Yellowing of Leaves

Question From: 
Kerrie in  Bentleigh,  Melbourne VIC

 

Nature of problem: 
Yellowing of leaves

 

Type of Plant (if known): 
Gardenias

 

Symptoms of Plant Illness (please try NOT to diagnose your problems yourself): 
Yellowing of entire surface of several leaves on plant following fertilising.

 

Soil Type (e.g. sandy, clay or loam) OR Potting Mix Type: 
Sandy

 

How often do you water the plant:
Weekly and on very hot days throughout summer.

 

How many hours of sunlight does the plant get each day:
5

 

What type of plant is it:
Gardenia Florida

 

How long since you planted it:
2-3 years

 

Have you fertilised? If so, with what and when:
Epsom salts applied mid August, Iron Chelate. Dynamic Lifter for Gardenias

 

Is the plant indoors or outdoors: 
Outdoors

 

Is the plant in a pot or in the ground: 
Ground

 

What other treatments have you given the plant: 
White oil

Upload photo if available: 
image.jpg

Other Comments: 
Plants were going well, then I noticed a small amount of yellowing on leaves at the end of Winter. After reading other advice I applied Epsom salts and applied fertiliser, and the problem seems to have started since then. Just wondering what may have caused this and if there’s anything that can be done to address it. Appreciate your advice,

 

Answer: Hi Kerrie, I guess that “After reading other advice” means bad advice from others?? If so, I agree with you. Epsom salts does nothing for gardenias. The yellow leaves are caused by cold weather: even Sydney is too cold in Winter for gardenias’ liking. The cold weather stops the roots pumping nitrigen up to the leaves – so the older leaves go yellow. If you wash the car when you see the yellow leaves, they will turn green. Epsom salts works the same way. By the time you do something after noticing the yellow leaves, they will go green because by then the weather is warming up. So I can confidently predict that if you buy a red dress your gardenias will recover. Tell your partner that Don said that if he buys you a new RED dress, the gardenias will recover.  Don