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cumquat citrus problems

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Posted by farmerphil western suburbs Bris (My Page) on
Thu, Apr 6, 06 at 7:18

I have 2 small cumquat trees only about 500mm high, and also several other citrus including lime, lemon, orange and mandarin.

One of the cumquats is looking decidely sickly, the other seems ok. They are quite close together, same soil and as far as I can recall have been watered and fertilised identically. One has developed some die back of a few branches, quite a lot of leaf drop, all fruit have dropped off, and yellowing of some of the remaining leaves. There are quite a few green leaves left but I have a feeling it is going downhill. It seems strange that one tree has decided to look far worse than the other.

I have read about iron and magnesium deficiency but why one tree not the other? In any case I did give them some dolomite (with magnesium), some citrus fertiliser and have also used Seasol liquid fertilser. If anything perhaps too much fertiliser?

I have tended to give the tree lots of water since it has looked sick in case it had dried out too much.

All the other citrus are looking very healthy apart from some leaf curl.

Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

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RE: cumquat citrus problems

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Hi there Farmerphil...Sounds like you have root or collar rot maybe too much water....I had similar problems a couple of years back so turfed out the mandarin and dug up the orange and made a raised garden bed pruned it hard and replanted it...That tree is coming on a lot better though I still have no fruit...When the bucket watering comes in next month that will be one of the first things I will let go as I feel where I live south of brissie you just cannot grow citrus. I don't know if it will help but have a look at the link below........Cheers....MM.

Here is a link that might be useful: DPI.......Queensland

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RE: cumquat citrus problems

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  • Posted by pepino Werribee Vic (My Page) on
    Thu, Apr 6, 06 at 18:28

Farmerphil,
It appears you have done everything possible to ensure the well-being of your plant, except for one thing - dolomite lime. Citrus like a slightly acid soil and, depending on the pH and quantity, the lime may have turned the soil alkaline. If so, the plant would find it difficult to take up the goodness you have been giving it. To know for sure a pH test would need to be done. To acidify the soil you could add agricultural sulphur and/or chellated iron. I have no idea where you can get these (sorry). I have heard people putting steel wool under citrus to do the same.

Good luck

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RE: cumquat citrus problems

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many thanks mistymorn and pepino

the tree is still holding on - maybe it will come good.

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RE: cumquat citrus problems

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Pepino
How do you test the PH of the soil? is it as simple as getting a PH testing kit from the shops?

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RE: cumquat citrus problems

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  • Posted by finbar Central Italy (My Page) on
    Tue, Apr 18, 06 at 12:05

Pep's gone for a Tosca, obviously. Yes, a pH test kit from a nursery will do the trick.

  
 

 

 


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