NOTE: In this article, Texas mountain laurel and Dermatophyllum secundiflorum may be used interchangeably; in fact, Dermatophyllum secundiflorum is the botanical name for Texas mountain laurel.
Texas mountain laurel is a flowering shrub that is native to Mexico and the southwestern United States. Not to be confused with Kalmia latifolia, also known as mountain laurel, it’s also known as Texas mescal bean, coral bean, hot bean, frijolillo, and frijolito.
It is covered with bunches of flowers that are bright in color and include lavender, periwinkle and purple. Some people have described the scent of these flowers as similar to the scent of heirloom German irises.
Why does my Dermatophyllum secundiflorum roots have rot?
Root rot on your Texas mountain laurel (Dermatophyllum secundiflorum) 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 Texas mountain laurel have gray mold spots?
A particular fungus that frequently affects flowers and spreads quickly is known as gray mold spots. This fungus is most likely to blame if you see any brown (or gray) spots. Don’t ignore these signs because doing so could cause your plant to die.
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 Dermatophyllum secundiflorum. 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 Texas mountain laurel have leaf spots?
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 Texas mountain laurel, this kind of illness is among the most distressing.
Why are my Texas mountain laurel leaves turning yellow?
In the world of horticulture, yellowing leaves are undoubtedly the most common problem. The two main causes of this problem are overwatering and a lack of nutrition.
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 Dermatophyllum secundiflorum 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.
- Sulfur deficiency starts with the newest leaves, turning them yellow throughout.
- Insufficient potassium causes the leaf edges to turn brilliant yellow while the interior of the leaf stays green. Older leaves show the symptoms initially, and the leaf edges quickly darken.
- Nitrogen deficiency shows up as a general yellowing. Older, inner leaves turn yellow first. As it progresses, yellowing moves outward, eventually reaching young leaves, too.
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 Texas mountain laurel sunburned?
You can easily tell if your Texas mountain laurel (your Dermatophyllum secundiflorum) has a sunburn. In this case, your plant will change color, starting to turn yellow or white, much like it does on us.
The leaves of your Texas mountain laurel can also change color in case it gets too much water or not enough light, as we saw above.
However, there is a way to tell if it is sunburn; look at the bottom of the yellow leaves, the ones that have a shaded area closer to the root, if this area stays greener, it is probably sunburned, not something else.
Why are my Texas mountain laurel 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 Dermatophyllum secundiflorum in direct sunlight?
No! If your Dermatophyllum secundiflorum (or Texas mountain laurel) has the symptoms described above, don’t leave it in direct sunlight, that’s the reason why your Texas mountain laurel is in such a state!
Our Solution
As stated in the paragraph above, the cure is straightforward: simply position your plant’s Texas mountain laurel 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 Dermatophyllum secundiflorum leaves drooping or wilting ?
This typically occurs when your Dermatophyllum secundiflorum gets dehydrated. Large plants are more at risk since they naturally require more water than smaller plants.
An easy way to know if your Dermatophyllum secundiflorum is lacking water is to under-weigh its pot, if it looks light, it means that the soil and the roots are probably quite dry, and therefore need water!
Our Solution
If the soil in the container is completely dry, you must first moisten it to guarantee that your plant’s roots absorb the benefits of the water. One common mistake is to drown the Texas mountain laurel right away after a dry time because you think it needs 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 Dermatophyllum secundiflorum
Water Occasionally
Your plant needs water to survive, but it’s crucial to balance the amount and timing of watering. As we previously mentioned, overwatering could be catastrophic for your Dermatophyllum secundiflorum.
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
Maintaining a consistent temperature for your Dermatophyllum secundiflorum is also a good idea, especially if it is kept indoors. At GreenShack, we typically advise reserving a temperature between 65 and 85 degrees F. Of course, avoid positioning your Dermatophyllum secundiflorum close to air conditioners, radiators, or other sources of hot or cold air.
Keep your Texas mountain laurel Dust-Free
This one relates to indoor plants. Just like your furniture, dust collects on the leaves of your indoor plants. The issue is that this can block the photosynthesis process from starting, which would cause the plants to gradually lose their color.
This would be a true journey into hell for your Texas mountain laurel and would also satisfy the pests.
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 have a tendency to overwater, you need to keep an eye on your drainage, we advise you to opt for a pot with drainage holes if it is not already the case and a saucer.
If your pots don’t already have holes in them, you can add volcanic rocks (or any other pebbles with holes) to the bottom of your pot in the meantime. This will assist in creating a channel and keep the water from pooling there for an extended period of time, protecting the roots from decay.
