The Tropical Fruit Forum
Citrus => Citrus General Discussion => Topic started by: laidbackdood on June 30, 2017, 03:56:46 AM
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Hi from Perth western Australia...........We are in the middle of winter over here.........Most of my citrus are in terracotta pots and some are inground.......I read somwhere that when temps get below 14C the roots stop growing and become dormant.........well.....thats not happeneing to my late navel.......its putting out fresh feeder roots just below the surface(but no top growth).......also my eureka lemon and my lemonade are all putting out new top growth at this time.......I have a huge tangelo enjoying the temps below 10C(@night) that help fruits to ripen........Daytime temps are up to 18/19C and night time 3/4/5/6/7 C ........
so the quote "when temps go below 14C roots become dormant " is a bit vague here ...because in the day its above 14C but at night its not........I also believe that top growth tends to be dormant with most citrus in winter except lemons of some form but i reckon they are all still doing roots during the winter.............which brings me to my strange kind of question......which influenece root growth more ....Photosynthesis or respiration?........Could they be growing roots via Photosynthesis during the day ...when temps are above 14C ?
I certainly helped the cause,by giving them "seasol".....seaweed tonic to help stimulate new root growth........any thoughts?
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laidbackdood, always nice seeing you. Just because the air is at 14C does not mean the soil at the root zone level is at 14C.
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Thanks Millet....Its been a while.......Ref Temps....Thats true........Its strange how anything lemon ....seems happy to grow top growth in winter..flowers too....Thats what i am noticing.......meyer lemon....eureka lemon....lemonade.......all the rest are dormant on top...except for ripening fruit.