Tropical Fruit Forum - International Tropical Fruit Growers



Show Posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.


Messages - laidbackdood

Pages: 1 [2] 3 4 5
26
Citrus General Discussion / Roots
« on: June 30, 2017, 03:56:46 AM »
Hi from Perth western Australia...........We are in the middle of winter over here.........Most of my citrus are in terracotta pots and some are inground.......I read somwhere that when temps get below 14C the roots stop growing and become dormant.........well.....thats not happeneing to my late navel.......its putting out fresh feeder roots just below the surface(but no top growth).......also my eureka lemon and my lemonade are all putting out new top growth at this time.......I have a huge tangelo enjoying the temps below 10C(@night) that help fruits to ripen........Daytime temps are up to 18/19C and night time 3/4/5/6/7 C ........
                     so the quote "when temps go below 14C roots become dormant " is a bit vague here ...because in the day its above 14C but at night its not........I also believe that top growth tends to be dormant with most citrus in winter except lemons of some form but i reckon they are all still doing roots during the winter.............which brings me to my strange kind of question......which influenece root growth more ....Photosynthesis or respiration?........Could they be growing roots via Photosynthesis during the day ...when temps are above 14C ?
I certainly helped the cause,by giving them "seasol".....seaweed tonic to help stimulate new root growth........any thoughts?

27
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Blueberry leaves going yellow/red
« on: July 18, 2016, 01:28:57 AM »
Thanks Guys....I just found it strange the one variety was going yellow/red like that and the other wasnt ...I thought maybe they were iron deficient but the leaves were pure yellow with no green veins..........it will be spring soon and i am sure they will be ok then.......Thanks for the advise.

28
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Blueberry leaves going yellow/red
« on: July 17, 2016, 06:14:34 AM »
Hi.....Its winter here in Perth...western australia.......i have two different types of blueberries which i transplanted into bigger pots ( four plants)......they were all heavily rootbound.........
One type seems fine ....has heaps of flowers on it and is growing small berries.......which seems a bit early to me.........the other type(2 of them) have a few leaves dropping and going this lovely colour.........I felt it might be due to the cold temps which have been around 6C at night or maybe from the transplant.......is that correct or does anyone have any other theory ?  .......Thanks Jon




29
Citrus General Discussion / Re: Issue on leaves
« on: May 07, 2016, 12:01:11 PM »
what about white oil? is that actually neem oil or something different?...........you can buy white oil in spray cans over here......i have tried several sprays for citrus leaf miner and they are still causing  trouble with the new growth......but then i caught 6 snails on lemonade the other night and shes only small........they were sent packing.

30
Leafminer does not attack the first flush of the year, but starts their attach with the second flush. - Millet
Does this apply everywhere millet.......even down under?

31
Citrus General Discussion / Potting mix and leaf curl
« on: April 04, 2016, 12:42:26 PM »
Two items of concern.........the first one is..
1...i repotted many citrus trees recently from a 300mm pot to a 400 mm pot......most of them are behaving normally but one seems to be drying out in the rootball but the area around the side of the pot is staying wet on my moisture meter........need i worry about this? I water evenly when i water ......is there anything i can do to keep the mix evenly moist ?
the second one is two types of leaf curl........the small leaves are off my lime and imperial manderin.......they are both curving down and around.........could this be potassium deficency?
the other bigger leaf is off my japanese seedless........this is cupping up and around......what could be causing that? or is that normal.............
I have been feeding with organics and water when the mix dries to moist....................any help appreciated........it has been very hot here and now its sitting around 25/26C......Thanks Jon







32
Citrus General Discussion / Re: PH
« on: March 29, 2016, 09:31:53 PM »
Cool......thanks for that Brian.

33
Citrus General Discussion / PH
« on: March 29, 2016, 01:00:00 PM »
Sure this has been asked before but i am going to ask it......
what is the optimum Ph level for container citrus for advanced nutrient absorption ?       Thanks.

