Since some days the leafs of my strawberry from Germany (I am a German but live in Jamaica) turn dark. It starts at the outside and goes deeper into the leaf. Some leafs are black, by now (see photo). But I see also a couple of new leafs starting to grow. The entire plant was brought to me by a friend from Germany. One plant died soon after being planted into this new soil, this plant continued to live after all leafs died and new leafs (those you see on the photo) came out. The turning dark happens since around a week or so. I reduced the watering due my suspect of root rotting. Environment: Medium-sized pot with mixed soil (perlite, regular soil) and decorative white sand and tiny white stones atop (delicious minerals for the plant, maybe), lots of energy-saving lights around and 24/7 with additional reflecting aluminum, permanently warm Caribbean temperatures (30 degree of Celsius whatever this is in Kelvin and/or Fahrenheit), watering one to two times a day with half a cup of water for this plant. Close-by some melon plants and vine seedlings. The plant pot is indoors, not outdoors. Occasionally I gave a root hormone to all plants in this pot, and also occasionally some small amount of fertilizer (small pieces in different colors, to give you an idea). The transplantation into the new soil here in Jamaica took place nearly one month ago. I want the assistance of some forum users here. What's the meaning of the darkening and what could cause it? How to halt this development? And how to prevent? I also appreciate very much advices how to grow not related to this current problem. Thanks a lot.
I don't know much about this, but it looks like a pathogen of some sort, probably a fungus. Strawberries are more prone to fungus in the wet/humid tropics. You may need to choose a different variety to grow in Jamaica anyway. Varieties sold in northern regions usually fruit in long day lengths that just don't happen in the tropics. Might be good to check out the local markets to see what kind people are growing there.
That's it - no one grows them here now. They were a few, but other plants could be sold easier, so they changed. And imported strawberries are here extremely expensive, maybe US$ 10 for 10 strawberry fruits... But I will try to research a little bit. But then it is another question, how to get the seeds of tropical strawberries. No shop here sells them (seeds). And I don't know anyone who could send them by a regular letter.
I don't know what the import laws are in Jamaica, but Florida grows a lot of strawberries, maybe you could order plants from there?
Nitrogen? Hmm... That could be a reason. I used a fertilizer which contained Nitrogen. Is this sure? And does it then looks like in my photos, Togata 357? And if, what best to do against it to solve the problem, other than stopping using this fertilizer?
