Your strawberry plant is dying because there is an environmental factor causing it stress. In order to save your dying plant, you first need to correctly identify the cause of its declining health. A correct diagnosis will enable a more specific course of action for treatment.
The most common reasons your strawberry plant may be dying are lack of nutrients, frost, overwatering and underwatering.
In this article, we will discuss the different reasons your strawberry plant may be dying, and how to save it.
Why is my strawberry plant dying?
Drought
One of the most likely reasons your strawberry plant is dying is that you are not giving it as much water as it needs to survive.
If you just recently planted the strawberry and it has begun to turn brown, it could be because you planted it a little too shallow in the soil and are not watering it frequently enough, or you planted it deep enough but are not watering enough for the water to reach the deeper roots.
The leaves of an underwatered plant will turn brown and its fruit will become shriveled.
When you have a newly planted strawberry plant, water it as frequently as necessary for the soil to be always at least moist. This is the time when the roots are still adapting to the soil and establishing themselves. Watering will help the roots grow out, which will not only take in more water for the plant, but will also help anchor it and hold it up. A well-established plant becomes more resilient against drought.
Drought is more commonly observed in strawberry plants that are planted in containers or pots. The limited soil in the container holds limited water, so if the plant is in a spot that gets plenty of sunlight, the soil will dry out fast.
The best way to know when to water your plant is by touching the soil in the pot. If the top inch of soil is dry, water the plant, but if the soil is still moist, check the soil again after one or two days.
Strawberry plants usually recover well from being underwatered, but try not to let it get to that point in the first place. Avoid drying out the soil by mixing mulch into the soil’s surface. This helps lock in soil moisture while also providing the plant with much-needed nutrients and minerals.
Try to only plant the strawberries during the spring, so that they are well-established by the time summer rolls around.
Overwatering
If your strawberry plant is being overwatered, its leaves will turn yellow and then brown.
While these plants like their soil to be moist, it should still be well-draining so that any excess water you might accidentally give the plant will simply flow out of the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot.
The plant becomes overwatered if the soil is not well-draining, such as heavy soil types like clay. These kinds of soil hold onto water a little too well. The soil should be airy and porous; if it is too compact, add manure, leaf mold or compost so that enough moisture is retained but excess water will simply drain away.
Another reason the soil becomes waterlogged is if the container or pot does not have drainage holes at the bottom. Before you choose a pot to plant in, check that it has drainage holes. You can always just drill holes into pots that you already have. Make sure the holes are large enough to drain the water properly.
Another obvious cause of overwatering is giving the plant water too often. If you water it every day with a lot of water, even if the soil is well-draining and even if the pot has drainage holes, this might not be enough to get rid of all of the excess water in time. Only water the plant when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. If the soil is still moist, wait one or two days before checking the soil again.
Crown rot
One of the most serious conditions that can affect your strawberry plant is crown rot. This is caused by overwatering and letting the plant’s roots soak in waterlogged soil for long periods of time.
When the plant’s roots are constantly underwater, they will drown and die. The dead roots will rot, and will become susceptible to opportunistic pathogens that cause the rot to worsen.
The rot will start at the end of the roots and make its way up the plant until it reaches the root crown.
The symptoms of crown rot include yellowing and browning of the leaves and discoloration of the tissue in the crown. Unfortunately, if your plant has crown rot it usually means it is not salvageable and is better off discarded. Try not to plant any new strawberry plants in the same area, because the fungus may still be living in the soil. Apply a fungicide on the soil so that no reinfection occurs.
Because this condition starts from overwatering, if you refrain from overwatering you should be able to avoid crown and root rot with no problem.
Lack of nutrients
When your strawberry plant does not get the right nutrients and minerals, its leaves will also turn yellow. A lack of nutrients can also result in stunted growth. This happens to plants that are in stony or sandy soil that does not have sufficient organic matter mixed in.
During the plant’s growth period, in the spring and summer, it will need to feed a lot because it is producing fruit as well as new foliage.
To prevent the yellowing of leaves, you need to add manure, leaf mold or compost to the soil. This not only provides nutrients, but also helps the soil retain more moisture. Make sure that at least 10 inches of soil have been amended before you plant the strawberry.
If the plant is growing slowly and is planted in the ground, it might recover better if you transfer it to a pot so that you can control the amount of organic matter that goes into the soil. Feed the plant every 14 days during the spring and summer so that it produces plenty of fruit.
Frost
If a strawberry plant is left outdoors and exposed to frost, its leaves will curl up and turn brown or black.
This most often happens to plants that grew in a nursery over winter and are then taken outdoors and become damaged by the late spring frost.
If the damage is only to some leaves, your plant may be able to recover if you cut off the affected parts and protect it from frost.
Fungal diseases
Powdery mildew and grey mold affect the leaves of the strawberry plant. In humid conditions, the grey mold can be found on the decaying parts of older leaves and flowers. The plant will rot and die back.
Powdery mildew looks like a white fungus that affects the plant’s growth and causes the leaves to curl and shrivel.
Conclusion
Your strawberry plant is dying because an environmental factor is causing it stress. You need to correctly determine the cause of the problem in order to make treatment easier and save the plant.
The most common cause of a dying strawberry plant is underwatering. These plants want their soil to be a little moist at all times. This is especially important when the plant is still establishing its roots. Its leaves will wilt and turn brown unless you learn how to water it correctly.
Overwatering causes root and crown rot, so make sure the soil is well-draining and the pot has drainage holes at the bottom. Feed the plant every spring and summer to make sure it gets all the nutrients and minerals it needs.
Strawberry plants may be a little tricky to grow, but provided you get it right, you will be rewarded with six years of fruit.
Image: istockphoto.com / romiri