[FL, long-term problem] Bougies are my most-populous specie in the nursery, yet am plagued by chlorosis (for years, out of things to try :/ )

[SU2]

Because of how easily I can come-by ~1' wide Bougie stock, and how I can propagate 4"+ thick hardwood sections, when I began bonsai in-earnest half a decade ago I had really "stocked up" on Bougainvilleas.

Sadly, I have had chlorosis issues that I cannot figure-out, they blow my mind because they don't affect all my bougies and I've tried everything I could think of:

- pond-baskets to eliminate "wet feet" (even doing "intentional dry-outs" on such specimen)

- nutes: They've seen everything from "slow&steady", to force-feeding, of nitrogen...no difference. I've done supplemental Iron/Fe, and Magnesium/Mg+, both in-combination and, usually, alternating (ie a couple weeks of 2x/week magnesium, then couple weeks of iron, repeatedly)

- pH: I know this can be problematic, and Bougies like things especially acidic....so I've gone and made some very acidic mixtures, to no avail (and, of course, "regular acidic" and "regular just-below-neutral" mixtures)

- Pruning: I've let trees grow 6mo+ untouched, others I've got in a "hedge-prune" setup wherein anytime they grow-out-from their silhouette, such shoots are trimmed


I've been able to find zero rhyme or reason for the chlorosis, and - when taking a specific affected bougie - cannot reverse/slow it. I've got some bougies going on their 3rd year of highly chloritic:

(yup, the wood-mulches are strictly for upping the acidity!)

Have also laid iron granules for "longer term uptake", still to no avail....can't figure out WTH I'm missing!! As mentioned I have more bougies than anything else, and have tried so many "a/b" tests trying to figure this out but am no further-along in resolving it, so here I am hoping for some help

 

[Cadillactaste]

I tend to pinch Epsom Salts onto the top of my pot. To allow slow release almost. I know Adam Lavigne does that...so I've switched to the same application. I've not seen this.to this degree...but hope you get it figured out.

 

[Carol 83]

Have you tried Mir-Acid? Worked fine for mine when I had the same problem.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Have you tried Mir-Acid? Worked fine for mine when I had the same problem.View attachment 359873View attachment 359874

Wow ...that product really worked well for you!

 

[Carol 83]

Wow ...that product really worked well for you!

Yep, it did take several doses.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

In low pH soils, it's very well possible that metals are being washed out rapidly. This means that it can take multiple or even almost continuous application to get the soil levels up to par.
I don't know about US products, but over here we have an all round micro-nutrient/trace-element mixture that costs 8 bucks a bottle - that lasts me 3-4 years. It might be worth investigating if there's a similar product available near you.

 

[Mike Corazzi]

Chelated iron wouldn't work??

 

[ceriano]

I’m having the same issues with mine. I checked the water PH and it’s 8.1. I’ll try miracid see what happens.

 

[ceriano]

Yep, it did take several doses.

Do you use 1/2 tsp per gallon every watering or dilute it?

 

[Carol 83]

Do you use 1/2 tsp per gallon every watering or dilute it?

Whatever the directions on the box said.

 

[Forsoothe!]

I top dress with Aluminum Sulfate.

 

[hemmy]

I've been able to find zero rhyme or reason for the chlorosis, and - when taking a specific affected bougie - cannot reverse/slow it.

I didn’t see a mention of foliage feeding. It’s not a final solution but it may help in the interim. Have you also tried acidifying your water? Obviously Florida can have high pH and high alkalinity water.
Are you on a well or municipal water district? If the latter, can you post the link to the water quality report? I tried looking up Tampa Bay’s but it didn’t list any secondary constituents like hardness, alkalinity, Calcium, or pH.

 

[ceriano]

I top dress with Aluminum Sulfate.

I have the Espoma Organic acidifier and Hanasaku fertilizer. I don't know if it'd work for potted plants but I use it for my blueberry bushes.
How long is the blooming period? Mine has started dropping its flowers.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Espoma-Soil-Acidifier-6-lb-Organic-pH-Balancer/50041772?cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-lwn-_-google-_-lia-_-107-_-plantfood-_-50041772-_-0&placeholder=null&ds_rl=1286981&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2sbgn5DQ7wIV0ACtBh2Cigd4EAQYASABEgKIyPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Japanese Bonsai Fertilizer for Flowering Trees - NPK 1.5-9-4.5

Imported from Japan, this Organic Flowering Fertilizer is perfect for Flowering Bonsai Trees.

www.bonsaioutlet.com

 

[Forsoothe!]

I use Tiger Sulfur in the landscape which takes longer to break down (and work).

 

[cbrshadow23]

How much sun are these getting daily? I had all of my bougies out in full sun and had leaves exactly like what you're seeing (yellow, unhealthy). Restricting water made things much worse.
Per a suggestion in this group I moved them to a partial sun area and the leaves immediately (2 weeks) turned deep green. The sun really helps with flowering, but for vegetative growth on bougainvillea I find that partial sun or mostly shade works best.

 

[LemonBonsai]

my bougie looks exactly like this! light green leaves and dark green veins. I have tried fertilizing it twice now and applied an epsom salt foliar spray. If it doesnt improve I will need to try something else. If you find something that works let us know!

 

[just.wing.it]

On a side note.... I always have a little laugh when I see your thread titles.
They remind me of The Daily Mail news headlines, its like the whole story right there in the headline!
Lol!

 

[Carol 83]

If you find something that works let us know!

See post #3

 

[LemonBonsai]

See post #3

This was going to my next effort Looks like it did wonders for you! Quick question as I am searching up mir acid its giving me results of something called mirAcid itself by miracle grow and its giving my miracle grow fertilizer for acid loving plants. Is this the same thing because stores near me dont seem to stock the "MirAcid"

 

[Carol 83]

This was going to my next effort Looks like it did wonders for you! Quick question as I am searching up mir acid its giving me results of something called mirAcid itself by miracle grow and its giving my miracle grow fertilizer for acid loving plants. Is this the same thing because stores near me dont seem to stock the "MirAcid"

Not sure, my box says Mir-Acid. But if it says Miracle Gro for acid loving plants, probably the same thing.