AusBonsai

Hi guys,

Over the past couple weeks some new growth on a F. Benji of mine has been coming out a pale yellow.

I'm trying to figure out if its from the soil remaining a touch too wet? Or possibly a lack of minerals - I'm thinking Sulfur?

It sits out in full sun but due to rains increasing it has been a bit wetter of late. The medium that it was in when I got it seems to stay a bit damper then I would like (but doesn't seem that much different). I would repot now but its just not warm enough day or night.

If anyone can tell me what the problem is and also a possible remedy to the situation, it would be greatly appreciated.











Cheers,
Pearcy.

Also I'm using Tapatalk to upload photos, let me know if I need to start re sizing them first.

Looks like only the newer leaves are yellow. Plants can move some elements but not others. If old leaves stay green and young leaves are yellow that can mean a deficiency of one of the immobile elements. - probably iron so first step would be to give it some Iron chelates. If older leaves turn yellow but new leaves are ok it means the deficiency is one of the mobile elements (plants take some from older leaves and relocate it to younger leaves.

I note that you still have this one outside. Even up on your roof it might still be getting a bit cold for a fig. With some sub-tropicals winter yellowing just means the roots cannot absorb the nutrients because of the cold. Yellowing in winter is also common in citrus because of this.
Might be better to find somewhere inside for it during winter. Figs are one of the few that can cope with conditions inside a house and many fig bonsai in colder climates are routinely kept inside all winter for protection.

Thanks Neil.

It's purely the new leaves and non of the old. I have it outside from around 10am to 8pm then in through the night. Due to shift work and overtime sometimes it doesn't come in until after midnight.

Do you think it needs to be inside full time over winter? I have a Morton Bay there too that seems to be doing fine.

I agree with shibui. benjis are tropical. Melbourne is too cold for them in winter. No extra feeding is necessary (or even advisable) now. Just keep it warm as possible. It will fire up about Nov.