34
Citrus General Discussion / Re: How To Make A Fire With A Lemon
« on: March 25, 2016, 01:48:07 AM »
Just have to remember to carry all that lot for an emergency but pretty incredible all the same........i wonder how long the current can last?

35
Citrus General Discussion / Re: Zeolite
« on: March 23, 2016, 09:19:34 PM »
Cool.........the inclusion rate i find a bit confusing......would be good if they gave a per litre of mix rate........or per cm pot size...i am using a 40 cm pot at present.
Millet.............Do you think i am better off choosing the coarse zeolite 2-6mm in size over the fine.....0-2mm size ? i figured the fine stuff would be more likely to clog the potting mix up........your thoughts please?
I have some 2 to 4 mm come today= 400Gram........I will be adding that to some mixes this weekend.

36
Citrus General Discussion / Re: Zeolite
« on: March 23, 2016, 12:59:49 PM »
Was the info above able to be read ok Millet ?

37
Citrus General Discussion / Re: Zeolite
« on: March 23, 2016, 06:03:05 AM »





Hope these links work as it will explain everything.

38
Citrus General Discussion / Re: Zeolite
« on: March 23, 2016, 05:57:40 AM »
Hi Millet....Thanks for your reply.....I have become interested in it because a well know citrus grower in south Australia Ian tolley has been adding it to his container citrus trees.....he uses 250 litre pots and grows standard citrus trees in them.......he likes to mix in 5% of the growing media as Zeolite......it comes in 0-2mm particle size or 2 to 6mm size(this is the size i will be getting)......the larger size is recommended for larger pots with long term plantings........it is mined in Australia.......I have not yet used it but from what i have read ...it address the leaching of nutrients from your mix...........the zeolite attracts Nitrogen/potasium/calcium and magnesium and stores it along with water for the plant to use when it needs it.......it also reduces the amount of fert needed.........I downloaded a page.......i will try to post for your perusal Millet..........
I will be using it with 2 of my citrus that i will up pot very shortly and also some strawberry plants.....alas i have potted up close to 10 trees........so i guess they will be "control" specimens but i will clearly mark which ones have had the zeolite/what potting mix i use..........then i will see how they go...........apparently it improves cation exchange(i really do not know what that means!) helps retain water ...serves much like perlite but is more rigid and stronger and doesnt break down........I will try to up load that sheet Millet(think the brand is Escott but its mined in New south wales in aussie) and then i think spring time i will know if its really doing anything............i think the zeolite is made up of lots off differnt stuff......

39
Citrus General Discussion / Zeolite
« on: March 21, 2016, 04:08:42 AM »
Anyone tried the above in their container mixes? .........worthwhile?

40
Citrus General Discussion / Re: re potting(upsizing)
« on: March 05, 2016, 10:42:22 AM »
Thanks guys........i only have one tree that needs to be repotted and there is no sign of roots coming out of the drainage holes.............It is going for it now and i have decided to leave it until it finishes its autumn  top growth and then repot in early winter.....so it can do root growth through the winter....ready for the spring growth flush...........its just my gut feeling for the right thing to do.....but thanks for the advice.....who knows i might change my mind ...Now i know its safe to do it.....Cheers.

41
Citrus General Discussion / Re: Love Mandarins?
« on: March 03, 2016, 09:08:58 PM »
Great idea....but i hadnt thought of that.....why? because my family will eat them anytime and all the time..so i just have 5 different types....hahaha

42
Citrus General Discussion / Re: re potting(upsizing)
« on: March 03, 2016, 09:03:53 PM »
Thanks brian....i just thought if it was in the middle of putting out new top growth and you disturbed its roots and put it into a bigger pot......it might stop the top growth in favour of putting out root growth but i will take your advice on board...Millet would know more.....i have several different types of citrus and i notice they like to do their thing at given times ie all my imperial mandarins are putting out new growth now....while my japanese seedless are doing nothing..... Cheers Jon

