Emperor Lychee tree

Question

Planted a lychee tree in the ground 2 months ago. Used soil testers for ph and fertilizer levels. Leaves started out yellowish green with brown tips. 1 leaf was purple maybe reddish color. I added 16 16 16 fertilizer and a ph acidic soil improver and then a mineral supplement. 1 month later more leaves are that purplish color. Got new leaves growing thats purple too some are deformed and the older leaves are now more brown starting from the tip working its way in 50%… What am i doing wrong? Hawaii zone. Full sun outdoors watering every other day. Leaves are not wilted just wrong colors

Answer 1

Many times pH test kits can be inaccurate depending on the kit that you are using. To me, this sounds like a pH issue. When a pH issue is mistaken for a deficiency, the resulting of adding more nutrients to the soil will throw the pH off even more. This will make the problem happen much faster.

There is a way that you can balance it pretty close back to neutral, though. Add a copious amount of dolomitic lime to the area. Cut back on your watering as well. Only let the soil barely dry out between watering. But Don’t let it remain too wet either.

This article will Help you: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/lychee-tree/growing-lychee-trees.htm

Answer 2

thank you bush doctor. i went out and got the lime from homedepot tonight and will apply it tomorrow. the ph tester/soil analyzer was also from homedepot $9.99. was reading 7 when i got the tree and i read it likes 5 ph however after the acidifier it was reading 6. i never could get the 5 ph. i never thought of a bad tester as it was new.
fyi the link doesn’t work. i even tried opening it from the garden know how site directly. how long before i should see an improvement in the trees appearance or at least not worsening symptoms….Thanks again