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Mahonia soft caress yellowing leaves

Linda257Linda257 Posts: 19

B I U ????

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  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    image

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,906

    Linda you have just typed the three letters at the top of the text box and copied the 'smiley'. You need to type your message in the text box and then click on 'Post Reply' at the bottom.

    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • Linda257Linda257 Posts: 19

    i have a mahonia soft caress in pot which has yellowing leaves any ideas 

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    Evergreens all drop leaves from time to time - they go yellow first.

    Have you refreshed the soil/compost it grows in every year? How big is the pot?  They need quite a lot of water - especially in dry or hot spells as the canopy will prevent any rainwater getting through to the base.  It will use up nutrients quite quickly as well.  They're not ideal specimens for pots really. 

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,906

    It would probably prefer to be in the ground rather than in a pot Linda.

    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • AngieRAngieR Posts: 347

    I have 2 of these in pots, a gift, when they were first available and they have always toiled.  TBH they are on their last legs and am going to follow the advice you've been given Linda257.  Last chance saloon!

  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,906

    This is mine in the garden

    image

    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • AngieRAngieR Posts: 347

    What position do you give it ladybird. It looks very healthy. 

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,088

    Mahonias like to get their roots down so are not really suitable for pots.  You also need to consider that the nutrients in potting composts only last 90 days at best so your plant is probably starving and may be thirsty too.

    Yellowing leaves indicate nutrient deficiency - nitrogen, potash and/or magnesium.

    If you can, plant it in the garden.  Start by giving the pot a thorough soak to make it easier to take out of the pot then loosen the roots which will very likely be going round and round in circles and need to be encourage dto break out in new directions to seek water and nutrients.  Prepare a square planting hole twice the width and a little bit deeper than the pot it was in and plant at teh same depthe as before, backfilling with the removed soil improved with some garden or multi purpose compost.  Water well and keep watered util is gets established.

    If you can't plant it out, find it a bigger pot and proceed as above using best quality John Innes 3 type compost with about 1/4 of multi-purpose for added water retention.  Keep it watered and feed with a slow release top dressing every spring and again in mid June.

    An occasional drink of liquid tomato or seaweed feed will give it a boost and help rebalance the nutrients.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,906

    Its in my south facing garden Angie but as the sun moves over it gets shaded by the garage wall in the afternoon.

    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
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