Citrus Growers Forum

dauben · Posted: Sun 10 Apr, 2011 3:15 pm

One of the challenges I face is several buds that took, but I can't force them to start growing. Does anyone know if using a little GA3 on the bud might help break dormancy?

Thanks,
Phillip

Laaz · Posted: Sun 10 Apr, 2011 3:53 pm

Not that I have heard. Try cutting or braking the stem about a inch above the bud.

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dauben · Posted: Sun 10 Apr, 2011 4:59 pm

Laaz wrote:

Not that I have heard. Try cutting or braking the stem about a inch above the bud.

Thanks. I've been cutting, but may try breaking. It seems like there's a strong correlation between how vigorous a cultivar is and my ability to force the bud. My Midnight Valencias seem to all be breaking out like crazy along with my Page mandarins, but my USDA 88-2 and Seedless Kishu is like pulling teeth to grow or to force the buds. My Cara Cara's are somewhere in between. Anyway, now that temps are anticipated to rise a bit, maybe I'll have better luck.

Phillip

mrtexas · Posted: Sun 10 Apr, 2011 6:50 pm

dauben wrote:

Laaz wrote:

Not that I have heard. Try cutting or braking the stem about a inch above the bud.

Thanks. I've been cutting, but may try breaking. It seems like there's a strong correlation between how vigorous a cultivar is and my ability to force the bud. My Midnight Valencias seem to all be breaking out like crazy along with my Page mandarins, but my USDA 88-2 and Seedless Kishu is like pulling teeth to grow or to force the buds. My Cara Cara's are somewhere in between. Anyway, now that temps are anticipated to rise a bit, maybe I'll have better luck.

Phillip

Are the buds the highest on the tree? If not you may have problems getting them to force. My 88-2 is vigorous on the stump I bark grafted it to.

StarLoc · Posted: Thu 28 Apr, 2011 2:53 pm

You can make the buds break with a mix of ga3 and cytokinin , you need to put a tiny bit of cytokinin in a plastic tub in the microwave with a tiny drop of isopropanol alcohol and a tiny drop of dish wash liquid, and heat it a bit till it dissolves , then add the ga3, then dissolve in a drop of warm water and dilute with cold water , ive never measured the amounts, i just use a equal amount with the ga3

When sprayed on it makes buds break and grow rapidly after a few days

jbclem · Posted: Mon 21 May, 2012 8:12 am

Starloc, do you know if this ga3 technique is also used on other types of trees, such as apples? I have some apple grafts that are alive but acting dormant, even though other grafts on the same tree are pushing nicely.

I know this isn't a citrus question, but if you have any information about this I'll follow up on it away from here.

Thanks,

John