Topics

figs leaves turn light green

Hi guys,

well, I have a problem with my fig cuttings and small trees. The leaves of them are turning light green and I am unfortunately dont now what is the problem. The figs are in a greenhouse garden. I give them only rainwater. I am worry and think that the rainwater makes the leaves light green.

IMG_6421.JPG  IMG_6420.JPG 

Quote

Looks like FMV to me.

Google image search (fig mosaic virus)...
Quote
  • ricky
  • · Edited

It is nutrient deficiencies.
http://www.aces.uiuc.edu/vista/html_pubs/hydro/symptoms.html
you may try to fertilize your plant with more balance fertilizer with some bath salt or lime, if it doesn't help, it is highly likely FMV virus.
I am hoping that there are more information on FMV.
Quote

when my fig trees first started leafing out this spring
i gave them a dose of Iron and Epsom salt (Magnesium sulfate)
and the leaves started turning a bright beautiful green.

i keep iron and epsom on hand now and add a bit to my waterings every month or so.
(about 1/3 strength) - for all of my plants.
it has really greened up lots of them.
Quote

Quote:
Originally Posted by greenman62
when my fig trees first started leafing out this spring
i gave them a dose of Iron and Epsom salt (Magnesium sulfate)
and the leaves started turning a bright beautiful green.

i keep iron and epsom on hand now and add a bit to my waterings every month or so.
(about 1/3 strength) - for all of my plants.
it has really greened up lots of them.

This cures fmv for the year. I use Epson salt and ironite. Good stuff

Quote

What exactly do I need to buy to give them iron?
Quote

Quote:
Originally Posted by drewk
What exactly do I need to buy to give them iron?


all plants need a set of minerals.
if the soil is low in any mineral, the plant can become deficient.
so, it depends on your soil.
most good potting soils are high in organic matter, and dont lack a lot,
but even then can lack certain minerals, or, can at least benefit from a higher level.

Epsom is magnesium which flows out readily from soil and can be lost with rains
if not put back by organic matter. so its hard to give a plant too much, simply because the next time it rains most of it will get washed away.
too much of any mineral can inhibit the uptake of other minerals.
i think iron is more stable in the soil, so you can overdue it.
sandy soils (like i have) are often low in certain minerals. iron and boron in many cases.
some plants have a higher demand for certain minerals.
papaya need a lot of boron, and are often deficient on sandy soils.
Quote

I think it would be the stress because I have potting this cuttings up.
The soil has got enough nutrients. It is a fertilized grow soil mixture by plagron. Besides I have mixed up the soil with pinebarks, perlite, clay and crushed stones.


So now I want to lay back and observe the development.
Quote

Quote:
Originally Posted by greenman62
when my fig trees first started leafing out this spring
i gave them a dose of Iron and Epsom salt (Magnesium sulfate)
and the leaves started turning a bright beautiful green.

i keep iron and epsom on hand now and add a bit to my waterings every month or so.
(about 1/3 strength) - for all of my plants.
it has really greened up lots of them.

How much epsom per gallon?
Quote

Quote:
Originally Posted by Diamond_72
Hi guys,

well, I have a problem with my fig cuttings and small trees. The leaves of them are turning light green and I am unfortunately dont now what is the problem. The figs are in a greenhouse garden. I give them only rainwater. I am worry and think that the rainwater makes the leaves light green.

IMG_6421.JPG  IMG_6420.JPG 


It looks like the leaves start out perfect and healthy when small, and the pale patches develop as they grow. That is one symptoms of fig bud mites, they feed on very small leaves which has a toxic affect on them and they develop with chlorotic spots or patches. You need a 40x plus lighted microscope (cheap nowadays) to see them, they will be on the underside smaller leaves mostly, but they can be hard to detect even with a proper microscope, they don't look much like "normal" mites, barely move, and hide in the leaf hairs. If you see symptoms spreading to other plants, or intensify as the weather gets warmer, then it is almost a certainty they are the cause. In a greenhouse they can reach a high population and spread FMV quickly. Otherwise, it could just be FMV, but if these symptoms are new to you, and the plants are not (as in they had healthy leaves last year), then it is fig bud mites spreading FMV.
Quote

If your cuttings are in good rich soil and greenhouse with higher than 13C(55F) temperature, This nutrient deficiencies is highly likely caused by FMV virus.

I was new last year and collecting cuttings like many people and they grew to 2 FT tall plants, We have cool summer around 20C(68F), Plants suddenly stalled growing, Some plants had chlorotic spots or patches, I sprayed all trees with soap water, After one month, I got 50X to 100X microscope ($3 - $5), I found that all fig trees had FMV mites, It is hard to get good strong  insecticide in Canada, I used a product using 0.5L Canola oil with 1/2 dry daisy flower inside, it worked.

I put all fig trees outdoor during winter and hoping that mother nature kill fig bud mites, I pre-spray  with "oil with dry daisy" all fig trees just before buds out this spring,  about 20% fig trees show this chlorotic patches, I check them with microscope and I can not find FMV mites yet, Anyway, I will keep a close eye to check on them.

My point is that, FMV mites are easy to spread out.
Quote
Reply Cancel
Subscribe Share Cancel