Yellow leaves are usually a sign of either a lack of nitrogen OR iron. So, how can you which one your plant is deficient in? Well, it is really quite easy. Monday, we talked about nitrogen deficiency, which causes older leaves to yellow and newer leaves to stay green. However, when it comes to iron deficiency it is the opposite - younger leaves turn yellow first. The other characteristic of iron deficient plants is that although the younger leaves turn yellow, their veins remain green. Iron is needed for plants to function. Without it, they will not grow. What is interesting about iron is that there is usually plenty of it in the soil. BUT, certain factors can affect it being available for plants to absorb. If your soil is wet, has a high pH (alkaline soil), and/or clay soils are all factors that can lead to iron from becoming unavailable for plants. Iron deficiency is best treated by preventing it from occurring in the first place. If your soil pH is over 7.0, clay-like OR often wet - then incorporate compost and peat moss before planting. http://www.birdsandblooms.com/blog/yellow-leaves-and-green-veins-iron-deficiency/ Here is a link that might be useful: Iron Chlorosis

Hi Kajun..how cold did it get in the garage before bringing your tree in the house? Did you leave your tree in the garage, then bring inside after the snow came in previous years? It's hard to tell by the pic, but the leaves look frost-bitten..When a plant has frost damage, foliage turns a gray/black color. That is, before turning crispy/crunchy. For now, (if it's not freezing) take the tree outside, shake/remove all dead leaves..They won't resume health. If it's really cold out, shake plant over a trash bag. Set in the brightest spot, since soil is moist, don't water. If you use Superthrive, apply 10 drops per gallon of water, but for the time being, refrain using fertilizers. Only when soil is dry, looks crumbly, should you water.. Supply humidity..Do you have a humiidfer? If so, run it. Spraying foliage daily will help w/humidity and keep leaves clean. Your orange was beautiful, Kajun..Since the roots are healthy, I truly believe, given time, new leaves will form..But patience is important..this isn't something that will occur overnight. As the days lenghten, baby leaves will sprout. Only after your tree looks like it's returned to life, and it's the proper time, fertilize with a Citrus fertilizer..or whatever you normally use. The important thing is, (since your tree is probably in shock) not to overwater. I'd also really consider using Superthrive. Good luck, Toni

I hear you ladies........since I've hit 40, I first had my gall bladder removed. Then a year ago, I had a bladder suspension, now I'm trying to deal with my lifelong endometriosis and cyst pain. I spot bleed on and off all month. The loss of hair on your head and additional hair on the face is no picnic........... But.....if we had lived just a century ago, we would really be in "Old Age", nearing the end of our lives. The good thing is, that we really are still young enough to enjoy our families and choices that we've made in life. Even with all the nuisances of mid-life, I wouldn't change and go back 30 years. Nothing comes easy.....getting where you are today didn't come easy...I have a philosophy that our bodies break down as we age, we become dependant (somewhat) on our families and on God, and leave this world in the same condition that we came.......there is a lesson in it, it's up to us to get it......trials, blessings, the whole package of life.

Cherry trees like sunshine, it just can be hard for them to deal with it all at first. Just make a temporary cover to filter out some of the sun. It only has to be there for a few months to a year. You can even take it out again next year too if it gets too hot in the summer. If you had not already planted it, I might have recommended putting it in a large planter and putting it on the East side of your house, or somewhere where it would not get too much sun in the middle of day. Then once it grew a little bit and became more established you could plant it in a sunny spot. But if you have already planted it, pulling a tree out of the ground usually does more harm than good. The root system is actually very delicate, and it can put the tree into shock, the last thing it needs right now. Really, the first 8 weeks after planting can be the most difficult, because the roots have not had time to spread into the surrounding soil. No matter how much water you give it, the roots are still going to have trouble supplying all the needed water to make up for evaporative losses in the leaves. The leaves curling up is the plant's natural way of trying to reduce sun exposure when it is feeling water strain. Congratulations on choosing to plant a cherry tree. Not that many people in California have a cherry tree growing in their yard. It is more popular in Northern States like Oregon, Washington, Minnesota, and Michigan. A lot of times if a plant does not grow "effortlessly" in a climate zone, most people do not bother planting it, even though it could do just fine with just a little proper care.