Why Are the Leaves of Crabapple (Malus spectabilis) Turning Yellow? An Analysis of Common Causes

The crabapple is a plant native to China, known as the “national beauty.” Records of crabapple cultivation already appear in documents from the pre-Qin period, so its history is extremely long, and in modern times its cultivation range has become even wider. Whether in classical gardens or public green spaces, the lovely figure of the crabapple can be seen everywhere. But sometimes we find that as the crabapple grows, its leaves suddenly turn yellow. Why is that? Below, Qinnong Web will explain to everyone why crabapple leaves turn yellow.

I. Causes of Yellowing Leaves in Crabapple

1. Improper watering

During the high-temperature dormant period in summer, the soil for crabapple should be on the dry side and must not be too moist, so watering should be reduced. Otherwise, it will cause leaf drop and stem withering, and the entire root system will also rot, eventually killing the whole plant. If the soil is too dry, it will cause the soil to harden, the roots will be unable to breathe, and the leaves will wither.

2. Improper lighting

The improper lighting that Qinnong Web wants to mention here has two meanings. The first is insufficient light. Crabapple likes sunlight and is also not tolerant of shade. Insufficient light will prevent the crabapple from synthesizing chlorophyll, and the leaves will turn yellow. The second meaning refers to overly strong light. This means that when summer temperatures are too high, exposure to strong sunlight will also cause the crabapple leaves to be scorched, or even wither.

3. Lack of trace elements

If the crabapple lacks certain trace elements during its growth process, it can also cause the leaves to turn yellow. For example, if the crabapple lacks iron or magnesium, the plant is very likely to turn yellow, because these two elements are important elements for synthesizing chlorophyll.

4. Improper fertilization

During the growing period of the crabapple, fertilization is needed. If fertilization is insufficient and there is no base fertilizer, the plant will become short and small, and the leaves will become thin and pale in color or reddish. Over-fertilization will cause fertilizer burn, and the leaves will also turn yellow. During the summer dormant period, applying too much fertilizer will also cause the leaves to turn yellow.

II. Solutions for Yellowing Leaves in Crabapple

Now that we know the causes of yellowing crabapple leaves, how should we solve the problem of yellowing crabapple leaves? Naturally, we start with the causes and find the corresponding solutions. Qinnong Web has summarized three points here for everyone, including reasonable watering, reasonable fertilization, and lighting. Let us take a closer look below.

1. Reasonable watering

The crabapple enters a dormant state in summer. At this time, there is no need to water the crabapple too much. 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 we should fully satisfy its water needs and replenish water normally.

2. Reasonable fertilization

Reasonable fertilization: In early spring, the crabapple should be fertilized, and after leaf drop in autumn, topdressing should also be applied to supplement nutrients. Usually, some special fertilizer can be used. If the crabapple has not been fertilized for a long time, apply a light liquid fertilizer or compound chemical fertilizer about once every week. At the same time, some trace elements can also be appropriately added to the fertilizer. If it lacks iron, ferrous sulfate can be sprayed to supplement iron. If it lacks magnesium, some fertilizer containing magnesium can be applied.

3. Lighting

In high-temperature summer weather, avoid exposing the crabapple to strong sunlight. In winter, when the crabapple is placed indoors to keep it warm, be sure to place it in a sunny spot and not in a dark corner.

The above is the summary from Qinnong Web of the causes of yellowing crabapple leaves and the corresponding solutions. We hope it can be of some help to everyone. For more questions about flower cultivation, you can find related answers on Qinnong Web, so friends can keep following us!