Author Topic: giving mangosteen a try in Southern California (Read 10621 times)

SoCal2warm · « **on:** June 19, 2018, 02:14:05 PM »

Just got it into the ground.

location is about 12 miles from the coast, so I would consider it solid zone 10 (between 10a and 10b)

That's a lychee and tree fern you see up in the top left in the picture.

This is a bigger specimen than most people have tried, so it already has a well developed root system and may have a better chance of surviving. This guy wasn't cheap. But it's a big beautiful plant. (yes, purple mangosteen)

boxturtle · « **Reply #1 on:** June 19, 2018, 02:18:37 PM »

might need to give it some shade

Ethan · « **Reply #2 on:** June 19, 2018, 09:14:51 PM »

Nice, good luck!

roblack · « **Reply #3 on:** June 19, 2018, 10:46:28 PM »

Beautiful little tree! Good luck and please keep us posted.

I'm trying the same here in So FL. Growing it above ground in root saver pots, and will let it grow into the ground. My biggest worry is the limestone soil here, so want to elevate it as much as possible. As it hasn't grown through the pot bottom yet, considering digging a hole as deep and wide as possible and amending the soil.

How cold does it get in your location? Mine handled temps in the high 30's without noticeable stress. Starting with a more established tree should give you a better shot at success.

gozp · « **Reply #4 on:** June 20, 2018, 03:11:12 AM »

How much did u get it for?

WHat variety, seems like a seedling?

Ulfr · « **Reply #5 on:** June 20, 2018, 03:54:40 AM »

I don’t like your chances but happy to see your experiment and wish you the best of luck

Quote from: gozp on June 20, 2018, 03:11:12 AM

WHat variety, seems like a seedling?

I forget the reasoning but mangosteen are true to seed, almost clones, aren’t they?

Schutzhund · « **Reply #6 on:** June 20, 2018, 12:36:58 PM »

Best of luck, keep us updated

EvilFruit · « **Reply #7 on:** June 20, 2018, 04:17:00 PM »

Quote

Soil

The tree is not adapted to limestone and does best in deep, rich organic soil, especially sandy loam or laterite. In India, the most productive specimens are on clay containing much coarse material and a little silt. Sandy alluvial soils are unsuitable and sand low in humus contributes to low yields. The tree needs good drainage and the water table ought to be about 6 ft (1.8 m) below ground level. However, in the Canal Zone, productive mangosteen groves have been established where it is too wet for other fruit trees–in swamps requiring drainage ditches between rows and in situations where the roots were bathed with flowing water most of the year, in spite of the fact that standing water in nursery beds will kill seedlings. The mangosteen must be sheltered from strong winds and salt spray, as well as saline soil or water.

https://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/mangosteen.html

Good luck

SoCal2warm · « **Reply #8 on:** June 24, 2018, 09:53:29 PM »

Coach62 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 25, 2018, 09:23:50 PM »

Seriously, I've been looking for a mangosteen forever! But, I did want one that was larger. Anyone know where I can find one?

SoCal2warm · « **Reply #10 on:** July 20, 2018, 09:53:48 PM »

Despite keeping it well watered, the small tree got baked in the 105° heat wave.

Two chairs were later put up on either side to put a shade cover over it.

arc310 · « **Reply #11 on:** July 21, 2018, 01:26:19 AM »

that's a good looking tree...before getting fried. but looks like it can recover..just cover up for the next few days with the heat coming in. did you order it online or was it a local nursery?

i had thought they need a good amount of humidity for this area. i almost wanted to try putting it into a greenhouse or something to provide more humidity for it.

i didn't realize how many mangosteen trees were in hawaii last time i went.

DurianLover · « **Reply #12 on:** July 21, 2018, 03:23:12 AM »

Quote from: SoCal2warm on July 20, 2018, 09:53:48 PM

Despite keeping it well watered, the small tree got baked in the 105° heat wave.

Two chairs were later put up on either side to put a shade cover over it.

They can fry in a similar fashion in tropics with 95F heatwave, and relatively high humidity. 105F and low humidity is a different matter all together. Surprised in it's still alive after such stress.
Trees of this size kept under permanent partial shade even in cooler parts of the tropics.They adore 50-70% partial shade. I would extend permanent partial shade until about Oct.

