The Tropical Fruit Forum

Galatians 522  your post is exactly correct.  No profit = abandon groves.

Tortuga, it is not my logic, I learned it from Dr. Manors of Florida Southern University.  However, you are correct in that if you add all the manures you listed to a container mix, then n organic fertilizer should work.  However, most all container mixes contain no organic mixtures other than sterile peat moss and bark, perlite etc.

Actually thrips are among the easiest insects to control.  You can use almost any of the common insecticides such as soap spray, horticultural oil, neem, pyrethrum ect..  Really should not be that much of a problem.

The reason that organic fertilizers work for in ground citrus trees and plants but not for container citrus is due to::   organic fertilizers are slower to become useable by plants because they have to first  be broken down by soil microorganisms and fungi in order to feed plants. Organic fertilizer has to essentially decompose before the nutrients are available to plants. This process can take 2 to 6 weeks depending on many factors including soil temperature and moisture levels.  In container growing the essential soil microorganisms and fungi are absent, therefore the fertilizer is not available.

Looking around the Internet I think the proper spelling is  Shikuwasa

I don't remember the exact date when I planted the seed, probably 8 to 10 months old.

According to the University of Florida' booklet titles Florida Your Dooryard Crus Guide By Jim Ferguson to fertilize 1 year old in round citrus tree 6 times per yea with a 6-6-6 fertilizer.  A 2 year old inground tree 5 times a year with a 6-6-6 or 8-8-8 fertilizer. A 3 year old inground tree with a 8-8-8 fertilizer 4 times a year, and a 4 year old  inground tree and older 3 times a year.  For trace elements there are many brands that can be found on he internet.  Look up soluble trace elements for use on plants. If your interested in receiving this booklet you can call the University of Florida IFAS Extension book store  at 352-392-3411

Amazing

Your Cara Cara should have had a variety/rootstock tag on it when you purchased it.

Trees perform important respiratory functions at night and should have at least 6 hours of darkness per day, and more mature plants at least 8-10 hours a day.  Respiration is an import and vital function for all trees.

I take  2 or 3 or sheets of the dally newspaper and wet it.  Place the seed between the  moist paper then slip  it into a plastic baggy.   In approx. a week the seed began to sprout.    Then I plant them in a clean pot with new medium.

It will be several months before you know he extent of damage.