How to Control Plant Yellowing

The Short Answer

$14.00 

Apply iron fertilizers to the soil above plant roots in January or February. If this is not possible, spray the leaves with an iron fertilizer when the plant is growing. Iron fertilizers applied to the soil include EDDHA Iron Chelate and Kerex. A good iron fertilizer to spray on the leaves is Organic Based Iron Chelate. When spraying iron fertilizers, use distilled water and EZ Wet spray adjuvant for best results.

The Long Answer

Background

Iron chlorosis is a shortage of the right type of iron reaching the plant. Iron chlorosis is common to many plants growing in desert and arid soils. 

This is because the soil pH, or alkalinity, is too high or the plant is very susceptible to shortages of iron or both. Iron chlorosis can also become a problem in plants with their roots growing in soils covered in rock mulch.

A plant with yellow or yellowing leaves is a common sign iron chlorosis may be the culprit. If yellowing occurs on the newest growth, that is a stronger indicator that an appropriate iron fertilizer is needed. Plants with yellow leaves but green veins indicate iron chlorosis is in the beginning stages.

$13.60

When severe iron shortages appear, plant leaves may become bleached, almost white, with no green veins with crispy scorching along the edges.

Iron is one of the 17 essential nutrients for plants to remain healthy. Unlike nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, plants need iron in only small amounts. A shortage of available iron becomes a problem for many plants when the soil pH or alkalinity is high. This is true in desert soils and other soils that develop with low rainfall. Two other essential nutrients may also become a problem in the soils. They include manganese and zinc but iron is by far the most common.

Add Iron Fertilizer or Lower Soil Alkalinity?

Two approaches are used to solve the iron chlorosis problem; 1) lower the soil pH or alkalinity so that iron already present in the soil can be used by the plant or 2) add iron of the right type so that it reaches the plant. Viragrow’s approach is aimed at the second. Apply iron chelates to the soil so the iron is in the right form and easily used by the plant. 

Two of our products, EDDHA Iron Chelate and KeRex are iron chelates with iron in the right form for plants to use. KeRex is a mixture of several iron chelates. EDDHA Iron Chelate is pure EDDHA iron chelate which is effective on all soil types but the most expensive iron chelate. This is why there is a difference in price between the two.

$5.20

Apply Iron Chelates to the Soil

Apply EDDHA Iron Chelate or KeRex to the soil in January or February for best results. Apply one tablespoon per plant in enough water to wash it into the soil where there is irrigation. 

The easiest way is in a 5 gallon bucket with enough water to spread it where it is needed. Pull any rock or would mulch away from the tree. Pour the mixture over the plant roots and lightly water it in. Replace the mulch. Leaves that are already yellow will remain yellow. New growth from the plant will be dark green because of the iron applied to the soil.

Apply Iron Chelate to the Leaves

Leaves on the tree that are yellow requires a foliar spray of an iron chelate to turn green. In many cases three or four applications are required to achieve a dark green color. The iron chelate best designed for this purpose is Organic Based Iron Chelate which can be applied any time during the year. 

$17.00

Organic Based Iron Chelate can be applied mixed with water and sprayed on the foliage. Best results are obtained if the water used is distilled or reverse osmosis and a spray additive is used to help the iron penetrate inside the leaves. Viragrow

recommends EZ Wet spray additive, made from agave extracts, for this purpose. Spray the leaves lightly until the spray beads on the surface of the leaves.



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