Schefflera yellow spots and dropping leaves

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

Hey y’all, I picked up this awesome Schefflera alpina at HD several weeks ago, and they were only $11... and I’m pretty sure the problem I’m having is due to them overwatering, as HD is known to do, or just stress from the moving, but wanted to check. The leaves across the entire plant have yellow spots, and some that look like trails. The lower leaves are yellowing and dropping. I let it dry out completely... so much that the potting soil cracked under the weight of the plant trying to fall over. It did sit in a low light corner for a few days, but it’s been in a South-facing window for a good while now. There at e a few brown tips here and there but nothing out of the ordinary. I just want to make sure this yellow spotting/trails is not a disease or pest that can spread to my other plants. Thanks for any advice or help!

Featured Answer

Jenn

7 years ago

Thanks, Al! You are always so helpful, and that is such a relief! I was thinking oedema as well, but am glad to know it’s nothing fatal. :)

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Comments (6)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
7 years ago
Need a much closer detail of the plant and the damaged foliage to make any sort of assessment. Can you post better photos?
Jenn Landrum
Original Author
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Sorry, my photos didn’t upload and still aren’t uploading properly. I’m trying to edit the post now. Thanks!
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Jenn Landrum
Original Author
7 years ago
Jenn Landrum
Original Author
7 years ago
I think they got uploaded this time, and I posted one in the comments in case.
tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
The yellowing looks like what leaves in the process of being shed look like. When plants can, they will harvest mobile nutrients and other biocompounds from leaves that aren't pulling their weight for one reason or another, before the leaves are shed. Mg is mobile and also central to the green pigment chlorophyll. As the plant extracts Mg, the chlorophyll breaks down and can no longer mask the leaf's other pigments, in this case the carotinoid, lutein.

I'm unsure about the other markings on the underside of the leaves. It's vaguely reminiscent of the physiological disorder, oedema, though it doesn't characteristically look like that's the issue. The primary driver behind oedema would be the soggy/air-starved medium that comes with the over-watering by the store where it was purchased.

Al