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What deficiency does my Gerbera daisy have?

NewGardener25NewGardener25 Posts: 47
in Problem solving
The leaves are pale at the sides with small brown dots on both sides of the leaf, though theyre most visible on the underside. The new leaves look perfectly healthy. At first I thought it was a potassium deficiency so I made some banana tea but with no luck. I'm wondering if this could be iron, zinc, magnesium or manganese or something else?

Also the powdery mottling is residue left over from a baking powder spray to prevent powdery mildew.

Posts

  • BijdezeeBijdezee Posts: 1,484
    On a quick Google I found this:

    Too Much Water
    Incorrect care or too much rain can cause a gerbera daisy's leaves to turn yellow. ... When water collects in the soil, it can cause the roots to rot, which prevents them from effectively absorbing nutrients from the soil. Over time, this causes the plant to suffer ill health and its leaves to turn yellow.

    I have never heard of banana tea but I do know that they contain too little potassium to be of use in that way. 
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    edited April 2021
    Probably overwatering as above. Also trying to pinpoint and correct specific mineral deficiencies is tricky; an excess of some minerals can cause yellowing that looks similar to a deficiency of others. It's one of the risks of over-fertilizing.
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Also overwatering can cause some minerals to leach out of the soil ... so one problem can cause another. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • NewGardener25NewGardener25 Posts: 47
    Its definitely not overwatering as I let the potting soil dry out before each watering
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    How much distance is there between the top of the compost and the top of the pot?
     It look a long way down unless the photo is misleading. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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