brown leaf tips

michael

A few of my jaboticaba's leaf tips have turned brown. The plant looks otherwise
healthy. I don't know what causes this so I'm not sure what to do or whether
anything needs to be done. Does any one have any suggestions. Thank you.
michael.

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Georgia

My bonsai gets yellow leaves...don't know why....because winter is approaching or is it sick?

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Georgia

ALDEVAUX

It is difficult to diagnose a plant disease with just a description of a symptom
your plant may show.We need to know a bit more of the plant’s growing history. For example, it is impotant to know :

What sort of soil the tree is in (composition, drainage, etc.) ?
What size and type of pot it is growing in ?
What was the weather lately (cold or hot, rainy, windy etc.)?
Was it moved to a new location recently?
Was the tree pruned and repotted recenty ?
Was it healthy and growing well during the past months ?
What fertilisation you are giving the tree ?
How long have you noticed the problem ?
Have you looked at the root ball to see if the roots are healthy ?
What is the pattern of the symptoms (on the younger or older leaves, on all the branches etc.)
Is it possible for you to post pics of the tree with a close up of affected leaves ...?

Here is a link for indoor plants that can also be used for bonsai and should help you give us the most important information needed for a proper identification of a disease :
http://www.ncbuy.com/flowers/articles/01_10348.html

Joanie

Michael and Georgia, we also need you to go to the top left of the banner, click on User CP, and fill in your location information as best you can.

Then do your best to answer Aldevaux's questions.... he is the best!!

Joanie

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ALDEVAUX

Oh no, Joanie, I would not pretend to be the best but just trying to do my best to help in this difficult field of diagnosis of plant diseases for which I spent a bit of time during my career. In fact, we have had some very accurate answers, especially for the diagnosis non parasitic diseases, from people in this forum who have a very good experience in bonsai culture.

Joanie

You're too humble! You are a gem, always giving such direct and useful advice. I have thanked you privately, but would like to thank you publicly for your time and your help in this forum. I have saved most of your posts for my own use and have learned a great deal about the murky realm of plant disease from them!!

BIG THANK YOU!!!

Joanie

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michael

Aldevaux and Joanie thank you both for your reply. Based upon an otherwise
healthy plant and what I've read I suspect that the problem may be the water that I use. It's "hard" water right out of the tap. Full of minerals, flouride, and what ever else I don't want to know. General care is pretty much by the book and other tropicals are doing well. I'll try distilled water on this one plant and see if that makes a difference.
Is there a concensus out there re water for tropicals? Should I be using tap or distilled. Thanks again , Michael.

ALDEVAUX

Michael, I am not very familiar with the cultivation of jabotica, but from information in the web they do not seem to like alkaline soils. Since you say your tap water is hard, it means that is it alkaline and could cause the browning of leaf tips.
On the other hand, if your tropicals are healthy using the same water it means that they tolerate the high pH but are not disturbed by other chemicals in the water. Normally, tap water, unless it contains excessive amount of toxic minerals should be safely used for indoor plants except those that do not tolerate the high pH.
In the case of your jabotica, you can try using an acidifying fertiliser like "MIRACID" instead of using distilled water, which of course is o.K. for your plants, if you add to it a complete fertiliser containing minor elements.
Maybe someone with some experience in the culture of jabotica can give you other usefull information. Good luck.