my Citrullus lanatus‘Black Diamond’ roots have rot?
Root rot on your Black Diamond Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus‘Black Diamond’) can be fatal if not treated with care. For this reason, we strongly recommend that you follow our guide to keep your plant alive if the symptoms occur: Root soft and blackened.
Why does my Black Diamond Watermelon have gray mold spots?
Gray mold spots are a type of fungus that is found a lot in flowers, and spreads quite rapidly. If you notice brown (or gray) spots, it is probably this fungus. Don’t ignore these symptoms, as they may end up killing your plant.
Our Solution
The solution is quite logical when you know the cause of the problem. Most of the time, it is due to overwater of the Citrullus lanatus‘Black Diamond’. We advise you to remove the infected parts of the plant, cut off the infected roots and leaves, then repot your plant using sterile potting soil and a clean pot.
Why does my Black Diamond Watermelon have leaf spots?
This type of disease is one of the most frustrating for Black Diamond Watermelon owners, we give you all the leads to spot and save your plants that present symptoms such as leaves that suddenly change color, or wilt/droop.
Why are my Black Diamond Watermelon leaves turning yellow?
This is probably the most common problem in the gardening world, yellowing leaves. There are 2 main reasons for this phenomenon, overwatering, or a lack of nutrients.
Reduce your watering frequency when you fear your plants are being overwatered, and follow these steps to determine whether they may be lacking in nutrients:
Here are some signs of yellowing caused by the many deficiencies on the Citrullus lanatus‘Black Diamond’ in question:
- Yellow patches between leaf veins on elder leaves are the first sign of magnesium shortage. Veins continue to be green while the leaf’s core turns yellow. The leaf’s edges yellow last.
- Another indicator of iron deficiency is yellowing between leaf veins, but young leaves on plant tops and branch tips are first affected.
- The newest leaves are first affected by sulfur deficiency, rendering them completely yellow.
- Potassium deficiency shows itself when leaf edges turn bright yellow, but the inner leaf stays green. Older leaves show symptoms first, and leaf edges soon turn brown.
- A broad yellowing indicates a nitrogen deficiency. Yellowing starts with older, inner leaves. Yellowing spreads as it advances, eventually touching new leaves as well.
Our Solution
You only need to act in accordance with the symptoms listed above. You can address a potassium or nitrogen deficiency by buying a particular soil, and a gardening store consultant will be able to advise you on how to do that. Furthermore, you can also limit how frequently you water your plants.
Is my Black Diamond Watermelon sunburned?
It is simple to determine whether your Black Diamond Watermelon (your Citrullus lanatus‘Black Diamond’) has sunburn. Your plant will change color in this instance, beginning to turn yellow or white, much like it does on us.
As we saw above, if your Black Diamond Watermelon receives too much water or not enough light, the leaves may also change color.
To find out if the yellow leaves have been sunburned, look at the part of the bottom that is tinted closer to the base. The yellow leaf is probably burnt and not something else if this portion stays greener.
Why are my Black Diamond Watermelon leaves turning brown?
The classic sign that a plant has been overexposed to direct sunlight and sunburned is the development of browning leaves. Rest assured that while this may probably save your plant from dying, it will adversely affect its growth.
Should I leave my Citrullus lanatus‘Black Diamond’ in direct sunlight?
No! If your Citrullus lanatus‘Black Diamond’ (or Black Diamond Watermelon) has the symptoms described above, don’t leave it in direct sunlight, that’s the reason why your Black Diamond Watermelon is in such a state!
Our Solution
As explained in the paragraph above, the solution is simple, just place your Black Diamond Watermelon in a place where the light does not reach it directly, in this way and with a correct watering, your plant should resume its life rather quickly.
Why are my Citrullus lanatus‘Black Diamond’ leaves drooping or wilting ?
This typically occurs when your Citrullus lanatus‘Black Diamond’ gets dehydrated. Large plants are more at risk since they naturally require more water than smaller plants.
Whether your Citrullus lanatus‘Black Diamond’ plant’s pot appears light, the soil and roots are likely fairly dry and need water, so you can readily tell if it needs to be hydrated.
Our Solution
If the soil in your plant’s pot is completely dry, you will need to start by moistening it so that the roots will also benefit from the water. A common mistake is to drown the Black Diamond Watermelon right after a dry period thinking that it needs a lot of water.
This is the case, but giving too much water at once is the best way to finish it off, you should actually water the soil normally, resuming a quiet watering rhythm.
Caring Tips for Citrullus lanatus‘Black Diamond’
Water Occasionally
Water is necessary for your plant to live, but timing and amount of watering must be balanced. Overwatering could have disastrous effects on your own name, as we already mentioned.
You can tell if your plant needs water by touching the soil; if it still feels damp, it’s usually preferable to wait a few more days.
Always keep temperatures stable
It is also a good idea to keep your Citrullus lanatus‘Black Diamond’ at a stable temperature (especially if it is kept indoors!). At GreenShack, we generally recommend staying in the 65 and 85 degrees F range. Of course, do not place your Citrullus lanatus‘Black Diamond’ near a source of hot (or cold) air such as A/C units, radiators or the like.
Keep your Black Diamond Watermelon Dust-Free
This one concerns indoor plants, just like on your furniture, dust is also deposited on the leaves of your indoor plants, the problem is that it can prevent them from receiving the necessary light, this would slow down (or even stop) the photosynthesis process, and eventually, they would lose their colors.
This would also make the pests happy, a real descent into hell for your Black Diamond Watermelon.
Take a microfiber cloth and gently massage the plant’s leaves to get rid of the dust. Use a damp cloth to make dust removal easier, but avoid using corrosive materials like rubbing alcohol!
Keep drainage in mind
If you tend to overwater, you need to pay attention to your drainage, and we advise choosing a saucer and a pot with drainage holes if they are not already there.
In the meantime, if you don’t have holes in your pots, you can add volcanic rocks (or any rocks with holes) at the bottom of your pot, this way it will create a channel so that the water doesn’t stay in your skin too much (to avoid that roots start to rot!)
