The Tropical Fruit Forum

Ok, will feed with my organic fruit fertilizer.  Thanks for that everything.

Thanks also for the encouragement.
Recovery is a Wonderful thing.
Haven't seen a tree do this, but your encouragement gives me hope.

Will feed, cull and wait.  We've prayed for this tree many times.

Carol

Interesting you should ask about the Fertilizer.  In the spring I put Whitney Farms Organic Planting Soil on the top around the Starfruit tree.

Beginning of the decline.

I have always used Organic Alfalfa on my yard, etc. so using this product which contained Alfalfa was an easy choice.
Costco carried this product plus another Miracle Grow soil.
At this point I didn't realize what was happening to the tree.
Later, still thinking this was good soil, I tried to find more, but Costco didn't have any stock.

I began reading reviews people had left about the soil and found really scathing reviews.  Some said
there were rubber pieces along with metal and other trash when they opened the bag.  Hope many
read this so they will not use this product.

I am posting a picture of the trunk which doesn't look right.  I have lost trees before by adding too much mulch
around the trunk.  Over a month ago I pulled back soil from the trunk, but have seen no change.  At
least the tree is not dead.  If I can add more pics, I will.
Thanks for everyone's help.
Carol

We have had a Starfruit tree for over 5 years.  Was producing many, many fruits.
The last 2/3 months the small branches have been dying at the tips and the leaves
are turning yellow and falling.
Also the fruit is so small maybe 1 1/2 inches.
I don't know what is wrong with our tree.

If anyone has had similar problems or could help us with these symptoms, please respond.

I could buy a new tree, but I'm afraid to put the new tree in the same soil.

Thanks in advance, Carol

This is another picture.  Carol

I'll post new pictures tomorrow in the afternoon.  The pictures won't take now as it is dark.

Thanks Carol

Thanks to all of you.  I was concerned about this process killing a younger tree.  I just bought some coconut coir
soilless to begin working on this.  It is rather an interesting and hopefully fruitful process.  Carol

I have been studying air layering and haven't tried yet.  My main question is "What age tree can you Air Layer".
I have a wax apple that I would like to try, but it is only 3 or 4 years old.  There are 3 3 ft long branches only.
What would happen to this tree if it were too young. 
Also, a Longan tree that I bought at a nursery and have had for 2 years.  It is maybe 4 ft tall. 

Is there a rule of thumb for air layering.  Thanks !!

I was looking at your list.  We are in Houston which was zone 9, but someone changed the zone to 8.
We just experienced a hard freeze 20 degrees with ice/sleet.  We spent the entire day from morning
til dark covering fruit trees.
The main tree I wanted to comment on was the Cherry of the Rio Grande.  Ours is about 5 years old.
This tree took the temperature with no damage.  Even a baby Rio I planted is coming back out.
We covered the Kari Starfruit, but we always cover this tropical tree.  We also had Christmas lights on
lots of trees. 
This is the second Barbados Cherry I have lost.  If I get another, I'll leave it in a pot.  We definitely know what will
make it and what will not.  We have dug up the persian lime, a lemon, and one other that will seem to
never be able to fruit.
The older Jacotabica has lost all its leaves, but is still green on the stem.  The cara cara orange faired the worst
of all the citrus. 
I am going to post here hoping someone many know help for the newly planted Joey avocado. 

Hope this never happens to you or I again.
Wishing you well with your trees.  Carol in Houston

Thanks, I'll try it.
Carol

My Yacon all died in the heat of the summer here in Houston.  Wish someone would post their successful growing
methods.  I would like to try again.
I bought mine at Rareseeds.com.  They had an excellent sale late in the season.

Carol

 :)I would like to get some information on my Kari Star Fruit.  I would like another of the same variety.  Instead of buying another Kari, I would like to know if I could drape one of the branches down into a pot.  Would this root another Kari Star Fruit.  The mother Kari is a grafted variety.
I am guessing that this technique could apply to any fruit that is grafted.  Isn't this called layering ?

Thanks in advance for all the knowledge !!
Carol

That is a good idea - I'll take off the diseased leaves.  I was reading that worm castings sprayed on the tree is anti-fungal.  Also someone
suggested immunox which I may have. 
I wouldn't have thought of stripping the leaves.  Great idea,
Carol