defoliating Ilama to induce flowering (Annona Diversifolia)

[mikesid]

I know this has been discussed before but I see a sharp contrast between my A. diversifolia and all other Annonas when it comes to flowering. Last year I had only a few flowers show themselves even after defoliation of diversifolia. This could have been be due to the young age of the tree. My 'Genova Red' which is over 6ft tall by around 6ft wide has never produced a flower by itself without assistance. This year was seemingly no different. In an attempt to get some fruit set this year I tried stressing the tree, by eliminating all water, and dropping plenty of K and micros. Still, nothing…So when it began growing in leaps and bounds I decided to start stripping leaves again…This year it seems nearly ever leaf I've stripped has produced a flower. My 'Pajapita' is pushing flowers too after stripping. Though all my other annonas were pushing flowers already and setting fruit, I decided to strip some of their leaves also. Though my other annonas did push flowers it was only about 1 in 5 strips producing a flower. I really hope I get to try an Ilama this year!

[Guanabanus]

Nice!  I hadn't tried that with Ilama, though I had many times with atemoyas and other hybrids.

[Ethan]

Great job and info, a few more years and I hope to trying it myself!

[FlyingFoxFruits]

thanks for posting Mike...now you've convinced my llamas to become strippers.

[TREESNMORE]

How old are the trees. Even if they are grafted it takes time. I have two Genova Reds that have a few flowers then drop them. Last year I got flowers at the same time , hand pollenated  and they still dropped.

[JF]

I have two grafted Ilama on the ground that only produce 6 flowers. I pruned them down to 3' in March/April and they are growing nicely but little bloom. They seem to flower more in pots I might try this method. It works very well with atemoyas and cherimoyas.

Here is my

Genova Red and Pajapita

[Guanabanus]

Ilama fruits are usually large and heavy.   Those plants are way too small to be fruiting.

When the plants get about 10 times that size, try cutting off a few side leaves from the branchlets, to uncover the lateral buds.

[JF]

Ilama fruits are usually large and heavy.   Those plants are way too small to be fruiting.

When the plants get about 10 times that size, try cutting off a few side leaves from the branchlets, to uncover the lateral buds.

What, 10m? the fruit must be the size of a jackfruit.

[Cookie Monster]

hahaha I think he means in terms of leaf surface area / tree volume (not height :-).

Ilama fruits are usually large and heavy.   Those plants are way too small to be fruiting.

When the plants get about 10 times that size, try cutting off a few side leaves from the branchlets, to uncover the lateral buds.

What, 10m? the fruit must be the size of a jackfruit.

[Guanabanus]

Yes, thank you, CookieMonster!

[JF]

hahaha I think he means in terms of leaf surface area / tree volume (not height :-).

Ilama fruits are usually large and heavy.   Those plants are way too small to be fruiting.

When the plants get about 10 times that size, try cutting off a few side leaves from the branchlets, to uncover the lateral buds.

What, 10m? the fruit must be the size of a jackfruit.

LOL. thanks CookieMonster

[cbss_daviefl]

About a month ago, I tip pruned my seedling ilama.  Tipping induced its first flower. Interesting that the flower is red but new foliage is green. I got seeds from Luc less then two years ago.