They are usually the prettiest feature on the Japanese umbrella fir. They are shiny, dark green, leathery and stand together in umbrella-like structures. But if the needles, which are about 10 cm long, suddenly turn yellowish, you can stop being careless.

Yellow needles are mostly indicative of dryness

The environment is wrong

The most common reason for yellowish needles is dryness. The Japanese umbrella fir is dependent on a lot of moisture. Since it is a shallow root, it cannot reach the groundwater and is dependent on water from above. Persistent dryness means stress for them and as a result the needles turn yellowish.

Umbrella firs in tubs are particularly at risk. Here you should take care that the root ball never dries out. In the case of Japanese umbrella firs outdoors, you can, as a precaution, mulch the root area with bark, for example.

Far more rarely, this plant is too wet and suffers from waterlogging. Waterlogging and the accompanying rot can also lead to yellow needles. Prevent by planting your conifers in well-drained, medium-heavy soil!

The nutrient balance is imbalanced

The nutrients can also play a bad role in the Japanese umbrella fir:

  • Over-fertilization: Needles inside the conifer first turn yellow and later shed
  • Potassium deficiency: arises quickly with too much rain (flushing)
  • Nitrogen deficiency: Associated with poorer growth
  • Lack of trace elements such as magnesium, boron, iron and zinc
  • Soil contains too much lime
  • if necessary, fertilize once a year with fir fertilizer or compost

The wrong location was chosen

The following location features can quickly make a Japanese umbrella fir look old/yellow:

  • too much warmth/heat
  • too much sun, especially at midday (sunburn, needles dry out)
  • too dry air
  • Soil contains too much lime, is too loamy and too heavy

A spider mite infestation

In rarer cases and more likely in tub culture, a spider mite infestation leads to yellow needles. These animals suck out the needles on the underside. Over time, the needles lose so much of their nutrients that they fade. A vigorous shower helps to remove the spider mites.

tips

If nothing is changed in location or care, the yellow needles are often followed by brown needles, which should soon fall off or be cut off.

Category:

Indoor plants