The Tropical Fruit Forum

Hey gang, I'm still learning to grow theobroma and I was wondering if anyone experienced is sure what's going on with this guy. Leaf edges and tops are browning slightly, slight yellowing. One of the new leaves just dropped off. Plant is in well-draining moist slightly acidic soil, very mild very infrequent fertilizer (I'm afraid of salt burn), neutral ph water. Plant has a mix of indirect natural light and indirect full spectrum grow light.



Thoughts?

Hey all,

So my Mom just moved to Redondo Beach area and has a back yard that is mostly paved (rental, so no digging up the pavement). She's asked for my help setting up a container garden with some tropicals (fruiting particularly, but also ornamental), which I'm going to do.

The thing is, I don't have any experience growing in the LA microclimates, including Redondo. So I figured that I would ask the brain trust for some recommendations as part of my research. Anybody grow in that area? I'm looking particularly at things which might do well in full sun there (the shade is somewhat limited) and that don't have super-specialized requirements (regularly feeding is fine, I'm setting her up with customizable irrigation). She's also relatively close to the beach.

Any input would be appreciated, thanks!

So I was looking for a completely unrelated research paper and stumbled down a bizarre rabbit hole that I was unaware of and wanted to share. Apparently there are multiple unrelated studies showing an increase in seed germination and in some cases seedling vigor by exposing them to magnetic fields of varying strength as a pre-treatment:

Magnetic field exposure used to increase germination and vigor/ root development of mung beans (with pictures): https://www.researchgate.net/publication/261014086_Magnetic-time_model_at_off-season_germination

Magnetic field treatment increasing wheat seed germination rates: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2215153220301252

MF Treatment improving cabbage germination rates and vigor: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282961806_Magnetic_Field_Can_Improve_Germination_Potential_and_Early_Seedling_Vigor_of_Cabbage_Seeds

A larger overview of MF treatment on plants in general: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7570196/

I haven't had a chance to dig into this to look for further details/ bad science yet, but it's interesting that there's a body of research from multiple researchers showing some effect. Needs more study/ replication.

Also REALLY interesting was this paper showing that tomato seed orientation towards a magnetic field, and the strength of that magnetic field, was more consequential to seed germination rates than humidity: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23759543/.

What this all suggests to me, as a layman, is that this is an unexplored and possibly large factor in some seed-sprouting quirks.

Anyway. I'd take all this with a grain of salt; I'm sharing this since it's interesting and related the hobby but probably beyond most peoples' inclination and ability to mess around with. Don't go do something dumb with electro-magnets trying to get illama or something to sprout, please.

I've heard some conflicting information on this one. I was looking to plant a yellow and a red this year, but accidentally managed to purchase what I think are two yellows (one is slightly red-tinged but it never goes full red like some of the pictures that I've seen before the fruit splits). My question is, does it matter? Do the red and yellow varieties taste any different to anyone who has had both?