Yellowing Leaves - Pachira Plant

[gemini1975]

Yellowing Leaves

My Pachira plants leaves are turning yellow, what is happening to my plant???

[Newt]

There are several reasons why this could be happening. One that comes to mind is that it may need to be repotted and is rootbound. Nutritional deficiency, lack of sun, too much fertilizer, too much water or an insect or disease could also be to blame. We'd need more information to be helpful about the growing conditions.

[gemini1975]

Thanks Newt for your reply.

Conditions for my Pachira are as follows: - it's in an area of the room where it gets enough light, in fact the leaves that are going yellow first are the ones facing towards the light...this is why it has baffled me.  I don't think the sunlight is too strong.  I have not changed the watering pattern except watering a little less in the winter months, and only give it fertilizer once a month in winter twice a month in the summer.  I have thought about repotting it, but was thinking this may make matters worse by disturbing the roots.  As far as I can see there are not dieases or mites attacking the plant.  I have seen on the internet that my Pachira could be suffering from something called Cholorisis - lack of iron! if this is the case I am not sure how I go about ensuring that my planet gets this vital mineral???  Any ideas???

[Newt]

Hi Gemini,

Generally when a plant suffers from chlorosis it occurs all over the plant and not just on one side where the light is. Do look to see the yellowing pattern and if the veins are staying green. Here's some sites with info about that.

http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/focus/chlorosis.html

http://plantclinic.cornell.edu/FactSheets/microchlorosis /microchlorosis.htm

These sites give info about the different types of fertilizers. If memory serves me (I answered a similiar question on another forum), alfalfa meal could be helpful here. I don't know what you are using to fertilize it, but a natural one is always best as the synthetic types tend to leave behind residual salts that plants don't like. For the first one look on the left under 'Soil'.

http://www.loudzen.com/garden/soil/index.html

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/t rees-new/text/fertilizing_tables.html

Here's some info about your tree.

http://www.floridata.com/ref/P/pach_aqu.cfm

http://www.valentine.gr/pachira_en.htm

I suspect that it needs repotting. Take a look to see if the roots are coming out the drainage holes. If possible try and ease it out of the pot to see if the roots are circling.

[gemini1975]

Hi Newt

Thank you very much for your valuable information, I will be checking all the info out in the hope of saving my Pachira! Will let you know how I get on, again many thanks.