Sometimes, we do not observe healthy plant growth because of so many environmental factors.  In this article, you will find tips to have healthy plants by identifying their disease at early stage of plant growth.

When you create your balcony garden or terrace garden with a lot of love and effort, you tend to take care of your flower and vegetable plants like a family member. This is also true when you are doing small-scale farming or organic farming as your passion or hobby. 

You can identify the health of your flower or vegetable plants with their leaves.  Here are some of the top tips and tricks to have healthy plants in balcony gardens, kitchen gardens or small-scale organic farms. The trick is to focus on leaves !

Tips of leaves becoming yellow

If the tips of leaves of the plant are showing yellow colour, too much water is being given to the plant. Optimise the water intake to the plant. If necessary, find the right quantity of water required for that plant, and do accordingly.

Leaves bending downwards

If the leaves of the plant are bending downwards, less water is being given to the plant. Again, optimise the water intake and if necessary, find the right quantity of water to be given to the plant.

Leaves showing yellow colour

If the leaves of the plant are showing yellow colour and they are falling, the right intake of sunlight is missing to the plant. Optimise the intake of sunlight to the plant.

Leaves falling by showing yellow colour

If the leaves of the plant are falling by showing yellow colour, but stems and nodes are in healthy condition;  it may be because of weather change. Have patience and let new leaves come to the stems and nodes !

Leaves turned yellow overnight

If the leaves have turned yellow overnight, watch the chemical or fertiliser or compost given to the plant. It may be due to a chemical reaction. Change the chemical or compost or fertiliser.

Leaves are dry and coarse

If the tips of the leaves are dry and coarse, too much feeding is done to the plant. Optimise the feed to the plant.

Leaves are cut

If the leaves are being cut, watch for the pest eating the plant leaves. It may be necessary to do pest control.

Stains on the leaves

If there are stains on the plant leaves , there may be a fungal attack on the plants. It may be necessary to do pest control.

Leaves are bending

If plant leaves are bending, but the plant is looking healthy in overall condition; it may be because of pests eating the leaves from the backside of it. It may be necessary to do pest control.

Stems and nodes are looking pale

There is flowering in the plant, but stems and nodes are looking pale; it may be necessary to increase the intake of compost and fertiliser. Please refer to  “How To Make Compost From Kitchen Waste For Your Balcony Garden?“

Summary

You need to love and watch your plants daily as a family member. That is the way to have healthy plants in balcony gardens or terrace gardens.