Petunia leaves chartreuse, purple veins

13 years ago

I spent some time searching the forums and did a web search, but still haven't figured out what's wrong. I bought my petunia in a 6" pot this spring and transplanted it into a 10" hanging basket. It's a single plant of "Priscilla." The plant has grown to fill the basket, and is still covered in buds and blooms, but the leaves look sick. I started off with fresh potting soil and Osmocote. The leaves were lush and deep green through July. Now the leaves are discoloring, over the entire plant. The leaves are a yellow-green. Yellow at the bottom of the plant. Veins are purplish and there are purple blotches on lower leaves.

We've had a lot of rain this summer. When the pot hasn't been rain-soaked and has needed water, I've been feeding it with diluted 15-30-15 Miracle Gro. Temperatures have been all over the place. Did I get too fertilizer happy? Or has the rain leached out the nutrients and I need to feed more? Too wet? Or maybe the pH got out of whack. The tap water is hard, but we get acid rain here. I've seen similar discoloration on seedlings trapped in small containers for too long but don't know what causes it. They usually green up when transplanted. Maybe Priscilla wants a bigger pot? I'd love to restore her to health so she looks good for the rest of the season.

Here is a link that might be useful: Average rain pH for my area

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Comments (6)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
13 years ago
Did I get too fertilizer happy?

==>>

osmacote PLUS miracle grow.. sounds like a lot to me ...

how many month formula on the time release??? ... what numbers????

and why did you feel that it was insufficient so as to add MGrow???

we are going on late august in z5 ... things are past peak .. and i was just at moms ... and all her pots/hanging baskets look... for lack of a better word.. tired ... this just wasnt a great year for pots.. in general.. in my observation ....

who knows.. but i doubt.. repotting an annual in sept .. isnt going to get you very far.. by first frost time...

but.. no one ever learned anything... w/o trying ... so go for it ....

ken
Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
13 years ago
Is the hanging basket one of those where the drain hole is recessed about 1/2 inch above the bottom of the pot or - even worse- with an attached drain saucer? Either allows excess water to stand in the bottom of the pot, which Petunia will not abide. Once the root rot reaches a certain point, it will kind of melt, seemingly suddenly.

I agree, it's been an awful year for pots, in the East. Way too much rain! If you let your plant dry out, it may recover.
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Edie
Original Author
13 years ago
Ken - I have no outside water faucet at this apartment, so everything gets watered by hand, with a watering can filled at the kitchen sink. I put time release in a few pots but not all of them. Sometimes I remember which ones already have the time-release and don't need extra food, and give them plain water. Sometimes I forget, and everybody gets the blue Kool-aid. The MG package has a dose listed for "feeding with every watering," 1/4 tsp per gallon. I'm using 1/4 tsp per 1.5 gallons (the size of my watering can). Not doing it at every watering, and sometimes the rain waters for me. Our average first fall frost is Oct 1. So there's still time to enjoy the garden.

Purple - yes to the recessed drain, and I just checked and discovered I skipped this basket when I was drilling extra drainage holes. I'm going to get the drill out and remedy that right now. No saucers on outdoor plants at my house. I pry off all the attached ones and save them in a bin so I can find them when it's time to bring the houseplants in. The pot's dry at the moment. I'll try to keep it on the dry side.

Thank you!
Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
13 years ago
Sounds like you were already 'on it.' I hate when I realize I've forgotten to add real drain holes to a pot too. I'm not ready to say goodbye to summer either. Sending good vibes!
Pat z6 MI
13 years ago
You really only need a long, sharp scissors to enforce/enlarge those plastic hanging pot holes.
Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
13 years ago
Yes, I use a pruner to nip a few triangles out of the bottom edge. (...and an awl to put holes in the sides and stick cuttings.) Lately, I've been trying to make one hole with a little piece of plastic left hanging down. It seems extremely helpful for added dripping, especially on the pots with wire home-made hanging things that don't hang perfectly flat. Not a detriment, a bonus, in retrospective realization.