Why does variegation disappear?

Why Does Variegation Disappear? Variegated plants growing in shady or semi-shady locations are really at a disadvantage. Not only do they have low levels of chlorophyll, but they are not even exposed to adequate light. This scenario lends itself to the reversion of variegated leaves.

Can a plant lose its variegation?

Reverting back to the original green color can sometimes be due to unstable changes in cell mutations, changes in hot and cold temperatures, for survival or other factors. Once a plant reverts back to green it is not possible to again reverse it back to variegated colorings.

What causes reversion in plants?

Variegated plants are generally selected from a sport, or mutation, of a pure green plant. However, the mutations within these plants are not always stable and can be prone to ‘reverting’ back to pure green shoots. Virus infections can cause a form of variegation.

Why do variegated plants revert?

Variegated plants can revert or turn green for a number of reasons. It can be a reaction to extremes of hot and cold or a reaction to low-light levels. Some say it could also be caused as a survival technique, as the plant is stronger when it has more chlorophyll.

Can you increase variegation?

You can simply promote more variegation of already variegated plants by positioning your houseplants in a spot with more light. The darker the spot, the more green leave are produced. Near a window or an artificial light source is a good spot for your variegated plant to produce more variegation.

Can a reverted plant revert back?

Can reverted plants get their variegation back? Short answer, no. It’s common for plants to lose their variegation because it isn’t an advantageous trait. However, it’s rare for a plant to spontaneous variegate because it’s just not an ideal survival trait.

Why do variegated string of hearts revert?

Leaves will rot when the plant has been sitting in waterlogged soil for too long. Leaves may also rot if the plant is placed in dark and damp spots (bathroom with very little light etc.). Chain of hearts is not a good plant for rooms that lack in light.

How do you stimulate variegation?

Place the plant in full sun to encourage variegation. Variegated plants need more sun than solid green plants because they don’t have as much chlorophyll to absorb sunlight. If you’re growing a variegated plant, leave it near a sunny window or a bright spot on your property so it absorbs enough sun to stay healthy.

How do you force variegation in plants?

How do you increase variegation?

What causes variegated leaves to revert to normal?

This scenario lends itself to reversion of variegated leaves. Variegation loss in plants could also be spurred by changes in heat or cold. If the weather is unfavorable to a particular plant, it may revert just to get a competitive advantage.

Why does variegation take so long to propagate?

The stronger the variegation in a plant, the slower it grows, hence the longer it takes to propagate. Strong variegation rarely occurs in nature and when it does, those plants are at a significant evolutionary disadvantage compared to entirely green plants as they do not photosynthesise as efficiently.

What is the difference between reversion and variegation?

This is the very opposite of the reversion process. Variegated plants also have smaller leaves, less tolerance to shady areas and yet a tendency to burn in hot sun, and slower growth. Most plants will only revert on stem, branch or other area.

Why do plants change colour after variegation?

When the chlorophyll level in the variegated plants decreases, the capacity to photosynthesis reduces and it will affect the survival of the plant. So the plants tend to return to green colour which will help them to thrive and grow better. So, most of the reversal of variegation is a survival tactic for the plant.