New plant growth is yellow

last year

What would cause a dieffenbachia’s new growth to come in yellow and brown? I brought this home last week and it looked great minus a few small tears in the leaves, which have gotten worse. The plant is quickly looking sick.

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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

last year

btw ... i might go as far as saying... whatever happened.. happened long before the week ago you brought it home.. yellowing just doesnt happen that fast ..

so we are left to wonder what happened to it on its travels from grower to seller ..

in addition to what you did with it once it got home.. this stuff speeding up the decline started before you got it ..

ken

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Comments (9)

tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
last year
...... not enough info, but the odds highly favor over-watering. If you've been watering it when you can see the soil is still moist or when you can detect moisture in the grow medium with a finger, that reinforces the probability it being, or has been, chronically over-watered. A few other potentialities are A) a high level of dissolved solids from residual fertilizer salts (have you fertilized the plant recently? If yes, tell us about what you used) B) ammonium toxicity if you used an organic fertilizer and the soil is waterlogged C) Does your home make use of an ionic exchange water softening system (uses salt).

The plant is in a pot with a drain hole and is not wrapped in foil or plastic - right?

Al
Lisa S thanked tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
Lisa S
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
to this point, i havent even touched the plant aside from repotting it up one size into a plastic pot with a drain hole. The soil is a light mix for easy draining. since i only brought the plant home a week ago, i hadn’t watered it yet as my soil was a bit damp at the time of potting. the roots to the plant were a bit knotted and tight in the growers pot though. i have it in a room with lots of bright south facing light, but not near the large windows. unfortunately, i have very little info to share as the plant is new. i cant imagine this being new environment shock, none of my many other plants have ever reacted this way before. this is a completely new scenario for me. its a plant from HD, maybe it was mistreated earlier and is only just showing the signs now?
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First thing that I'd look to are iron deficiency and pH. Here's a chart with the basics of systematic leaf conditions. It's not always so cut and dry, but these are the basics... http://www.aces.uiuc.edu/vista/html_pubs/hydro/symptoms.html Since it's the easiest fix, I'd get a water soluble micronutrient product and use that first. A common formula is Iron, Zinc, and Manganese (not to be confused with Magnesium.) If it works, and you're growing in the ground, then check with your local county ext. to see if it's a common deficiency. If it is, then you know the fix. If it isn't then you'll want to discover what could be interfering with nutrient uptake. Common causes are imbalances where a surplus of one nutrient/mineral affects another, and pH issues. Good luck. :-) Oh, it could be herb. drift, but iron deficits aren't uncommon. Edit: Dave posted while I was typing... I basically agree. Especially since micro-nutrient supplementation is so simple, and plants usually respond quite quickly to their application, I'd try that first. If it's herbicide drift, they're damaged beyond repair, and there's no sense worrying about that until you've ruled out the easy fixes.
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
last year
looks like you tied it to the roof of your car to drive it home .... and then promptly bare rooted it.. messed with the roots and repotted it ..

and then you say.... 'i cant imagine this being new environment shock,'

you plant is in physical and emotional shock ... learn how to water it properly..and do nothing else to it for a few months ... when new unaffected leaves start appearing you can cut off some of the ugly old ones..

its stressed.. not hungry.. fert is not a response at this time

ken

ps: i dont know what emotional shock is for a plant.. but it sounded good ...lol
Lisa S
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
Too funny, but so true! do you think it’s worth trying to save or just take it back for a refund? if i keep it do you suggest I cut off the yellow leaves or will that stress it too much?
Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
last year
Take it back? That's crazy. Like trying to return a banana peel. Or a bathing suit you wore to the beach.
marguerite_gw Zone 9a
last year
last modified: last year
Take it back. It could be Erwinia virus; Perhaps even bring it to a state horticultural advisor.
Lisa S thanked marguerite_gw Zone 9a
Lisa S
Original Author
last year
Tiffany, HD has a 90 day guarantee on plants, if you keep the receipt they'll refund you. Possibly something you weren’t aware of, but useful info nonetheless. Not much different than buying most other things, non non-personal of course as you mentioned, that break or are broken shortly after purchase
Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
last year
I'm aware, thank you.