Chaenomeles Leaf Problems

ommthree

Hi All,

I have a Chaenomeles (flowering quince) in a pot on my balcony. I got it in about February and it flowered very nicely. It's come into leaf now but after a few weeks the leaves aren't looking that healthy. They are a bit yellow and some are curling. And a couple of the smaller (flowered) branches look quite dead. The pot is about 30cm tall and 30cm wide while the plant itself is about 40cm tall at the moment. 

It has been raining a fair bit, but I don't think it's likely to be waterlogged, as I used a very free draining mix with lots of bark and perlite. I have fertilized once this year so far and have treated all my pots for vine weevils just yesterday.

If anybody has any suggestions I'd be very grateful! I'm linking to pictures.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/25871160224/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/26450121946/in/dateposted-public/

 

pansyface

It looks like it's developing chlorosis

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=772

Chlorosis isn't a disease it's a symptom of something else.

darren636

I'd check the roots , then give it a liquid feed and a mulch of compost.

ommthree

Thanks both.

I will have a look at the roots certainly. What am I looking for there beyond obvious signs of rot?

I wonder whether my potting mix was a bit alkaline for it? 

 

Fairygirl

Is it getting damaged by wind ommthree? Being on a balcony, it suggests it's higher up and that can often be an issue. It can dry foliage out very quickly.

darren636

Check for grubs etc.



It should be OK,

The cold can inhibit certain root processes , such as mineral intake.



A liquid feed gives instant results and a mulch will leach food for months

Dovefromabove

I'd have potted it in John Innes loam-based compost with some added grit.  Not much nutrition in bark and perlite. 

Also if it's too free-draining all the nutrition will wash straight through in heavy rain.

 

darren636

Some of my aquarium plants curl their leaves when depleted of micro fertilisers such aa magnesium.

But as dove pointed out, it can happen due to other stressors such as cold winds.

ommthree

Thanks everyone.

Pretty sure it's not wind in this case, as it's a very calm spot. I did feed it a couple of weeks back, but will try giving it another feed certainly. Perhaps a foliar feed to perk it up as well.

As for the compost, I've always struggled with loam-based composts in pots: I find it hard to get the watering right. So I've gravitated over the last couple of years to less and less loam in my mixes with good results for the most part. And then I am pretty free with my liquid fertilisers. But perhaps that approach is not working for this particular plant.

Food for thought everyone. Thank you.

ommthree

So... I had a good look at the roots. All white and healthy-looking with no sign of any grubs or other unhoped for infestations. But the interesting thing was that the roots had really barely started to move beyond the original much smaller rootball. So I'm thinking that it probably just needs to establish itself a bit. It's bound to struggle bringing in nutrients with such a tiny root ball.

I shall feed it well and keep it under observation. Thank you everyone!

pansyface

If the roots are going round in circles you can help them to grow by teasing out the original, perhaps a bit rootbound, shape.