Feijoa tree leaves turning red

[Chris B]

Recently the leaves on my Feijoa trees have started to turn red. There doesn't appear to be anything attacking the leaves and the backs are still green and clean. Any ideas what may be causing this?

 

[cpp gardener]

If they are newly exposed to sun I would say sunburn. If you’ve had very low temps I’d say frost or just response to the cold. Either way not something to really worry about, they will grow out of it when it warms up.

 

[Chris B]

Yes I did wonder if it maybe sunburn We have had some hot days here of late.

 

[Tetters]

Hiya @Chris B. It looks like you have the answer to your question already, but I thought I would say G'day and mention that I have a son living in Murphy's Creek in the Lockyer valley - not all that far from you and he's been telling me just how hot and humid it has been there.
When visiting, I found a little relief from getting up to Toowoomba - a bit more air up there as well as air conditioning in the shops!

 

[Chris B]

Hi Tetters
Yeh nah I don't live anywhere near Murphy's Creek in the Lockyer valley. I live in the top of the south island New Zealand
In a little town call Blenheim that has currently been getting the highest temperatures in NZ

 

[Tetters]

Easy mistake to make I suppose, the New Zealand flag is so similar, and I could hardly define the four red stars instead of the white Australia ones - nor could I count them. My eyes are old - like me

 

[Chris B]

LOL all good Tetters. G'day back

 

[rupart]

Hi
I have row of feijoa trees and 4 having this same issue/symptom..yes, leaves falling a lot too...the other 4 seems fine....these tree wasn't like this before @ past years...all row of feijoa trees gets same water and sun...

This year the difference is, I added fertilizer and black mulch...as last year fruits were smaller...thought fertilizer could help make it bigger in the following year after discussing with Bunnings too....even if that is the issue, I would expect the same symptoms to all of the trees....


Any ideas/advice greatly appreciate...hope this symptoms will not let them die...

 

[Meadowlark]

Welcome aboard.

What kind of fertilizer, NPK, and in what amounts?

 

[rupart]

Tq Meadowlark...as attached...handful

 

[Meadowlark]

That fert. doesn't look particularly alarming to me.

Like in the above posts, Feijoa trees can develop red leaves due to environmental stress as in extreme temperatures, either too hot or too cold, can stress the tree and lead to red leaves. The black mulch would tend to exaggerate the effects.

Also, watering issues both overwatering and underwatering can cause stress that could lead to discoloration of the leaves.

 

[rupart]

Thanks Meadowlark...will keep an eye...

 

[oneeye]

Recently the leaves on my Feijoa trees have started to turn red. There doesn't appear to be anything attacking the leaves and the backs are still green and clean. Any ideas what may be causing this?

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It's getting too much water. Stop watering it and take a hand cultivator to loosen the soil around the base of the plants. Keep all the ground aerated and loose under the canopy. If you have been getting a lot of rain then that's the cause. If you keep the soil aerated between rains it will come back to normal. If it stays wet it will continue to get worse. Good luck friend and keep us posted.

 

[cpp gardener]

The first thing to do is get rid of the plastic. It impedes gas exchange between the soil and the air above it, which kills or reduces the microorganisms in the soil. Get a soils report so you know what is going on chemically in the soil. This might tell you if you have a deficiency or excess of some nutrient that is causing the issue.

 

[rupart]

The first thing to do is get rid of the plastic. It impedes gas exchange between the soil and the air above it, which kills or reduces the microorganisms in the soil. Get a soils report so you know what is going on chemically in the soil. This might tell you if you have a deficiency or excess of some nutrient that is causing the issue.

Hi...r u referring to black color above the tree root? Tatz black mulch