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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Lilikoi - Which Ones Do You Grow
« on: April 11, 2024, 02:53:18 PM »
All I know with mine is that the seeds were sent to me as “Lilikoi yellow passion fruit”. Time will tell what they are.
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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Lilikoi - Which Ones Do You Grow
« on: April 11, 2024, 09:18:11 AM »
I am growing standard lilikoi (Flavicarpa? Yellow fruit) in a container. It is probably 4 years old and unfortunately, for the past 3 years it has been chewed back to the stump by rabbits or something. Thankfully it is very vigorous and grows quickly even indoors. I haven’t had any pests issues. I am just trying to get it big enough to flower and fruit
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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: When to move my trees outside
« on: April 08, 2024, 01:19:35 PM »
I have noticed how much of a difference being outside makes for the pests. When we try to simplify the environment, we really end up making it much more vulnerable
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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: When to move my trees outside
« on: April 07, 2024, 01:53:12 PM »
I think the colder temperatures can help with overall strength of quite a few subtropicals, especially by reducing pests. Moving them out today!
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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: AI / Chat GPT Plant Descriptions
« on: April 07, 2024, 01:51:38 PM »
I agree. AI can say whatever it wants and can be very misleading. Fruit descriptions from nurseries were already misleading enough trying to sell you their products. I have started noticing it in other places too, including a thank you email 
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Tropical Fruit Discussion / When to move my trees outside
« on: April 07, 2024, 08:02:56 AM »
Things have been warming up here in the Midwest (not without several snow events), and I am trying to figure out the best time to get the trees outside. The projected low is 40 degrees F at the most with day temps in the 70s. I definitely won’t be moving out things like cacao or soursop that are more tropical. I am wondering if it would be beneficial for some of my trees like starfruit, pitangatuba, peanut butter fruit tree and guava to go outside in a sheltered spot. Would this help harden them off for summer or just stress them out? I have a spot for them that receives minimal direct sun, and I can move them into more as time progresses. I just don’t want to have to lug them inside and outside over and over.
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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: What should be my next fruit trees?
« on: April 07, 2024, 07:37:05 AM »
Some if those may be difficult indoors and in containers. Jaboticaba, syzygiums,white sapote and some annona like sugar Apple do well in containers. I have a soursop that has been in a container for 4 years and is only a foot high lol. Cacao species can take a while in pots (if you are in zone 6 like me 
), but they are gorgeous trees. Purple mangosteen would be really tough in a container but things like imbe, lucs and lemon drop mangosteen do very well. I would start with those but never stop experimenting and trying new trees!
), but they are gorgeous trees. Purple mangosteen would be really tough in a container but things like imbe, lucs and lemon drop mangosteen do very well. I would start with those but never stop experimenting and trying new trees!
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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Pruning mature orange tree in pot
« on: April 03, 2024, 03:03:47 PM »
Thanks! I think it is definitely time for a hard prune then. I can post update photos as it progresses.
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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Pruning mature orange tree in pot
« on: April 02, 2024, 04:10:08 PM »
Hey all, we have an orange tree at my university greenhouse that is probably 40 years old and has been suffering lately with die back and pests. Is there any way to hard prune and reset the tree? It’s in a massive concrete planter so repotting would be very difficult.
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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Fruit forest videos
« on: March 11, 2024, 12:47:34 PM »
I third Virginia fruit grower lol. Aspiring to post more but have very little space, thus, not much to post 
. My youtube: www.youtube.com/@midwestfruitjungle
. My youtube: www.youtube.com/@midwestfruitjungle
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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Best Self Fertile Sapodilla
« on: March 09, 2024, 08:09:02 PM »
I have heard butterscotch and Silas woods are both self fertile. Don’t have much experience but my Silas woods flowers and sets fruit often, but I thin them because my tree is super small.
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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: My most and least trouble free (not mango) and fruitful trees
« on: February 24, 2024, 03:33:26 PM »does anyone have any recommendations for prolific pot producers?
Eugenias all do very well in containers, but not everyone likes them. I have a lemon guava that fruits prolifically, even indoors.
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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Anyone know whats wrong with this miracle fruit?
« on: February 24, 2024, 12:16:48 PM »
It really just looks like Phyllosticta minima. I’ll have to tell the other staff to hold back on the watering. I just repotted it in 50 peat 50 perlite and some bark for extra drainage, but the greenhouse is watered every day so it may be making it worse now that it’s in more soil. Thanks for the advice!
