When did you last fertilize? with what?

Al

It's been a few weeks since i added a few drops of miraclegrow to the water.

The potting soil (also miracle grow) is reasonably new too, perhaps 5 months old.

I wish i could add a photo here, it's most peculiar.

Hmmm - all your symptoms (reduced or no lateral breaks, chlorotic foliage, old leaves shedding, tufted growth at branch ends) are all consistent with a N deficiency. I would flush the soil one day and fertilize with a full (recommended) strength of something like 24-8-16 or 30-10-10 immediately after.

What were the NPK %s of the fertilizer and how much water did you add the 'few drops' to? Now is not the time of year to be bashful about fertilizer applications. ;o)
Al

Thanks for you response, I've added more miraclegrow and hope this will rectify the problem. I'm not sure of the nit/pho/pot ratios but i know the soil was supposed to be pre-fertilized. I really wish i could add photos here, if you'd like to email me i can send a couple to you.

Thanks again Al

danwoodhams@hotmail.com

Potting soils that come with fertilizer have only a very weak charge of nutrients in them - perhaps JUST enough to compensate for the N immobilization inherent in soils with a high organic component, so you can't rely on a 'pre-fertilized' soil to supply nutrients for 5 months - even if it says the fertilizer is controlled or slow release.

If you'd like to expect your plants to grow at least close to their genetic potential, you need to either use a soil that drains well enough to allow you to water copiously at every watering and fertilize regularly (preferred); or, you need to develop a strategy that allows you to flush the soil of accumulating salts regularly - especially in the winter months. If you cannot or will not do this, I guarantee you are sacrificing potential vitality.

At this time of year, you should be fertilizing most foliage plants (like your MT) every 2-3 weeks at full recommended strength or every 1-2 weeks @ 1/2 strength (preferred) - this is if you are watering properly or flushing the soil at least monthly.

I think probably the best choice of nutrient source or your 'all-purpose' fertilizer (for 95% of your plants) is Foliage-Pro 9-3-6 (first choice), followed closely by MG 24-8-16 or 12-4-8. These are all 3:1:2 ratio fertilizers and furnish nutrients in almost exactly the same ratio that plants use. This allows you to minimize soluble salts in the soil and prevent deficiencies while using the lowest possible doses of fertilizer. The benefit in this strategy is that low levels of salt in the soil make it easier/est for plants to take up water and the nutrients dissolved in water. Other fertilizers like 20-20-20 and 5-15-5 supply much more P than plants can ever use (in relation to N), and unnecessarily raise the level of soluble salts in the soil.

Al

Thanks for the advice, I'll be sure to follow.

Dan