Why are the leaves of the crabapple (Malus spectabilis) turning yellow? What should be done?

The crabapple is a plant native to our country, long praised as the “national beauty”, with a great many varieties, delicate and beautiful. So, why are the leaves of the crabapple turning yellow? What should be done? Let's take a look together!

1. Causes of yellowing leaves in crabapple

1. Improper watering

During the high-temperature dormant period in summer, the soil for the crabapple should be on the dry side and must not be too moist, so watering should be reduced; otherwise the leaves will drop, the stems will wither, and the entire root system will rot, ultimately killing the whole plant. But if the soil is too dry, it will become compacted, the roots will be unable to breathe, and the leaves will wither, so watering should be done appropriately according to the actual conditions.

2. Improper light

Improper light here has two meanings. The first is insufficient light: the crabapple likes sunlight and is not tolerant of shade, and insufficient light prevents it from synthesizing chlorophyll, so the leaves turn yellow. The second meaning is that the light is too strong: this refers to when summer temperatures are too high, exposure to strong sunlight can also burn the crabapple's leaves, or even wither them.

3. Lack of trace elements

If the crabapple lacks certain trace elements during growth, the leaves will also turn yellow. For example, if the crabapple lacks iron or magnesium, the plant will very easily turn yellow, because these two elements are important for synthesizing chlorophyll. So if the yellowing leaves are not caused by other reasons, fertilizer should be applied promptly.

4. Improper fertilizing

The crabapple needs fertilizer during its growing period. If there is insufficient fertilizer and no base fertilizer, the plant will become stunted, and the leaves will become thin and pale or reddish. Too much fertilizer will cause fertilizer burn and excess nutrients, and the leaves will also turn yellow. Applying too much fertilizer during the summer dormant period will also cause the leaves to turn yellow. Fertilizer should be applied at the proper time and under the proper conditions.

2. How to deal with yellowing leaves in crabapple

1. Water reasonably

The crabapple enters dormancy in summer, and at this time it does not need much water. You can use a spray bottle to spray water around the potting soil, but you cannot withhold water completely. Apart from summer, during the crabapple's growing period you should fully meet its water needs and water normally.

2. Fertilize reasonably

For reasonable fertilizing, the crabapple should be fertilized in early spring, and after the leaves drop in autumn it should also be given a follow-up feeding to replenish nutrients. Ordinarily you can use some special-purpose fertilizer. If the crabapple has not been fertilized for a long time, apply a dilute liquid fertilizer or compound chemical fertilizer about once every week, and at the same time you can appropriately add some trace elements to the fertilizer. If it lacks iron, you can spray ferrous sulfate to supplement iron; if it lacks magnesium, you can apply a fertilizer containing magnesium.

3. Light

In high-temperature summer weather, avoid exposing the crabapple to direct sun. In winter, when the crabapple is moved indoors to keep it warm, be careful to place it in a sunny spot and not in a dark corner. If it is grown outdoors, shade it in good time.

The above are the causes of and treatments for yellowing leaves in crabapple. If you also grow crabapple, I hope this will help you understand it better!