Is Your Rosemary Plant Dying? Here’s Why

If your rosemary plant is losing leaves, it may be showing signs of root-rot. If the soil is too moist or waterlogged, you should repot the plant in well-draining soil and allow the top few inches of the original soil to dry before watering again.

Rosemary is an evergreen, tender herb mostly found in relatively warm and sunny climates. The plant thrives both indoors and outdoors as long as the growing conditions are right. Unfortunately, Rosemary plants are prone to some diseases and pests that can lead to death. So, if you discover your plant dying, there can be a list of potential causes you need to examine to save it.

So, what are some of the common causes of rosemary plant dying? The most common cause of Rosemary plant death is underwatering or overwatering. Although these plants require consistent watering to thrive, too much or too little water can be just as deadly. Ensure the potting mix is not overly saturated for long periods, and the soil is allowed to dry out between watering sessions. Other causes of rosemary plant dying include inadequate light, the soil being too acidic, extreme winter, high humidity, over-fertilization/lack of fertilization, excessive pruning, and nutrient imbalance.

This blog post discusses the common causes of rosemary plant dying and what you can do to protect it from premature death. Read on to learn more.

Reason #1: Lack of Enough Sunlight

As mentioned above, rosemary prefers warm and sunny climates to thrive. The herb is native to the Mediterranean region that receives lots of direct sunlight and heat. Therefore, the herb is generally heat-tolerant and can survive in full sun.

Rosemary requires 10-12 hours of direct sunlight daily, but it can still survive with eight to six hours of full sun. If you have the herb in your outdoor garden, ensure other plants do not cover it. It must be positioned in an open spot that receives plenty of full sun every day.

Rosemary exposed to sunlight in a pot.
Rosemary requires 10-12 hours of direct sunlight daily.

If you grow the herb outdoors and prefer bringing it indoors for winter, ensure you provide it with at least six hours of strong light daily. Taking it from 10-12 hours of direct sunlight to four or five hours of indirect, low light can be catastrophic.

If you must bring the herb indoors for winter, help it adjust or acclimate to its new environment. The process must be gradual and done over a few weeks. Otherwise, your Rosemary plant may die.

Place it near a south-facing window, or use grow lights to ensure it receives adequate light for its growth and survival.

If you notice your plant has started to yellow, wilt, and drop leaves, it is an indication of inadequate sunlight. Move it closer to the window or add more artificial lighting.

Reason #2: Overwatering

Overwatering your rosemary plant can lead to irreversible damage. The rosemary plant is naturally drought-resistant and prefers dryer conditions to thrive. Too much watering usually creates damp conditions, promoting root rot. This can, in turn, lead to death.

The herb requires infrequent watering to stay healthy and produce strong and unique aromatic leaves.

Young rosemary plants may still survive with frequent watering, but everything changes when they mature.

Watering a rosemary in a pot.
Rosemary pots tend to dry out quickly since the plant prefers full sun.

Mature rosemary plants in temperate climates don’t need any form of additional watering since they can attain all their moisture requirements from rainfall, even during the dry summer months.

Rosemary pots tend to dry out quickly since the plant prefers full sun. Therefore, watering once every two weeks is appropriate during spring and summer. If you water your rosemary more than twice a month, you are most likely overwatering it.

If the plant is watered frequently, the soil stays moist/saturated with water, interfering with the roots’ ability to perform their functions.

This will eventually lead to root rot and other fungal diseases. If your rosemary turns black or brown, it could be signs of root rot or fungal infection. You must act quickly to save your plant from imminent death.

The best way to prevent overwatering is to check the soil before you water. A moisture meter or your finger can help determine if it needs more water.

If the top inch of the soil feels dry, then add some water. Otherwise, hold off until after a couple of days when you can check again.

Reason #3: Pests and Diseases

Although rosemary plant is known to be somehow resistant to pests and diseases, it can still fall victim to certain common pests and fungi.