OCchris1 · « **Reply #13 on:** July 22, 2018, 01:35:31 AM »

I agree. That little tree needs some shade cloth. A lot of fruit trees that size would get burned in a similar fashion. Good luck. Chris

SoCal2warm · « **Reply #14 on:** September 04, 2018, 08:59:20 PM »

The mangosteen, after surviving the heat wave

It looks like at least some of the leaves are still lush green, even if badly deformed. I'm not sure whether this is new growth that came out or whether some of the smaller old leaves managed to hang on. It appears to be slowly recovering, although it took a big hit.

Ethan · « **Reply #15 on:** September 04, 2018, 11:53:36 PM »

Nice looking new growth, are you going to build a cold frame for winter?

Tropicdude · « **Reply #16 on:** September 05, 2018, 11:03:10 PM »

Shade shade and more shade, heat is not the problem, my tree I have tried many times to get it accustomed to a little sunlight, any leaf that even sees the sun for more than an hour gets fried like those in your picture.

lots of water and zero direct sunlight.

tropicbreeze · « **Reply #17 on:** September 06, 2018, 12:00:50 AM »

When they're small they do need more shade. Some friends have several trees that are a good 3 metres tall out in full sun all day. Their climate is more humid which is probably what makes the difference. Nearly lost mine when the automatic irrigation played up and I didn't notice at first, until a lot of the leaves browned. It's in a lot of shade but still took a good two years to recover. The relative humidity here can get very low and temperatures high during the dry season but the Mangosteen copes quite well in the shade provided it gets lots of water.

SoCal2warm · « **Reply #18 on:** October 05, 2018, 06:27:52 AM »

Rainy and temperatures in the 80s, the mangosteen is doing good.

Empoweredandfree · « **Reply #19 on:** October 05, 2018, 05:28:43 PM »

Quote from: SoCal2warm on October 05, 2018, 06:27:52 AM

Rainy and temperatures in the 80s, the mangosteen is doing good.

Keep up the good work! I'm rooting for you and the tree! Mangosteens are tough trees which surprised me due to their reputation.

SoCal2warm · « **Reply #20 on:** October 21, 2018, 04:45:16 PM »

Empoweredandfree · « **Reply #21 on:** October 22, 2018, 02:43:17 PM »

Looks good. Has it put on any growth?
My potted mangosteen is doing great too but it has brown spotting on the underside of a few leaves but its staying strong. I moved it to a full sun window inside due to cold temps..

arc310 · « **Reply #22 on:** October 22, 2018, 02:53:56 PM »

i would think that adding some wood chips around it would help improve the soil quality..and protect it too. every bit would help!

SoCal2warm · « **Reply #23 on:** November 10, 2018, 07:28:33 PM »

Still in the 80s during the day, though the nights are cooling off.

SoCal2warm · « **Reply #24 on:** November 11, 2018, 02:42:53 AM »

I put a plant cover over it

JF · « **Reply #25 on:** November 11, 2018, 11:17:23 AM »

That’s in the open it’s not going to work lows are in the 50’s. I’ll show you mine that’s been in the ground for a year in a well protected area

JF · « **Reply #26 on:** November 13, 2018, 07:44:08 PM »

SoCal2warm · « **Reply #27 on:** November 13, 2018, 10:32:31 PM »

Quote from: JF on November 13, 2018, 07:44:08 PM

You're right, your mangosteen doesn't look all that absolutely healthy and pristine. Maybe I shouldn't have planted mine in an open area.

JF · « **Reply #28 on:** November 14, 2018, 10:08:04 AM »

Socal2warn
What’s yr location? I planted the mangosteen for fun I didn’t expected it to thrive less fruit.

roblack · « **Reply #29 on:** November 14, 2018, 12:25:43 PM »

You mangosteen looks pretty good Frank. Surprised it's doing so well, being in Cali. Seems a humid and warm protected environment would be needed to eventually get fruit.

