Do boxwoods like (or need) iron?

[Mike Corazzi]

This box seems paler than before.
Maybe it's needless fretting, but I repotted it this year (after 2 years since last) and I keep seeing it as LESS VIVID green.

I supplement chelated iron on most deciduous that give any hint of chlorosis.

It just seems to look paler than the vivid kelly green that I ...think... it used to.

The sun came quite a bit later this year.


How does it look to you?

 

[penumbra]

Boxwood love iron, as do most broadleaf evergreens. Is you water deficient in iron? Mine is not.

 

[Hack Yeah!]

I have one that's really pale too. I think mine is due to the colder than normal freezes this past winter. Maybe iron though?

 

[Mike Corazzi]

Boxwood love iron, as do most broadleaf evergreens. Is you water deficient in iron? Mine is not.

Water here is about as neutral as it can get.
Won't spot glass at all.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

This box seems paler than before.
It just seems to look paler than the vivid kelly green that I ...think... it used to.

The sun came quite a bit later this year.
How does it look to you?

Looks pale to me.

I get sun burn/wind burn on this one.



This one stays in the attached garage over the winter because of it's pot size, and you can see the difference in the foliage.



Both pics are recent. 2nd one was just watered. What fert are you using?

 

[Shibui]

All plants need iron as well as a host of other nutrients.
Iron is usually available from the soil but when we started using soilless potting mixes iron deficiency became an issue. Initially Chelated Iron was used to solve the problems but now most commercial fertilizers include all the trace minerals required for plant growth. If you're using a well balanced commercial fert iron deficiency should not be a problem.
Leaf yellowing can be the result of several different causes.
Nitrogen deficiency - Older leaves are affected most as N plants can move N around the system. Can be a direct deficiency or induced by incorrect pH or cold weather in some plants.
Iron deficiency - Younger leaves are affected most as iron is not mobile in plant tissues. High pH will affect iron availability to the roots (lime induced chlorosis).
Magnesium deficiency - leaves tend to yellow between the veins while veins stay green thus making patterns on the leaves.
All the above should be included in any good fertilizer.

I certainly would not be getting worried about the colour of that boxwood yet. It still looks to have good green so may just be getting started absorbing nutrients. I'd give it some soluble fert and wait a few weeks before making any other changes.

 

[bdmatt]

Never had issues with iron deficiency. Looks fine to me. That less vivid green just looks like new growth. All my boxwoods are the same color since theyre pushing out for spring. If you're worried, I'd give it some epsom salt.