Author Topic: The 'Florida Condition' with Temperates  (Read 645 times)

850FL

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The 'Florida Condition' with Temperates
« on: March 07, 2021, 06:33:09 PM »
I call it the 'Florida Condition'.. it affects what seems like mostly temperate fruit trees.. even varieties that seem as though they're getting the right chill hours and such..

they stagnate in growth

they grow all sorts of lichens

stagnate more

and eventually succumb.. maybe fully.. without ever achieving a true adult tree size and won't produce much if anything at all.

Many times it affects stonefruits.. For example, methley plums, some older Georgia peach cultivars, flowering cherries. Some types of roses, blueberries, even pears. Seen it happen to crape myrtles too! Even wild persimmons!

I understand neglect may have something to do with it, but a lot of these trees are grafted onto hardy rootstocks, right? Is it the extreme heat and humidity during summer that does em in, or what??

Plantinyum

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Re: The 'Florida Condition' with Temperates
« Reply #1 on: March 12, 2021, 06:43:56 AM »
I think it would be caused by the general climate where youre at. Those plants come from cooler climates, both in summer and in winter and they begin go crack up at some point, when theyr temperature needs have not been met...

Galatians522

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Re: The 'Florida Condition' with Temperates
« Reply #2 on: March 12, 2021, 08:05:11 AM »
The lichens you mentioned are an indication of a thinned canopy that is allowing light to the trunk that would not normally occur. That would make me inclined to believe that it is a disease (or lack of chill to encourage leading out). What you are seeing could be the effects of Xylella fastidiosa. It causes Pierces disease in grapes, plum leaf scald in plums, and effects many other woody plants to a greater or lesser extent.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in174&ved=2ahUKEwjogNXb56rvAhX0QjABHfO5DUMQFjALegQIFhAC&usg=AOvVaw1qvQZAoW-XS41vCeOJDX3Z&cshid=1615554030905

Peach tree short life is another common disease of stone fruits in Florida.