Growing trees like mango is a cool thing. When the trees grow and becomes big, it will expand its branches and leaves giving a good shade a great place to relax. Also it will bear some delicious fruits that you can eat. But growing this tree is not an easy task, sometimes you will encounter problems. One of that is why do mango leaves turn yellow.
There are many reasons why it happen. When you just see that there are only few yellow leaves on your tree, it might be just a normal thing. Some of the leaves are growing older but incase that you see lots of yellow leaves it might be a serious problem. Analysing what changes have done on the previous days or weeks will help to figure out what might be the cause.
Why Do Mango Leaves Turn Yellow?
Aging Leaves
Its common to see yellow leaves on mango tree or even on other trees. The main reason is some of those leaves are getting older. From young leaves it becomes mature and old. The dark green leaves are now going to change its color to yellow. There are small and bigger size leaves which will come to this stage.
The yellowing of leaves is a normal process of the tree growth. Its not a problem and its healthy for the tree. Those leaves will eventually turn to brown and drop and it will be replace by new and young leaves. The old leaves will one by one fall to the ground. Winds can be a factor for the leaves to fall early.
So sometimes when seeing yellow leaves on the mango tree might be not a problem. Its a cycle and part of the tree growth. As long as the tree is growing bigger and producing lots of flower and fruits you don’t need to worry about. When the old leaves drop, then new branches and leaves will grow on some parts of the tree. It will make the tree healthy.
Too Much Water
Young mango tree when overwatered can experience yellowing of leaves. Its because they are still too young, small and they can only accommodate less water. Watering small mango trees should be careful to prevent that to happen. Small trees need a regular watering to help them establish but should be careful in giving them water. Watering them every two to three days is great.
Big and mature mango trees around four years old and above doesn’t need much water. They are being water in rare times. Those big trees can hold and sustain water for a little bit long time. They store those water inside their roots, branches and trunk and consume them when needed. That is why they can last long even no water for a couple of time.
Watering them too much, especially the mature mango trees might experience yellowing of its leaves. It will cause tree stress and it might happen. The mature trees are being water seldom. Giving them water once a week or every two weeks is fine. But if rain is abundant you don’t need to water them.
Water Shortage
Lack of water can also be a cause of yellowing of leaves. Too long drought can lead to tree stress. During the hot summer and days with no rainfall, the tree temperature will rise. The water content from their leaves, branches and trunk becomes less because it evaporates to the atmosphere. If there is no rain, they will have no source of water.
During the summer season when the temperature is hot, water is every important. It makes them cool and refreshes the tree. It will help to make their leaves fresh and will not wilt. Watering them early in the morning or late in the afternoon is the best time. You can use watering hose, sprinkler or pale and dipper.
Also there are times that you go on a travel and no one left at home for a long period of time. No one else water the tree and the only source of water is through the rain. If there are no people at home that will water the tree and also no rainfall, then leaves might turn yellow. But yellowing of mango leaves especially for mature tree because of lack of water is just rare. Mature mango trees can be fine and ready even no water for a period of time.
Nitrogen Deficiency
Nitrogen is very important nutrients needed by the mango tree. When there is lack of nitrogen on the soil, it might be the cause why do mango leaves turn yellow. This element helps the leaves to be green in color. The tree can grow more healthy and dark green leaves when nitrogen is abundant on the soil. And when this element is less or not found on the soil, you need to improve it by adding one.
When there is enough nitrogen found on the soil, you will not see yellow leaves, or maybe some factor will be the cause of having yellow leaves. Its hard to know if the soil you have on your location have enough nitrogen by looking with just the eyes. Some tools might help to determine the quality of the soil but if you don’t want to test it you can just grow the tree and observe the tree growth and then add nitrogen when needed.
Verticillium Wilt
Disease of the tree like verticillum wilt might be the cause. This fungi attack the tree. The roots might be damage and it can cause tree stress and yellowing of leaves. The roots is very important part of the tree because it is where the nutrients and water enters. When this part is damage it can result why do mango leaves turn yellow. Another thing is it can also damage the branches, leaves and some other part. Pruning the affected parts is great. Fungicides is a great way to control this disease of mango tree.
If mango tree stays healthy, it will not experience yellowing of leaves. Healthy trees is important to produce more green leaves, flower and fruits. Abundant harvest can be expected sooner.
Less Sunlight
Less sunlight can also be a factor why your mango tree has yellow leaves. This tree needed atleast 6 hours of direct sunlight. Its great if it can receives 8 hours long. But when it got less than 6 hours of sun its not great for the tree. It needs lot of sunlight in order to make its food.
If the tree receives less sunlight, it might because of bigger trees around or houses. You need to grow your tree on an open area where the sun will not be block. It should receive maximum length of sun to grow bigger and thrive well. It needs more food to grow taller and maintains a good condition. More sweet fruits will produce.
Transplant Shock
Young mango trees planted inside the pots are being transplanted on the ground might experience transplant shock which lead to yellowing of its leaves. Sometimes it happen because the plant and roots are move to a new place. Its a new surrounding for the plant. The transplant shock can be prevented by being careful in transferring the tree to the ground.
During the transplanting, you need to make sure that you already make a hole a little bit bigger on the tree root ball. It is to make sure that the roots have enough space for growing. Doing the transplanting early in the morning or late in the afternoon is the perfect time because the sun is not shining so bright. Also try to not to damage the soil on the roots or move it, carefully remove the tree from the pot and then plant it to the ground. Water it after.
Can Yellow Mango Leaves Turn Green Again?
No, yellow mango leaves will not turn green again. Those yellow leaves will turn to brown or drop sooner. Its not possible to turn yellow leaves to green. The cycle for mango leaves is from reddish young leaves, becomes light green and then to dark green, turn to yellow, brown and then drop from the tree.
If the leaves are already yellow, you can’t do anything else that may change its color back again to its previous state. Those leaves will be replace by new one. They will be small at first but continues to grow bigger and longer as times goes by. The growing of leaves of a tree is in a form of cycle, new leaves grow because older and drops then new leaf will grows.
Those are some informations about why do mango leaves turn yellow. Some of the factors are maybe because its normal aging process, lack or over water, less sunlight, lack of nitrogen, disease or transplant shock.