Dwarf creeping chenille (Acalypha pendula)
Dwarf creeping chenille (Acalypha pendula) is a durable tropical perennial hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 8-11. It can be used as a containerized ornamental or groundcover. In temperate areas it is grown primarily for hanging baskets and mixed containers. Dwarf creeping chenille performs best in dry, acidic to slightly alkaline soils, full sun conditions and has very few pest problems.
Fertilizer recommendations
Fertilizer recommendations suggest applying nitrogen at a rate of 200 to 250 milligrams per liter to increase the length of chenille’s bright-red, fuzzy flowers. Nutrient deficiencies can occur during production. These symptoms have been reported as chlorosis of the young leaves and lower leaf yellowing.
Fertility monitoring and management for Acalypha pendula requires a balancing of the plant’s needs. Growers must be aware and manage the root substrate pH and electrical conductivity and provide adequate, but not excessive, levels of all essential elements.
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Nutrient deficiency descriptions are unavailable for most perennials, yet growers must often make quick diagnoses. A research project initiated at the
Pictures related to the nutrient deficiencies series may accessed by viewing the PDF files of the pages that originally appeared in GMPRO magazine: Page 1. Page 2. Page 3. Page 4. Page 5. Page 6. Page 7.
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Nitrogen (N)
Initially, nitrogen-deficient plants are smaller and lighter green when compared to the control. Despite its mobile nature, nitrogen deficiency in dwarf creeping chenille can develop as interveinal chlorosis on young leaves.
Interveinal chlorosis also develops on recently mature leaves.
Advanced symptoms include interveinal chlorosis and some marginal yellowing on the youngest leaves, with some leaf rolling. Youngest leaves are stunted and have necrotic tips.
Phosphorus (P)
Phosphorus deficiency is observed as dark-green, upright plants that have smaller mature leaves when compared to the control.
The mature leaf tips and margins have developed a brown necrosis.
Under advanced symptoms, brown necrotic patches appear on the recently mature and mature leaves.
Potassium (K)
Initially, potassium deficiency is observed as yellowing on the margins of mature leaves.
As symptoms progress, chlorosis is limited to the margins; however, leaves become more rounded in shape and the leaf surface becomes buckled.
Leaf comparison of potassium-deficient leaves to the control.
Calcium (Ca)
Calcium-deficiency symptoms develop first on roots as discolored tissue. As symptoms progress, the entire plant becomes light green and stunted.
Tips of recently mature and mature leaves curl downward, followed by development of a faint interveinal chlorosis on the young and youngest leaves.
Calcium-deficiency symptoms accelerate rapidly from light-green plants with poor shoot development to the entire collapse of the plant.
Magnesium (Mg)
Magnesium deficiency begins as an interveinal chlorosis on recently mature leaves.
As symptoms progress, a well-defined chlorosis appears on recently mature leaves, while the midrib remains dark green.
Advanced symptoms appear as a severe yellow interveinal chlorosis accompanied by brownish-white necrotic margins and tips.
Sulfur (S)
Initially, sulfur-deficient plants are smaller, lighter green and more upright than the control.
As symptoms progress, an intense lime-green chlorosis appears on young and recently mature leaves progressing from the leaf base to the tip. The oldest leaves remain dark green.
Recently mature leaves develop a marginal chlorosis followed by a thin band of necrosis.
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Boron (B)
Initially, boron-deficient plants have shoot tips that are stunted and compact.
As symptoms progress, flower buds cease to develop and axillary shoot growth is inhibited. Recently mature leaves become thick and brittle, while the young leaves become chlorotic and stunted.
At the advanced stage, the youngest leaves turn necrotic, and young leaves express a yellow band of chlorosis with necrotic spots.
Copper (Cu)
Copper-deficient plants have less root growth, shorter internodes and duller-green foliage when compared to the control.
As symptoms progress, recently mature leaves have brown patches on the leaf margins.
Advanced symptoms are represented by necrotic leaf margins and dull-green young leaves.
Iron (Fe)
Initially, deficient young and youngest leaves have a basal chlorosis that migrates toward the leaf tip.
As symptoms develop, chlorosis progresses to recently mature leaves, while the oldest leaves remain dark green. The light-green chlorosis progresses to yellowish-green.
Advanced symptoms include yellowish-white young leaves and light-yellow recently mature leaves.
Manganese (Mn)
Manganese deficiency begins with young to recently mature leaf margins developing a faint chlorosis.
As symptoms progress, leaf-margin chlorosis intensifies and the basal area becomes pale green.
Small, brownish-white spots form on recently mature leaves.
Zinc (Zn)
Young growth on zinc-deficient plants feels thicker than the control. A mild interveinal chlorosis develops on young leaves.
As symptoms progress, the youngest leaves have an olive-green cast and are narrower than the control’s youngest leaves.
Advanced symptoms include incomplete flower formation, puckered growth on youngest leaves and well-defined interveinal chlorosis on young leaves.
- James L. Gibson and Kim Strickland
James Gibson is assistant professor and Kim Strickland is a former undergraduate research assistant, University of Florida, West Florida Research and Education Center, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, 5988 Highway 90, Building 4900, Milton, FL 32583; (850) 983-5216, Ext. 103;
The authors thank Fred C. Gloeckner Foundation for grant support, Smithers-Oasis for propagation medium, Hatchett Creek for plant material and Quality Analytical Laboratories for tissue analysis. The authors also thank Susan Haddock, Sharon Wombles and Shannon Crowley for technical assistance.
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