The most notorious rosemary pest is the whitefly. This small insect is usually found on the underside of rosemary leaves, causing significant damage as a result of its feeding activities.

The whitefly feeds on plant sap using its piercing mouthpart leading to the yellowing and wilting of the leaves. It may also spread plant diseases such as tomato spotted wilt virus and other viral infections.

A closeup image of a rosemary beetle.
it can still fall victim to certain common pests and fungi.

Rosemary plants are also prone to root rot, fungal infections, and other types of disease. High humidity levels (overwatering) or too much shade can provide favorable conditions for fungus and bacterial growth, leading to diseases.

If you notice your rosemary has wilted leaves, black spots on its stems, or yellowing of the leaves, it could be a sign of  a disease.

To prevent pests and diseases from attacking your rosemary plants, ensure that you maintain good hygiene practices around.

Furthermore, avoid overwatering, use sterile potting soil, and move them away from overly wet areas. You may also need to apply a fungicide or insecticide to prevent further damage if the above measures don’t work.

Reason #4: Extreme Winter

Rosemary is a typical Mediterranean herb that thrives in relatively sunny locations. This plant is cold-tolerant since it belongs to the hardiness zone of 8-11. Anything below freezing temperatures can be catastrophic.

However, some varieties of this herb, such as the Madeline Hill and “Arp,” are quite hardy and can survive in low temperatures. In fact, these two varieties can survive in temperatures of up to -5 Degrees Fahrenheit.

Rosemary outdoors covered with snow.
This plant is cold-tolerant since it belongs to the hardiness zone of 8-11.

If you live in a location where temperatures drop significantly during winter, you must ensure that your rosemary plant is protected from frost and snow. Consider bringing them indoors or to a warmer spot like the basement or garage.

The plant will become dry and brittle if you ignore it during winter and turn yellow or brown. The early signs of winter neglect will only kill a few branches. However, further neglect will completely kill the roots and the entire plant.

If you have planted your rosemary outdoors, in-ground making it impossible to move them indoors during winter, ensure you provide enough shelter that helps them avoid harsh winter winds.

If you discover signs of frost damage on your plant, quickly cut off the damaged stems and leaves and provide more protection.

Avoid pruning your rosemary during winter when there is still a risk of frost damage. The pruned areas will become susceptible to frost damage.

Pruning should be done in spring or summer when the weather is warm enough to stimulate new, healthy growth.

Consider mulching in fall with about three inches of mulch added on top of the soil.

Reason #5: The Soil Is Too Acidic

Rosemary grows in mildly acidic soil with a soil pH of between 6 and 7.5. If the soil is too acidic, it will limit essential nutrients from being available to your plant. This can lead to stunted growth, yellowing of leaves, and in some cases, death.

If you are not sure about the exact pH of your preferred soil, go for the typical garden soil that is mostly pH neutral or slightly acidic. This will provide your plant with the balance it needs to thrive.

You may also consider adding organic matter and compost to improve soil fertility. If you have been using chemical fertilizers, switch to natural fertilizers.

Organic fertilizers will ensure that your soil is adequately aerated and nutrients are available in adequate amounts.

Test your soil to know the exact pH level and make the necessary adjustments. Organic mulch can also help maintain a more neutral pH by decreasing acidity levels in the soil.

Reason #6: Excessive Pruning

While you can harvest your rosemary anytime during the active growing season, be careful not to overdo it.

Rosemary plants respond to pruning by producing more foliage and branches, which means you will get a bushy plant. But if you over-prune it, the plant won’t produce enough new growth, and its overall health will be affected.

When pruning rosemary, always use clean scissors and make sure to avoid cutting more than one-third of the plant’s foliage. Prune away dead and damaged stems and any overly long branches.

Prune only in spring or summer when the weather is warm enough for new growth. Doing so will ensure that your rosemary has enough time to recover before winter.

Reason #7: Overcrowding

Lastly, a rosemary plant may also die due to insufficient space between the plants. This is especially true for outdoor rosemary plants.

