Sapling Avocado leaves dying - Please help! (forum)

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Hi All,

My sapling avocado is struggling suddenly.

Initially I thought it was just die-off from old leaves, but some of the new, lighter creen canopy appears to be very mildly affected (last photo). The white on some of the leaves is a very light coating of permethrin from the first month of its life - some of the older leaves were chewed by a snail early in the plants life, but it was removed and they recovered nicely a few months ago.

Watering: when soil is dry (3-7 days during spring)
Fertilizer: Nitrosol twice in plants life
Age of tree ~ 6 months

Could it be root rot? Salt build-up? Lack of nutrients? It seems the pattern of brown on the leaves is very specific. Now one leaf of the top canopy has some browining and it's concerning.

Do I need to repot it? Cut the leaves that are brown? Remove the top 6 inches of soil? Add phosphoric acid?

Thanks in advance
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1
Picture: 2
Picture: 3

Time: 2nd December 2020 2:57pm

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About the Author Growing
Melbourne 3071 VIC Aus
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TareqMelb1 says...
Hi Growing,

I would not worry too much. Avocados in Melbourne do tend to drop many of their leaves this time just before they start a new flush of growth. Just make sure you give enough water as the weather is warming up and the plants are more active. It is unlikely that you have too much water if you are only watering every 3-7 days. I think you are actually underwatering but double-check the soil.

Time: 2nd December 2020 8:17pm

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About the Author TareqMelb1
CHELTENHAM,3192,VIC
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Growing says...
Hi TareqMelb1,

Thank you for your answer. I didn't know that they did this. I have checked the soil and only the top 4-ish cm is dry. The rest is quite wet. Approximately half of the leaves on the plant have shrivelled up, and a couple have dropped. The top leaves & new growth (approx. 10 leaves) are fine, but then the newest tiny leaves at the top of the plant have a little browning of the tips. Is this bad? Will the spaces where the old leaves fall grow new leaves?

Thanks again

Time: 8th December 2020 9:16am

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About the Author Growing
Melbourne 3071 VIC Aus
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Posts: 2
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TareqMelb1 says...
Hi Growing,

From my personal experience I think avocados like their soil moist and mulched particularly outside winter. Try gradually increasing your watering regime and see the effect. Outside winter, I usually water once the surface is dry and would not wait for the top 4 cm to dry out. Don't worry about the spaces, they should fill up nicely once the plant gets going. Make sure the drainage is working in the pot.

Time: 8th December 2020 6:59pm

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About the Author TareqMelb1
CHELTENHAM,3192,VIC
#UserID: 21640
Posts: 25
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