Possible nutritional deficiency?

10 years ago

After recently transplanting my lemonade tree into gritty mix, I've noticed these odd patches on some of the leaves. I expected some sort of nutrient problem after the repot to be honest, because the plant had been in a peat based mix for all of its life and I imagine that it is having to completely regenerate. It was repotted in August which I know is not the ideal time but it was in a decomposed peat mix which held on to water for a minimum of two weeks.

Here is a pic of the affected leaves:

I fertilize once a week with a 5:1:3 fertilizer and a capful of vinegar, the fertilizer also contains magnesium, zinc, boron, molybdenum, copper and iron, however it is lacking in calcium, so I used gypsum when making the gritty mix.

Is this a nutritional deficiency and does anybody know how I can correct it?

Thanks,

Lewis

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Comments (4)

Laura LaRosa (7b)
10 years ago
I am not sure, but others here can help you.
Lewis thanked Laura LaRosa (7b)
myermike_1micha
10 years ago
A lack of oxygen from a mix that stayed wet too long, and salt toxicity. Root damage....You did a good thing removing that mix since this is the very issue most have when coming here for support. You probably would of lost that tree by next spring.

Now that you have used the gritty mix, give it time to correct itself..The mix you are using will regenerate healthy roots and the new growth should be lacking that damage...If the new growth next spring still looks like that, then we can address that then. Good for you!

How did you learn of the gritty mix? Why that mix? Do you know how to work with it? Do you know how to properly re pot? How to properly water? How to properly fertilize?

Welcome aboard.

Mike
Lewis thanked myermike_1micha
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Laura LaRosa (7b)
10 years ago
Thanks Mike. I suspected what you said, but was not sure, so I did not want to give bad advice. I agree with Mike that now that your tree is in a good mix, it will correct itself, but it will take some time. Welcome!
Lewis thanked Laura LaRosa (7b)
Lewis
Original Author
10 years ago
Thank you both for the helpful responses, the tree has come inside now, ( frosts are starting to creep up here in cold UK) so I'll hope it regenerates its roots over winter ready for a nice recovery in spring.

Mike,

I've been around these forums for quite a while, and I researched the gritty mix recipe before buying the lemonade tree. I let the mix get almost dry, and when the leaves show the first signs of lacking lustre, i give it a good flush with water. Sometimes I also flush it again after a few minutes when built up salts have dissolved and can be flushed out.

I repotted by removing all of the peat mix from the roots, pruning any severely tangled/ slightly rotten roots, and I kept dipping the roots in a bucket of water.

I put the tree into the gritty mix and used a chopstick to ensure that all air spaces were eliminated. I've anchored the tree using twine to allow it to produce new roots without wobbling around sligtly in a strong breeze (not a problem now as its inside)

Lewis