Overcrowding prevents optimal airflow to the plant leading to relatively slow water evaporation at the bottom of the plant, which is a recipe for fungal infections and root rot.

rosemary flowering in a pot.
A rosemary plant may also die due to insufficient space between the plants.

Therefore, ensuring your rosemary plants are spaced out nicely is always good to allow enough air and sunlight to reach each plant.

Final Thought

Rosemary is a hardy, fragrant herb that grows well both indoors and outdoors. However, if you are having trouble growing it, there could be several causes to examine. From too much or too little water to acidic soil or frost damage.

Keeping an eye out for these common issues and making the necessary changes to your growing condition can help you successfully grow a healthy rosemary plant.

Last update on 2023-02-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

read this next

Succulents are easy to care for and they add a wonderful pop of color to any room. If you’re thinking about adding a few to your home, but aren’t sure what types to choose, this list is for you. Try one or more of these 15 succulents that are easy to care for and don’t require much attention.
Propagating desert rose can be a little delicate. It is a great flower to have in your garden, as it attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. The Desert rose or Adenium obesum is a flowering plant. It is a relative of the dog rose family and related to the apple. It can survive in a variety of weather conditions, from freezing to scorching heat.
Planting a cactus isn’t very hard to do; however, there are some steps to follow that will ensure that you buy the right one and plant it in the right way. If you’ve never grown a cactus before this article is for you
The cactus is a weird shaped plant, alright, but how can you tell one cactus from the other? There are thousands of cacti species in the world and some look distinctively similar. A closer look will reveal the various features that set them apart.
Succulents are a popular addition to any home because of how easy they are to care for. However, many find that they tend to turn yellow. If your succulent is turning yellow, there might not be anything to worry about. There are a few reasons why a succulent may change color, which we’ll go into more detail below.
Rooting and planting a piece of your cactus plant is a technique for propagating it. You need to carefully take a cutting, allow it to try, and root it into a proper-sized pot with suitable soil. To keep your cacti healthy, never overwater them
The Kalanchoe plant is well know for its beautiful, long lasting blooms. As time goes by, the stems will often dry up and break off naturally at their base or between where they are connected to the leaves. Most people assume that when this happens it means the plant is dead. The secret to keeping your plants healthy and growing is knowing how to take a cutting off one of these dried up stems and getting it re-planted.
A cactus garden is a unique way to give more character to your backyard. They’re not only easy to grow but they’re fun and rewarding. Whether you want to add some color, texture or privacy to the space, there’s a cactus for that! Keep in mind that cacti are easily adaptable and can withstand dry conditions, heat and neglect.
Cactus pear: Just the word inspires intrigue. These unique fruits come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes. Although they’re a bit strange, they’re also delicious and full of surprising health benefits! If you are still unsure why people love the plant so much, here are 8 exciting facts about Cactus Pear.
Knowing how to water succulents from the bottom is an important part of growing them correctly.  There are many reasons why you’d want to change your watering schedule, so knowing how to water succulents from the bottom is an important skill.  Many times it will be the only way you can water without disrupting their roots and destroying them.
Fighting Cactus diseases and pests is one of the challenges faced by gardeners who grow cacti and succulent plants. This comprehensive guide – The Ultimate Guide – features detailed information on identifying and treating plant diseases and common pests that cause problems.
The crown of thorns plant has a few characteristics that set it apart from other plants. The purple and yellow flowers along the stem and the spines on its leaves give the plant a rugged yet beautiful appearance. The crown of thorns plant does not require much maintenance and can thrive in containers or in the ground.
There are several common reasons why a cactus might be dying: overwatering or underwatering, getting less or more sunlight than required, and using a soil that cannot drain properly. Knowing how to maintain your cacti during the year will help them grow healthy and beautiful

Receive the latest news

Get Our Cacti Newsletter

Stay updated with the latest facts, tips, advice, and more!

Your privacy is important to us.