Chelated iron for grapefruit seedling?

Question: I left this same query in a phone message to Ms Jones a few minutes ago. I’m guessing the problem with the grapefruit seedling in attached photo is chlorosis, calling for chelated Fe. What I bought (bag & ingredient list in additional photos) seems not to be chelated. Question: have I inferred the right diagnosis and remedy, and if so, where in Durham can I get chelated iron (small quantity for a pot)? If the plant needs something different, what do you recommend? Thank you

responder: The Question Asker Replied March 31, 2023, 11:14 AM EDT
response: P.S.  greetings to Ashley Troth (from Duke Bio!)  On Mar 31, 2023, at 11:11 AM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:   ﻿   Dear V, Thank you for using Ask Extension. A request for support has been created and a representative will follow-up with you as soon as possible. Questions are usually answered within two business days. You can view this question's progress online. YOUR QUESTION #0093970: Chelated iron for grapefruit seedling? I left this same query in a phone message to Ms Jones a few minutes ago. I’m guessing the problem with the grapefruit seedling in attached photo is chlorosis, calling for chelated Fe. What I bought (bag & ingredient list in additional photos) seems not to be chelated. Question: have I inferred the right diagnosis and remedy, and if so, where in Durham can I get chelated iron (small quantity for a pot)? If the plant needs something different, what do you recommend? Thank you Ask Extension offers one-to-one expert answers from Cooperative Extension/University staff and volunteers within participating Land-Grant institutions across the United States. If you wish to provide additional comments or information regarding the issue, please login to your account for a complete archive of your prior questions and answers.  This message for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for personalized professional advice. For specific local information, contact your local county Cooperative Extension office or other qualified professionals. eXtension Foundation does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, professional services, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned. Reliance on any information provided by eXtension Foundation, employees, suppliers, member universities, or other third parties through eXtension is solely at the user's own risk. All eXtension content and communication is subject to the Terms of Use which may be revised at any time.

responder: Pana Jones, Program Assistant  Replied April 04, 2023, 3:41 PM EDT
response: Thank you for the photos. The additional information about the scale is also very helpful. Brown soft scale is a common insect pest of many indoor plants, including Ficus, Schefflera, English ivy, and citrus. Please see figure 5 in this document:Brown Soft Scale – A Common Insect Pest of Indoor Plants - 5.599 - Extension (colostate.edu)The article also talks about how to manage the problem. You're already off to a good start by using soap. In the future you can use either insecticidal soap or horticultural oil. Both of these products can be found at garden centers or big box stores. An excerpt from the article: Insecticidal soaps (potassium salts of fatty acids) can be used as dilute sprays. Insecticidal soaps will only kill insects that can be covered during application but are usually very effective against the first stage crawlers. Since insecticidal soaps can only kill insects contacted during application, treatments will need to be reapplied to kill insects that were not exposed during application, including later hatched crawlers. Insecticidal soaps can be used on edible plants (e.g., citrus, herbs). Several kinds of horticultural oils are available to be used to control insects and mites on plants. These are designed to be mixed with water (1-2% concentration) and sprayed on the body of the insect. Horticultural oils primarily kill the insect by smothering, blocking the small openings through which it breathes. Commonly available horticultural oils are either mineral oils or neem seed oils. Horticultural oils will only kill insects that can be covered during application. Stages of the scale will remain that cannot be killed in a single spray, such as crawlers that remained protected under the cover of the mother scale or newly laid hatched eggs. To be effective for control of brown soft scale, oil sprays will need to be repeated several times. Horticultural oil products can be used on edible plants (e.g., citrus grown for fruit, herbs). My extension agent mentioned that a balanced fertilizer might be helpful. From Clemson:A complete fertilizer (one that contains nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) is an excellent choice for indoor gardens. Choose a balanced fertilizer for foliage plants, such as 20-20-20, and one that is higher in phosphorus for flowering plants, such as 15-30-15. These numbers represent the percents by weight of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the fertilizer.This article has additional information on house plant care that you may find helpful: Indoor Plants – Cleaning, Fertilizing, Containers & Light Requirements | Home & Garden Information Center (clemson.edu)Regards, Tina Master Gardener Volunteer

responder: The Question Asker Replied April 04, 2023, 4:35 PM EDT
response: Thanks very much for this. I am now treating for scale.  But I wonder if scale is the whole story—whether it accounts for leaves going yellow except along veins.  I haven’t seen a specific association between scale and this appearance of the leaves. My noodling on the web suggests that’s called “chlorosis”, and that in citrus plants it can be a sign of iron deficiency, and that citrus tend to need more iron than many plants. That’s why I asked whether chelated iron—which the sites recommending that for citrus with chlorosis—would be helpful.   And if so, what places locally might carry it. (Barnes Supply doesn’t have it, and big box—Home Depot, Lowes—are not the best sources.  The people at Barnes suggested Stone Bros. Oor Durham Garden, which I haven’t looked into yet.   But first need to know whether chelated iron is likely to be the right idea— Thank you, -vlr  On Apr 4, 2023, at 3:41 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:    ﻿

responder: Pana Jones, Program Assistant  Replied April 05, 2023, 11:22 AM EDT
response: I have reviewed the previous responses to your question. Two possible causes for your grapefruit problems have been presented. The first intervention regarding insect control has been explained and is valid. The question regarding iron deficiency may be a result of the soil lacking iron or that iron is present in the soil but cannot be absorbed by the plant. In either case, recommendations for iron amendments are made for citrus groves and the amount needed for a single plant would not be feasible to replace. Perhaps the plant should be repotted with fresh soil. Below is a link to best cultural practices for potted citrus. The link includes sun, soil and potting requirements.We hope we have been of assistance regarding this matter.https://www.lsuagcenter.com/articles/page<personal data hidden>88

responder: The Question Asker Replied April 06, 2023, 10:51 AM EDT
response: *Thank you* very much. -vlr  On Apr 5, 2023, at 11:22 AM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:   ﻿

responder: Pana Jones, Program Assistant  Replied April 11, 2023, 4:42 PM EDT
response: Hope this helped.