Q. Here is one of two cumquat trees that I am trying to
grow. As you can see it is not
working. I feed and water them what is
the problem? Can you help? Or should I discard.
This is one of two that I will send you.
grow. As you can see it is not
working. I feed and water them what is
the problem? Can you help? Or should I discard.
This is one of two that I will send you.
A. The issues on the other picture could be related to a
mineral fertilizer problem. This one could be the same but with the leaves gone
it is hard to tell. It also might be related to whatever soil amendments you
put in the ground when you planted the trees. But I am pretty confident it has
to do with the soil, fertilizer issue or irrigation.
mineral fertilizer problem. This one could be the same but with the leaves gone
it is hard to tell. It also might be related to whatever soil amendments you
put in the ground when you planted the trees. But I am pretty confident it has
to do with the soil, fertilizer issue or irrigation.
 |
| Reader’s kumquat (cumquat) |
It does not help much that they
are surrounded by rock mulch. Let’s handle one at a time. Make sure the tree
was planted in your soil at the same depth it was in the container. If there
was some extreme cold weather, it might also be cold weather damage if you did
not see this before it got real cold.
are surrounded by rock mulch. Let’s handle one at a time. Make sure the tree
was planted in your soil at the same depth it was in the container. If there
was some extreme cold weather, it might also be cold weather damage if you did
not see this before it got real cold.
Irrigation. Irrigations should be generous but not
frequent. A tree that small can get by with ten gallons of water at each
application. If these are on drip emitters you should have enough emitters or
run the minutes long enough to deliver ten gallons at this size in its life.
frequent. A tree that small can get by with ten gallons of water at each
application. If these are on drip emitters you should have enough emitters or
run the minutes long enough to deliver ten gallons at this size in its life.
This time of the year once a
week is often enough. When you start to see new growth, bump it up to twice a
week with the same volume of water each time.
week is often enough. When you start to see new growth, bump it up to twice a
week with the same volume of water each time.
Fertilizer. Go down to Plant World Nursery on Charleston
(they are the only nursery I know of in town that carries this) and buy a one
pound container of iron chelate fertilizer. If you ask for Doug, Brian or any
of the main staff they will direct you to the right one since I recommend it a
lot. They even have my name on the label now so people will believe them when
they direct them to this product.
(they are the only nursery I know of in town that carries this) and buy a one
pound container of iron chelate fertilizer. If you ask for Doug, Brian or any
of the main staff they will direct you to the right one since I recommend it a
lot. They even have my name on the label now so people will believe them when
they direct them to this product.
 |
| Reader’s kumquat |
For each tree mix about two or
three tbsp. in a one gallon container, stir it and distribute it around the
base of the tree where the drip emitters are. Water it in with another gallon since
it is sensitive to light. Get some rose fertilizer (like Miracle Gro type) and
use it on the kumquat or get some fruit tree fertilizer stakes and put the
fertilizer under the rocks or drive two stakes close to the emitters. I think
the Miracle Gro is better.
three tbsp. in a one gallon container, stir it and distribute it around the
base of the tree where the drip emitters are. Water it in with another gallon since
it is sensitive to light. Get some rose fertilizer (like Miracle Gro type) and
use it on the kumquat or get some fruit tree fertilizer stakes and put the
fertilizer under the rocks or drive two stakes close to the emitters. I think
the Miracle Gro is better.
Fertilizers are salts. Keep all
fertilizers at least 12 inches from the trunk when applied.
fertilizers at least 12 inches from the trunk when applied.
Mulch. If this were me, I would pull the rock mulch back
a couple of feet and put down some good compost (don’t buy cheap stuff) and
lightly dig it around the trees from the trunk to a distance of about two feet
from the trunk. I would cover the area around the tree in wood mulch but not
bark.
a couple of feet and put down some good compost (don’t buy cheap stuff) and
lightly dig it around the trees from the trunk to a distance of about two feet
from the trunk. I would cover the area around the tree in wood mulch but not
bark.
Keep wood mulch six inches away
from the trunk so that it does not cause the trunk to rot if it gets wet. Older
trees it doesn’t matter.
from the trunk so that it does not cause the trunk to rot if it gets wet. Older
trees it doesn’t matter.
Let’s see if this works for you.