Port Jackson help

[CraigM]

Hi,

Repotted this PJ towards end of November. Tree seems to be growing strongly, concerned over the tree dropping new leaves and yellow patches on leaves.

Potting mix - pine bark 50%, pumice 40%, balance zeolite, perlite and coir peat.

Immediately after repotting the existing leaves started yellowing and dropping. The tree was fairly pot bound at the time, new growth was fine, put this down to shock of repot. Placed the tree in sheltered position to recover and noticed the new leaves dropped as well. Couple weeks back moved to sunny positioning, same result.

New leaves almost seem to be drying at the base, not sure if this is the cause or happens once dropped. Yellowing is a concern as well. Any ideas?

Could the cause be too much water, tree being too wet?

[Jarad]

When was the last time you gave it some fertiliser?

[CraigM]

Not sure, might have skipped this tree when I fertilized about a month a go (due again) as was recently repotted and was concerned about the leaf drop. Original potting mix had a little bone and blood meal included, would have thought should be sufficient in the mix to sustain recovery. Tree was soaked in Seasol when repotted.

Probably a good idea to give some liquid fertilizer and rule that out.

[anthonyW]

Very hard to tell Graig from images as you can be aware and many factors can decide or decline a trees health.

What is happening above is a reflection most of the time with the roots..hard to say Graig ,just thinking out loud for you

How much root did you take off and was your tree very healthy before re potting...basic questions,but important all the same.

Others are did the night temperatures fall very low after re potting then you water,water other words we water log,tree stresses then because tolerance fades,leaves turn yellow and other,tree can not transpire,then root rot starts and so on,and this is related to the first line/question,,roots..watering regime..medium and so on ?

Now I have found if I have lack of water in most times leaves flag on a fig..we water within a few hours to the rest of the day the leaves pick up we are back on our way..do it continuous it will eventually stress and you known what happens then.

Now lets go back to the roots,you repot(you take more roots obviously) but you have the same surface area..holds more water now and now we go back to the other thoughts above ?

Now we have a lot of pumice which can hold 4 times(I hear)in its own weight in water,zealite watering holding capabilities and so on..all good drainage,but now it comes back you Graig,(WATER)WHat DID YOU DO fig brother haha .

Only thinking out aloud Graig very hard to tell my friend maybe some of this might help.

Wouldn't hurt to have look at the roots this time of the year if it is that bad,am I noticing algae/green colour right middle ?.

cheers Anthony

[CraigM]

Thanks Anthony, the tree was healthy when I repotted, probably reduced the root ball by about 60%, was growing in a Styrofoam box and had been in there for some time. The new growth is pushing so think the stress of the root reduction is probably ok.

Normally water the trees every morning then off to work, so some time trees are watered when still damp. The pot drains very well, but have a feeling that this might be too wet, perhaps the mix holds a little too much water, will try and reduce watering to every second day and see what happens. The moss you see is probably from when it was more sheltered, the tree is now growing in full sun.