Sourwood: Diseases and Remedies (Oxydendrumarboreum)

NOTE: In this article, Sourwood and Oxydendrumarboreum may be used interchangeably; in fact, Oxydendrumarboreum is the botanical name for Sourwood.

The sourwood is a small ornamental tree that is perfect for smaller spaces. When it can bloom after about its fifth season, it is the ideal ornamental tree.

The wood’s slow growth rate is appealing as it allows it to become nice and strong while being manageable and easy to care for, and the best news is that there are no serious pest or disease problems.

It is an excellent specimen in the center of the garden.

Why does my Oxydendrumarboreum roots have rot?

Root rot on your Sourwood (Oxydendrumarboreum) can be dangerous if left untreated. In order to keep your plant alive, we strongly suggest that you follow our advice if the signs start to show: blackened and mushy roots.
Sourwood

Why does my Sourwood 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 answer is obvious once you recognize the cause of the problem. Most frequently, it results from the Oxydendrumarboreum being overwatered. We strongly advise you to remove the damaged plant parts, cut off the diseased roots and leaves, and then repot your plant in a new container with sterile potting soil.

Why does my Sourwood have leaf spots?

Leaf If your plants exhibit symptoms like rapid color changes in the leaves or leaves that wilt or droop, we give you all the information you need to recognize them and rescue your plants. For owners of Sourwood, this kind of illness is among the most distressing.

Why are my Sourwood leaves turning yellow?

Yellowing leaves are arguably the most prevalent issue in the gardening world. Overwatering or a lack of nutrients are the 2 main causes of this issue.

Whether you think your plants are getting too much water, cut back on how often you water them, and take the following measures to see if they might be nutritionally deficient:

Here are some indicators of yellowing on the Oxydendrumarboreum brought on by its numerous flaws:

  • The first symptom of a magnesium deficiency is yellow patches between leaf veins on elder leaves. The leaf’s core turns yellow while the veins stay green. The edges of the leaf yellow last.
  • Iron deficiency also shows as yellowing between leaf veins, but it hits young leaves on plant tops and branch tips first.
  • Sulfur deficiency starts with the newest leaves, turning them yellow throughout.
  • 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 lack of nitrogen is indicated by a widespread yellowing. Older, inner leaves are the first to yellow. As the yellowing progresses, it eventually touches young leaves as well.

Our Solution

You only need to respond to the signs mentioned above. A gardening store expert will be able to provide you advice on how to purchase a specific soil to treat a potassium or nitrogen deficiency. Additionally, you can reduce how often you water your plants.

Is my Sourwood sunburned?

It is simple to determine whether your Sourwood (your Oxydendrumarboreum) has sunburn. Your plant will change color in this instance, beginning to turn yellow or white, much like it does on us.

Sunburned

The leaves of your Sourwood can also change color in case it gets too much water or not enough light, as we saw above.

The bottom of the yellow leaves with a shaded area closer to the base can be examined to determine if they have been sunburned. If this part remains greener, the yellow leaf is most likely sunburned and not something else.

Why are my Sourwood leaves turning brown?

Most of the time, leaves of a Sourwood that turn brown is a sign that your plant has been sunburned, it has probably been exposed to too much direct sunlight. Don’t panic, your plant probably won’t die from this, but its growth will take a hit.

Should I leave my Oxydendrumarboreum in direct sunlight?

No! If your Oxydendrumarboreum (or Sourwood) has the symptoms described above, don’t leave it in direct sunlight, that’s the reason why your Sourwood is in such a state!

Our Solution

As stated in the paragraph above, the cure is straightforward: simply position your plant’s Sourwood so that it is out of direct sunlight. With proper watering and this method, your plant should quickly come back to life.

Why are my Oxydendrumarboreum leaves drooping or wilting ?

In most cases, this happens when your Oxydendrumarboreum lacks water. This is especially the case for large plants, naturally they need more water than others.

Drooping

Whether your Oxydendrumarboreum 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

In order to ensure that the roots of your plant receive the water’s benefits, you must first moisten the soil in the container if it is absolutely dry. One common error is to immediately drown the Sourwood after a dry period in the belief that it requires a lot of water.

This is true, but the easiest way to end it is to give too much water at once. Instead, you should water the soil properly, returning to a peaceful watering rhythm.

Caring Tips for Oxydendrumarboreum

Water Occasionally

Water is essential to the survival of your plant, however, it is important to balance the rate of watering. As we explained above, overwatering could have fatal consequences for your Oxydendrumarboreum.

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 Oxydendrumarboreum 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 Oxydendrumarboreum near a source of hot (or cold) air such as A/C units, radiators or the like.

Keep your Sourwood 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 be a true journey into hell for your Sourwood and would also satisfy the pests.

To remove the dust, gently rub the plant’s leaves with a microfiber cloth. Dust can be removed more easily with a damp cloth, but stay away from corrosive substances 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.

You can add volcanic rocks (or any other pebbles with holes) to the bottom of your pot in the interim if your pots don’t already have holes in them. This will help to form a channel so that the water doesn’t pool there for too long (preventing the rot of the roots!).