6 Causes of Dying Okra Plant and How to Fix It?

Undoubtedly, okra is a popular vegetable ingredient in many gumbos and stews. Sadly, okra is a challenging plant to grow, and if you don’t address these problems, your plant will wilt or even die. Incorrect watering, poor lighting, cooler climates, and incorrect soil pH levels are the most common causes of dying okra plants. A variety of diseases and pests can also cause okra to die. This is the right place if you’re having a problem with okra. The following article explains why your okra is dying and how to save it.

6 Causes of Dying Okra Plant

Okra Plants Dying Due to Poor Lighting

If your okra plants are not provided with the correct lighting conditions, either too much sunlight or insufficient sunlight, they will suffer. Okra plants will dehydrate if overexposed to sunlight, resulting in their leaves dying and falling off. A poor lighting condition, on the other hand, will prevent your okra plant from producing energy through photosynthesis.

As a result, your plant’s growth rate will slow rapidly, causing it to starve to death. Sunlight is essential for the growth of okra plants, requiring at least 6-8 hours of sunlight daily. It is ideal for your okra plant to grow in a sunny corner of your garden surrounded by walls. Starting okra seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost is a good idea if your area has limited hours of sunlight.

Okra Plants Dying Due to Cooler Climates

Frost and cooler climates below 18°C severely affect okra plants since they love warm weather. Under-average temperatures will cause the tender leaves of the okra plant to die. It is, therefore, important to consider your climate conditions if you plan to grow okra at home.

It is impossible to grow okra in cooler temperatures. Still, you can amend the soil by covering the okra plant with garden fabric or by creating protection with a plant cover. Using this garden fabric, you can raise the soil temperature to boost the growth of your okra plant while it is still very small. When the weather warms up, remove plant coverings.

Okra Plants Dying Due to Incorrect Watering

One of the most common causes of okra plant death is overwatering or underwatering. If you overwater your okra plant, the roots will suffocate and drown, while underwatering will dry out the roots, which will also lead to the death of your plant. There is no straight answer regarding how much water okra plants need. Unfortunately, the amount varies according to the season, the temperature, and the climate. Despite surviving drier conditions, okra plants require moisture when they begin to flower.

In case you missed it: How to Increase Flowers in Okra: Explained in 10 Simple Steps for Higher Yield and Profit

Once a week is considered a good amount of water to give your okra plants. However, in warm, dry conditions, they will need to be watered more frequently. Use the age-old trick of sticking your finger just below the top layer of soil to determine when the plants need to be watered. If you remove your finger from the soil and it sticks to it, it is moist. You may need to rehydrate your soil if no soil is on your finger.

Okra Plants Dying Due to the Wrong Soil pH

Okra plants may grow stunted when the pH levels in their soil are too high or low, preventing them from taking up nutrients and causing toxicity (necrosis) in the soil. Insufficient nutrients in the soil will weaken your okra plants, making them prone to pests, diseases, or both. Okra plants tolerate a wide pH range in their preferred hot climate. For okra plants, a pH level of 6.5-7 is optimal. To enjoy your okra plant’s harvest, keeping the pH of your soil between these levels is good.

Bringing your soil’s pH level back to normal can be achieved in some easy steps. First, you will need to purchase a soil testing monitor and measure the pH level of your soil. Add carbonate sulfur or sulphuric acid to your soil if the pH levels are too high (above 7). Add limestone or a soil de-acidifier if the soil test indicates a low pH level.

Okra Plants Dying Due to Pests

Many pests cause okra plants to die, including aphids, spider mites, flea beetles, leafhoppers, whiteflies, stink bugs, and corn earworms. The okra plant can be weakened or even killed if left unchecked by these common garden pests that feed on its leaves, pods, and stems. As a type of roundworm, nematodes penetrate deep into a plant’s roots and damage it from within. A plant that develops galls or root knots as it heals its wounds begins to form unusual conditions. As a result, nematodes breed and thrive under these conditions.

Planting various plants is one of the best ways to control pests in your garden. As a result, pests are less likely to focus on a single plant. Beneficial insects that feed on pests are also attracted to your garden. Aphids, for example, are loved by ladybugs and lacewings. Horticultural neem oil can be used for organic pest control.

The product is effective against aphids, spider mites, flea beetles, leafhoppers, and whiteflies. Stink bugs can be sprayed with insecticidal soap (or picked off with tongs and placed into a soapy bucket of water, carefully avoiding eye and skin contact). When it comes to cutworms, diatomaceous earth is a good choice. Flying pests can also be caught with sticky traps.

Okra Plants Dying Due to Diseases

Okra plant disease is most often caused by not providing the ideal growing conditions for the plant. A warm-season plant, okra is susceptible to diseases caused by cold weather and wet conditions. As a result of these conditions, okra leaves, stems, and roots are susceptible to fungal diseases such as root rot and stem rot. Also, watch out for powdery mildew, anthracnose, and rust.

In case you missed it: How to Grow Okra/Bhendi in Greenhouse: A Step-By-Step Guide for Seed to Harvest

A severe case of the disease can cause okra plants to wilt and even die. You can use an organic copper fungicide on okra plants to help them avoid these diseases, though it isn’t always possible. It’s advisable to pull up the plant and start over to prevent the disease in other plants in the garden. In addition, cut any dead okra leaves from around the lower base of the plant to increase airflow.

Conclusion

It is both enjoyable and rewarding to grow okra in your backyard. There are challenges associated with each stage of okra’s growth. There are many of them. The first step in creating a successful prevention and treatment plan is to understand the causes behind the death of your okra leaves.

6 Causes of Dying Okra Plant and How to Fix It?