red mombin not leafing out

[buddy roo]

Hi all , i have 3 small red mombin , red hog plum "spondias purpurea" in pots that have had/have very small red blooms for the last 2 or 3 months but NO LEAVES?? i am in southern calif.   when do they leaf out or is this normal??      Regards   Patrick

[Mugenia]

 Mine is doing the same thing too. It's probably dead.

[Jungle Yard]

It blooms, its fruits, then the leaves come out. Just wait.

[pineislander]

Put that tree in the ground. It is deciduous and normally sheds leaves in dry season then flowers, fruits, and then leafs out.
It is native to southern Mexico and south and is used to a dry winter season then a rainy season in summer. If you give it a chance it is very tough tree usually planted by sticking whole branch cuttings up to 2" in diameter in the ground. You don't have to baby this tree I planted a 2" cutting six feet long 18" into the ground and it grew. I've seen it do that many times, whole rows of them.

[sahai1]

they are pretty hardy plants, just watch out your not drowning them.

[buddy roo]

thanks for the input guy's , they have been sitting for sooo long with no leaves i was thinking they where on the way out these are small cuttings i got last year and are about 10" tall. what type of soil do i need??

[MarktLee]

thanks for the input guy's , they have been sitting for sooo long with no leaves i was thinking they where on the way out these are small cuttings i got last year and are about 10" tall. what type of soil do i need??

Patrick mine is just full of flowers now also, they get the leaves like everyone says later. Make sure you water it well and it is in a warm place when it is setting the fruit.

[buddy roo]

thank you Mark, it just seams odd to me sitting there so long with a few tiny blooms and no leaves

[pineislander]

BTW, I recently took a picture of a Red Mombin variety of exceptional size, about twice as big as the average fruit. It also has an nipple shaped appendage. Jocote de pezón.

[buddy roo]

now i really feel better seeing your photo in florida with fruit and no leaves , but are those really twice the size??

[murahilin]

BTW, I recently took a picture of a Red Mombin variety of exceptional size, about twice as big as the average fruit. It also has an nipple shaped appendage. Jocote de pezón.

Those look about the average size to me. Do they get much larger than that? Any pics of the fully ripe fruit?

[JF]

[pineislander]

BTW, I recently took a picture of a Red Mombin variety of exceptional size, about twice as big as the average fruit. It also has an nipple shaped appendage. Jocote de pezón.

Those look about the average size to me. Do they get much larger than that? Any pics of the fully ripe fruit?

These are very young, only 1/2 full. Once ripe and full they are about twice. I'll get back with a picture when they are ready.

[murahilin]

These are very young, only 1/2 full. Once ripe and full they are about twice. I'll get back with a picture when they are ready.

Awesome! The purple mombin is one of my favorite fruit. I'd be interested in buying some cuttings in the future if you're willing to sell.

I look forward to seeing the pic of the full sized fruit.