The Tropical Fruit Forum

http://site.iptv.org/mtom/story/25701/plant-disease-continues-hammer-florida-citrus-industry

Millet

Thank you Sylvain for doing the work that it took to rebuild Joe's link. It is appreciated.

You love grapefruit but cannot eat it because you take certain medicines - soon you can.  Introducing the new UF 914 Grapefruit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnfU1BQ-EE8

On January 1st I transplanted a Lemonade tree into a large container.  Its transplanted into the 3.5'L  X 3.5'W X 4'H container and the tree's roots  have grown into the surrounding medium.  So far I have been able to maintain a 68F (20C) medium temperature during the month of January.  I purchased a 50-foot heating cable to wrap around  the container, which will enable me to raise the medium to 80F (27C).  This will greatly increase both the root and tree growth.  This will enable 5- growth flushes during the 2017 year.   Presently the tree is just now starting a leaf flush with good flower bud production. As one of the parents of this hybrid is a lemon, the flower buds have a  pinkish/purple coloration. 

Tomorrow is Dekopon Day (February 1st.)   Dekopons should be held on the tree until the first day of February to let the fruit sweeten up.  I've been waiting.   My tree is just two years old, so I'll take that in to account when I begin eating them.  On two of the fruit, I am going to follow the Japanese method of warping them in cellophane and storing them for 60 days to let the acid content decrease.  The rest I am going to eat. Stay tuned.

Dragon, what Brian is telling you is correct.  Nothing is wrong with coir.  The problem is making a medium out potting soil and coir, both products are moisture retentive, both are the same texture and  size will eventuality compact into an airless mixture.  It is much better to make a medium out of 2 or 3 products of different size, doing so promotes moisture retention, drainage and good aeration.   That is why bark chips is so frequently used.

The problem that has caused your tree's die back and leaf drop it certainly inside the container.   What has happened to your tree is rather common.  You need to pull your tree from the container and examine the roots. Soft/mushy dark brown roots are dead,  and with very little pull the exterior of the root will pull away from the interior core. Live roots are a light tan color and could  have white root tips if the roots are actively growing/expanding.    Examine your roots and let us know what your find. A close picture would be extremely helpful.  My guess on the cause your your tree's death is much the same as JJROSS54's as written above.

This is the time of year for many citrus trees growing in a greenhouse, sun room or other protected places to begin flowering.  The flowering season of citrus trees, is also one of the highest periods of leaf fall.  So if you see leaf drop during this time, it could well be just part of the tree's cycle of life.                                                                                                                               

Not sure what I will get from the Red Clementine seeds that I planted.  Clementine does not come true from seed, but blood oranges do.  Now that the seeds are sprouting some are producing just one plant, but two of the seeds look to be nucelar with two trees coming from one seed.  The double should be true to type.  Since one varietal parent of the Red Clementine produces true and one doesn't  the zygote forum probably is dominant.   It will be interesting to see what eventually is produced.  Actually, I'm more interested in the zygote seeds as they produce a never  before seen fruit.  Many times zygote fruit are inferior, but once in a while they are the parent of a fantastic new variety.   In any case, all should have a red coloration whether they are true or not.

Sunwest Fruit Co., based in Parlier, CA, will ship a new Mandarin orange variety called Ruby Tangos. The hybrid of a Clemenules Mandarin and a blood orange, the easy-peeler has a vibrant red flesh, virtually no seeds, is extremely juicy and is slightly larger than common Mandarin varieties.
It is about three weeks away from starting harvest on the Ruby Tango red flesh Mandarin. Sunwest is the only commercial supplier of this commodity. This program will start in mid-February and ship through March. Ruby Tangos have a unique taste with a berry-like flavor and has higher Brix levels than ordinary Mandarins.

http://www.theproducenews.com/the-produce-news-today-s-headlines/20565-sunwest-introduces-new-mandarin-variety

Laaz, the blood clementine seeds I got from you started germinating today.  Also the Carolina Raper pepper seeds  germinated 3 or  days ago. - Thanks

According to research citrus absorb nutrients in a 5-1-3 ratio. Meaning for every 5 parts nitrogen the tree absorbs it will absorb 1 part phosphorous and 3 parts potassium, plus trace minerals.    The 10-10-10 fertilizer you used has a 1-1-1 ratio.   Try to find a fertilizer that has  higher levels of nitrogen and potassium and low levels of phosphorous.  Be sure it also has trace minerals.  A half cup of 10-10-10 per a 15 gallon container is a lot of fertilizer.