Re: Pittosporum tobira

Tim Longville wrote:
> 
> Here's an odd one. My variegated form of this grows like an express
> train and nothing could be more healthy and vigorous. But the type has
> 'something' up with it. Question is, what?
> 
> Leaves continually turn yellow and drop. Sometimes they twist before
> they drop. (Now I'm on to dance-crazes rather than bands....) No
> OBVIOUS sign of aphid though that's still my main candidate for
> culprit. It continues to grow, at some speed, but it looks (not to be
> unkind) a mess. Almost directly next door to it, incidentally, is a P.
> eugenioides, glowing with health and growing 2ft a season, so I hardly
> think it can be soil or situation which is the cause of P. tobira's
> problem.
> 
> Anybody have any ideas about what it might be?
> 
> I should perhaps add (sorry: I know this is for the n/th time) that my
> climate is moist but mild and my soil is naturally heavy and acidic
> but has had masses of added drainage material introduced into it. The
> situation these two - and a perfectly happy P. revolutum further along
> the same bed - are in is S/E facing, which is almost as favoured as
> this garden gets, since W. and S.W. are the directions from which our
> salt-laden gales tend to come. Ie, I expected it to sit up like Tigger
> in A.A. Milne when offered - was it? - honey, saying, 'Ah, so THAT's
> what Tiggers like.' I'm not so much grieved or miffed as just plain
> mystified. If the other two had looked unhappy, I could have
> understood it, since I know I'm pushing my luck trying them in this
> climate, but P. tobira?? Come on, get real...
> 
> TIA for any suggestions.
> 
> Tim on the tropical Solway - well, almost: 85 and rising...
> Tim Longville
Dear Tim
Yellowing and dropping of leaves with this species is in my opinion a
physiological condition, which is related to lack of nutrients( a local
nurseryman described them as "très gourmandes"), possibly associated
with cold conditions in early spring. I think that the growths affected
have "run out of steam".
I have seen this problem in a hedge of P. tobira in my own garden.
Liberal doses of fertilizer seem to have cured it however.
P. heterophylum is free from this condition, is hardier and the flowers
at the end of April have a wonderful perfume.
-- 
Gordon Walker
Cat Bells
Chemin de Ferrals
11170 Villespy
France
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