JF · « **Reply #30 on:** November 14, 2018, 02:46:16 PM »

Quote from: roblack on November 14, 2018, 12:25:43 PM

You mangosteen looks pretty good Frank. Surprised it's doing so well, being in Cali. Seems a humid and warm protected environment would be needed to eventually get fruit.

Rob
Yes considering our winter lows . I believe no one has fruited a purple mangosteen outside of a GH in the continental USA ; even in tropics it takes a while to establish I have a couple in Yucatán

cbss_daviefl · « **Reply #31 on:** November 14, 2018, 06:20:03 PM »

They have been fruited unprotected in south Florida near the ocean by Bill Whitman.

JF · « **Reply #32 on:** November 14, 2018, 06:55:48 PM »

Quote from: cbss_daviefl on November 14, 2018, 06:20:03 PM

They have been fruited unprotected in south Florida near the ocean by Bill Whitman.

Brandon
Thanks for the info I thought it was fruited in Key West

cbss_daviefl · « **Reply #33 on:** November 14, 2018, 08:57:09 PM »

I believe it was North Bay Village, which is a little north of Miami.

roblack · « **Reply #34 on:** November 14, 2018, 09:35:55 PM »

Mangosteen has been fruited in the pavilion of Fairchild Tropical Botanical Gardens, but I would consider that in the same category as a greenhouse. It is well protected, and could easily be more sheltered more from cold dry winds if need be.

I'm going to give it a good try here south of Miami. Could be wrong, but our alkaline soil worries me more than the cold. My tree did well with our lows last year (high 30's). Landscaper is supposed to dig a big hole tomorrow, and I will plant after laying down a liner and filling with choice soil. Prepared to cover and protect the tree if need be, but the location already constitutes a nice little micro climate.

Alejandro45 · « **Reply #35 on:** November 14, 2018, 10:02:11 PM »

Bill Whitman in Bal Harbor and Adolf Grimaldi in Big pine key both had trees but I never heard of Adolf’s trees fruiting. A story from a former nursery inspector Bill Seefelt now a fish farmer down in homestead. He visited Whitman’s place when he was installing the amazing copper pots in the ground with a rain irrigation system. According to Seefelt and he’s in his 80s! He must have spent 2k alone to get those trees to fruit! In primo soil, solid copper pots, the water and misting system, and a professional company servicing his trees. Funny thing is I grew up in Miami Shores just a few minutes away from his brothers house down the street who is a freaking billionaire!!! that guy owned the most expensive mall in Florida! When he passed away my dad unknowingly visited his house when it went up for sale. The realtor casually mentioned that he had a arborist come from north Florida to service his yard! He had original Audubon’s in his bedroom! I must have passed that house a thousand times to go get coconuts at the park!

SoCal2warm · « **Reply #36 on:** December 22, 2018, 07:47:47 PM »

knlim000 · « **Reply #37 on:** December 23, 2018, 12:24:24 PM »

is it going to make it?

SoCal2warm · « **Reply #38 on:** December 23, 2018, 03:40:29 PM »

Quote from: knlim000 on December 23, 2018, 12:24:24 PM

is it going to make it?

It doesn't look like it. The bark is splitting open in several areas and looks kind of shriveled.

dingaling · « **Reply #39 on:** December 24, 2018, 08:46:59 AM »

Wow is there any shade? If you cover the poor bugger up a tad and get the sun off it will love you lots more.

SoCal2warm · « **Reply #40 on:** March 16, 2019, 06:36:07 PM »

It looks like it's dead

MameyDisco · « **Reply #41 on:** March 17, 2019, 03:55:50 AM »

Nice try... Long live William “Bill” Whitman!

Rickysett · « **Reply #42 on:** July 15, 2019, 10:50:55 PM »

Any updates? I’m in SoCal and interested to see what happened.

brian · « **Reply #43 on:** July 16, 2019, 04:26:19 PM »

from Houzz forum:

socalnolympia

The tree did not survive, unfortunately.

Although it was able to start recovering from the heat wave, maybe that was too much for it and weakened it so it was not able to get through the Winter. It was a colder Winter than usual.

June 30, 2019

News:

Author Topic: giving mangosteen a try in Southern California (Read 10621 times)