Plum Tree Leaves

[Garden_Chris]

Hi guys,

I've written about my plum tree on the forum in the past. Many people recommended upgrading the pot size, this may be a continuation of this issue.

Every five weeks I have used the recommended application of fish blood and bone in order to keep its fertiliser levels topped up due to its smaller size.

I was wondering whether there may be an issue with something else to cause the yellowing of the leaves on the plum tree? I've read somewhere in the past that it could be due to a lack of iron in the soil?

For reference the variety is blue tit on a pixy rootstock.

Thanks,

Chris

[ameno]

Lack of water can cause leaf yellow in plums, especially small trees.

The fact that the leaf veins are still green makes me think it's probably a nutrient deficiency, though (although lack of water may be a contributory factor). Magnesium, most probably. It won't be iron, as iron deficiency affects the newest leaves first. Magnesium affects the oldest leaves first, as magnesium is a mobile nutrient, so the plant can rob magnesium from the old leaves to feed the new ones (iron is not mobile, so new leaves show deficiency first).
Try giving it a dose of epsom salts (magnesium sulphate).

I do also wonder whether you might be giving it too much fish, blood and bone. I don't know what dosage you are giving it, but monthly sounds quite a lot for an organic slow-release fertiliser. Excesses of certain nutrients, as well as potentially harming plants directly, can also lock up other nutrients in the soil and prevent the plant from absorbing them.

[Garden_Chris]

It could be due to a lack of water as we went on holiday for a week and it was hot, as such, it didn’t have a drink apart form rain.

I’ll look into the Epsom salts.

The fish blood and bone packet says to apply every 4-6 weeks so I went with 5 as a middle number. I used the recommend amount. It’s Westlands fish blood and bone.

[ameno]

How many handfuls are you giving it every 5 weeks?

[Jungle Jane]

The application rate of 70 gram per square meter is difficult to judge in a pot,the pots less than a quarter of a square meter,I wouldn’t put a handful in the pot. I put a couple of pinches of it in my pots,once a year tho in spring,I use liquid seaweed feed during the summer to help the fruit.

[Garden_Chris]

How many handfuls are you giving it every 5 weeks?

About 1/2 a handful. The pot is about 40cm x 40cm.

[ameno]

That certainly doesn't seem excessive. I guess it's probably not an issue related to over-fertilisation, then.