The Tropical Fruit Forum

Suggested OK levels for total alkalinity is 0 - 100   My well water was 188.3 MG/l.   Over time that level of alkalinity REALLY bothered by trees, and even begun stunting the growth. .  I switch to rain water, and in no time all alkalinity problems disappeared.  I've been irrigating with rain water now for 13 years (since 10/18/04).  Ideal pH for citrus is 6.5, but a Ph of 7 would absolutely be no problem.  Many citrus even do OK at a Ph of 8.   If you want to grow citrus in ground the sodium level should also be tested.  A  level of 50 MG/L or less is OK.  Rootstocks that are rated as GOOD for clay soils are, Trifoliate Orange, Cleopatra mandarin, Sun Chu Sha mandarin, Shekwasha mandarin, Cleo X639, Sour orange, Smooth Flat Seville, and Kinkoji,   Rootstocks rated poor for clay soils are Swingle, Carrizo, Benton citrange, C-32 & 35.  All of my trees are growing on Flying Dragon, and they all do very well in my clay soil..  If you wish to do something to counter act the clay soils,I would think raised beds would be the easiest solution. As I wrote in an earlier  post I used raised beds, also dug a really big hole 4' x' 4' x 4'  filled with quality soil, and lastly did nothing for 4 of my in ground citrus trees.  There was no difference between any of them.

Medicine is the quickest method, and probably the best method..  All grapefruit can somewhat lower cholesterol, but red does the best. 

Mark in Dr. Carl E. Whitcomb Ph.D, a professor at the University of Oklahoma, and owner of Root Maker Corporation, in his book "Plant Production in Containers-!!" (an excellent book) he writes...."Place your trees outside in full sun and full wind.  You want the trunks and branches to bend in he wind, as the more the tree flexes the larger in diameter they become which has been confirmed by excellent research"...... 

I have an in ground Marsh Seedless grapefruit tree, and my wife and I have grapefruit each morning with breakfast.  I talked to my doctor and he subscribed Rosuvastatin as a statin cholesterol drug that is not affected by grapefruit.

....>The strengthening of trees by a gentle wind from a fan is a myth<....

Mark, I will have to disagree with your statement.  However, the key word of disagreement is the word "gentle", depending on what your definition of gentle is in your sentence.

Dekopon is a fantastic tasting fruit.
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The Agriculture Department is expected to allow Florida citrus growers to start using a genetically engineered Tristeza virus to protect trees from citrus greening disease in early 2019. USDA is planning to issue a statewide permit once the virus is ready, likely in January 2019.

Is the Nishiki Tada actually a real Yuzu without seeds, or is it just called a yuzu?

https://youtu.be/PqEgzSsEgNo

Normally a Satsuma starts producing quality fruit at 5 years of age.

According to Dr. Manners a citrus fruit obtains all of its energy form the 3 closest leaves to the fruit.  It sounds like your tree might have been holding more fruit than it had leaves.  Therefore, removing the fruit will avail all the energy that the fruit would have used to the tree.  Under watering a tree can be almost as bad as over watering the tree. Citrus do not eat, they only drink.  Never let your tree set in the water collector tray when the try has water in it.  Empty the tray.  Also, because your tree is having problems, raise the SOIL temperature up to 70-F (21.1-C)  Because the room is at 21-C doesn't mean the containers soil is at 21-C.  Use a soil thermometer and check it.  If the tree's foliage is in a window in direct sun light, then the container needs to be in direct sun light also. Please let this forum know how your tree is progressing

Fyliu, your correct the heat treatment does not permanently cure the tree, rather it greatly reduces the disease in the tree temperately. The heat treatment will need to be done again and again.