43
Citrus General Discussion / re potting(upsizing)
« on: March 03, 2016, 05:21:40 AM »
I have potted up most of my citrus into bigger pots just before autumn ....here in perth western Australia........I do have two other dwarf citrus that have put out their autumn growth flush.....I am aware that citrus tend to go = root growth/top growth/root growth/top growth....................so would it be a bad idea to put these trees into bigger pots while they are doing top growth? ....or would i be better to wait until near the end of winter to pot up? .........thanks

44
Citrus General Discussion / Re: Preventing Leafminers and Citrus greening
« on: February 29, 2016, 10:17:56 AM »
I read that spraying young leaves with fish/seaweed before the leaf miners turn up is good because they are unable to lay their eggs when the leaves have this coating on them.....i have just sprayed my new growth with this now.......in 2weeks i will spray with eco oil....an organic oil.

45
Citrus General Discussion / Re: alright, what is eating my orange leaves???
« on: February 17, 2016, 10:56:09 AM »
i have been inspecting my trees daily for them now.......give them an ear clip to stun them and then squash them..........seems to be working........mostly green ones but we get those big pale brown ones at times........they are pretty tough...I buried one alive for 5 mins and then dug him up and he flew off quite happily........caterpillars have destroyed my cucumbers....shame that....

46
Citrus General Discussion / Re: alright, wtf is eating my orange leaves???
« on: February 15, 2016, 10:15:56 AM »
I had something have a go at my washington navel..........large parts of leaves chewed off......I am suspicious of Grasshoppers as i have seen quite a few of them on my plants.....do they chew hard out on Citrus lleaves?........Can you answer that for me Millet Please?........i couldnt see any sign of cataerpillars.

47
Citrus General Discussion / Re: When to repot
« on: February 11, 2016, 08:36:29 PM »
Similar to what you have now....only larger.......easy transition for the tree.

48
Citrus General Discussion / Re: When to repot
« on: February 11, 2016, 08:58:33 AM »
Vlad......All good.............I have killed many trees before i started to get anywhere with my trees.............i had two problems = 1....serial over waterer     2........serial over feeder        .........after therapy......I am fine now !    hahaha

49
Citrus General Discussion / Re: When to repot
« on: February 09, 2016, 11:32:09 PM »
My 2 cents worth.........if you are happy with the size it is now........remove from pot.......take a bread knife and slice around the rootball in a box shape like a loaf of bread...in fact a bread knife is ideal.........say 2 inch all around......remove any rotting roots.......tease the outside roots out a bit........give the containor a good scrub and rince(new or old).......put in about 2 to 4 inches of fresh potting mix........rose mix is good or terracotta mix..........put back into pot at same height as before.......prune the top a bit as well.......cut back branches to outward facing bud....water with seaweed solution to get the roots active......keep in semi shade for 2 weeks .....Good time to repot now where you are as it will give the tree time to put out new roots over winter ...ready for spring flush........keep on the dry side of moist and after 2 weeks introduce to full sun........dont feed at all or add stuff to the mix at repot....wait until you see new top growth and then apply slow release fert to the top.........if you want it to grow bigger.....remove from pot........prune any cirling roots........tease roots a little .......pot up to a pot 2 to 4 inch bigger than existing pots......2 to 4 inch on bottom of pot......place rootball in.......backfill........water with seasol and follow above,..........no need to prune top........feed when sign of new top growth appears.......i put some mesh(onion sack) on the bottom of pot to stop mix leaching out..............I used to put gravel on bottom but i dont anymore....try to have 4 to 5 main branches on top.......prune to shape and prevent long leggy branches.......If possible put pot on pot feet and make sure there are loads of drainage holes ......this is what i do......I have 5 trees that i want to pot up but its been 42C here for the past three days and i will wait for it to become cooler before i do that........Hope this helps ....good luck.











50
Citrus General Discussion / Re: My dwarf Citrus in pots
« on: February 08, 2016, 11:51:32 AM »
Thanks.

Pages: 1 [2] 3 4 5
Copyright © Tropical Fruit Forum - International Tropical Fruit Growers