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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Anyone know whats wrong with this miracle fruit?
« on: February 24, 2024, 09:18:17 AM »
There are these purple spots on some of the leaves and more have been showing up slowly. There are a lot of temperature swings in the greenhouse but there isn’t full sun.
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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Any good inexpensive but effective grow lights?
« on: February 23, 2024, 04:46:50 PM »
Awesome. Thanks for all of the recommendations! I have some time before I need them but I wanted a heads start.
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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Any good inexpensive but effective grow lights?
« on: February 21, 2024, 07:02:16 PM »
Currently moving into an apartment and, there aren’t exactly floor to ceiling south facing windows. Anyone have any suggestions for discrete indoor grow lights that would give my trees a little help during winter without looking like an industrial grower.
I had some cheap Amazon strip lights but almost all of my plants in the grow tent stopped growing And even started dropping leaves so I took them out. Any recommendations are appreciated!
I had some cheap Amazon strip lights but almost all of my plants in the grow tent stopped growing And even started dropping leaves so I took them out. Any recommendations are appreciated!
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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Sooty Mold, Pests, and Treatments
« on: February 20, 2024, 01:09:04 PM »
I work at a tropical greenhouse, and although the pesticides work, what keeps things under control is more physical maintaining. Spraying with the jet and pruning, as well as identifying the plants that are magnets to pests. The issue is too if you use pesticides, you can’t use natural predators either. Usually it’s not a 1 fixes all solution. At the greenhouse, we use safari 20 SG insecticide, neem and all the above practices.
I promise an aphid isn’t writing this, but having a goal for perfectly pest free isn’t the right mindset, as pests indicate tree health, lack of predators etc.
I promise an aphid isn’t writing this, but having a goal for perfectly pest free isn’t the right mindset, as pests indicate tree health, lack of predators etc.
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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Anyone post plants on instagram?
« on: October 02, 2023, 12:58:18 PM »
@midwestfruitjungle
Haven't been able to post much, I have been finishing up my Health Science degree
Haven't been able to post much, I have been finishing up my Health Science degree
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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Young pickering mango tree wilting/ browning away ?
« on: July 28, 2023, 11:22:13 PM »
it looks like some kind of burning, whether chemical or temperature-wise. Make sure that they don't dry out, but don't get overwatered. Make sure too they have consistent conditions. Preventing as much stress as possible is helpful to recovering trees. I would look for new growth, or if the new growth nodes are healthy. Hopefully, it flushes out new leaves and drops those burnt ones.
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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Ultimate potted plant food forest?
« on: July 28, 2023, 11:17:37 PM »
Annonas can do alright in containers, I wouldn't recommend inga as they grow really fast. There are so many myrtles out there (eugenias, plinias, syzygium) that all do awesome in containers. I have heard artocarpus can be containerized well too.
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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Syzygium jambos plant kept indoors facing problem
« on: July 28, 2023, 11:13:08 PM »
I get it bro, especially growing in the Midwest it can be challenging with a lot of plants. I focus on new growth and fresher leaves because trees often will drop older or slightly damaged leaves if they can afford it. As long as you have healthy new growth, it's most likely alright.
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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Hunt for the best Surinam Cherry
« on: May 12, 2023, 12:45:25 PM »
I got my first 2 flowers on my black Surinam cherry in 2018 as a small seedling from 9waters. The tree is only about 1 foot tall and was holding a fruit but it got knocked off while moving outside . The leaves have no resinous smell which is a good sign. Hopefully it flowers again soon
. The leaves have no resinous smell which is a good sign. Hopefully it flowers again soon
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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: acerola/Barbados cherry not fruiting.
« on: May 08, 2023, 06:23:09 PM »
I have noticed my acerola puts out gobs of flowers and fruit during the winter and early spring, and then during the drier end of summer. It seems like a little stress helps get it to fruit.
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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Cherry of Rio grande no fruits
« on: May 03, 2023, 12:29:50 PM »
Eugenia fruit set can be finicky in general. It can really help to have as many cross pollinating trees as possible.
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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: What’s this pest on my guava tree leaves?
« on: May 03, 2023, 12:27:48 PM »
They look like aphids. When I use organic horticultural soap, it takes them out in one spray. Neem and castile soap would work well too.