How to Care for a Passiflora Lady Margaret That Is Losing Leaves

Inspect the leaves and stems for insects such as stinkbugs, thrips, scales and aphids. Treat by spraying with insecticidal soap for soft bodies insects and with neem oil for scale insects. Apply all insecticides according to label directions.

Control the amount of water your plant receives. Passifloras like to be kept dry. Several root rot fungi and bacteria can invade the plant if the soil is kept too wet. Move the plant to a drier location if the area is prone to standing water. If you cannot move the plant, add 50 percent sand or crushed granite to the soil to provide additional drainage, or raise the plant up onto a mound of amended topsoil. Repot container grown plants in a mix of one part perlite to three parts well-draining potting mix.

Control your plant's exposure to the elements. Drying winds or temperatures below 25 degrees Fahrenheit can cause leaf drop. Protect your passiflora from extreme cold temperatures by covering with a frost cover or blanket. Move container-grown plants indoors or to a more protected location.

Protect your plant from drought. While Lady Margaret likes to be kept dry, it will drop leaves if kept too dry. Weekly watering is recommended during dry, hot conditions for both in-ground and potted passifloras.

Inspect container-grown plants for fertilizer salt buildup on the top of the soil. Over-fertilization can burn roots and cause leaf drop.

Protect your plant from herbicide overspray. Herbicide drift from your yard or a neighbor's application can cause leaf drop. This won't kill your plant but it can take weeks or months to fully recover.