Hi, everybody

I need everyone's opinion and help with whats going on with my mandarin. All of a sudden it was full of leaves and flowers. Leaves slowly started falling, and I thought thats ok as long as new leaves grew. They did but before growing fully they fell off as well. Then branches started dieing back and turning brown with everything with it. It's in a mix of 5 parts pine bark, 1 part perlite, and 1 part soil. Its called the 5-1-1 mix from Garden web (http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/contain/msg0316064615891.html?107)

I water only when its dry, when the dowel pulled out dry. I fertilize with Miarcle grow all purpose 16-8-12 but now I got a new fertilizer called Foliage pro that was supposed to work miarcles on citrus. It gets as much sun as it can get, but I will be bringing out soon for the summer(My zone is 3). Sorry for the bad pics all taken with my phone.

Pics






















[/img]

First, never ever add actual soil (dirt) to a container mix. All soil (dirt) is a mix of various aggregates and very fine particles. If a small amount of soil is added to a container growth medium the fine particles erode toward the bottom of the container with each watering, and this movement eventually complicates drainage, and raises the perched water table higher into the container. The fine soil particles also decreases aeration, and if the dirt is not sterilized can easily add unwanted bacteria and fungi to the container. 90 percent of all problems occurring to a containerized tree, are inside the container. You can use the 5:1:1 mix, but I would strongly advise to use a concrete type of sand instead of actual soil. Lastly, how long has your tree been growing in the same medium? - (Millet 608-)

Only a week but this problem started before re-potting. It was in the original soil from the nursery and it started having these problems.

By the dirt part I mean soil, you need one part soil I noticed for my climate(zone 3 Canada) I can't use all course ingredients, I needed one part to slow down the water.I just used some cactus mix for the one part and there's very little. It's not very perched, water drains ridiculously fast and is not held up anywhere. Like I said I used to have it planted in it's original soil and it never came out of the bottom unless I watered for at least 4-5 mins. Now It takes just one small jug and the water comes straight out of the bottom. So I think the drainage is not the problem, but something else is.

Also it use to have spider mites but I used Insecticidel soap on it, and the bugs haven't re-appeared for a while. So I don't think it's insects.

Could it be a fungus or a disease? Even though it's highly unlikely to happen in my climate.

Two more things could it be because there's not enough sun? Lastly I haven't fertilized within the last 3 weeks, could that be it??


Thanks

Tasty, you never mentioned any of the pertinent factors in your original post. Especially that the medium you spent your time posting about in your first post, was a medium that the tree has been in for only a week. BTW the perched water table has nothing to do with the speed of drainage through the container. Still, the problem with your tree came from the original medium that your tree was first growing in. How long was the tree in the original medium, and how far in inches did the medium over time compress down into the container from the original height when you purchased the tree? - Millet - (608-)

Just my 2 cents but I've seen the 5-1-1 mix on GW and it was 5p bark 1p perlite and 1p sphagnum peat moss, not the one part soil. Here a is a link to that mix.

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/contain/msg0212444023053.html

Actually most any type of potting mix, made out of any type of ingredient that provided good aeration, drainage, water holding capacity, and longevity would be a good medium for a tree. One could probably think up of dozens of different mixes that would be good for use in containers. - Millet (607-)

Well I was told anything that could slow down the water, could be used. many people just whatever they can find as long as it's well draining and provides the air it needs. It was in it for a year in the original soil which was really bad, that's why when I replanted it, I bare rooted it and threw in there. Medium probably compressed at least an inch and a half. I was thinking this wasn't getting enough sun since it only gets around four hours a day or so. So I will through out side as soon as it accumulates to the weather. Also next watering I will fertilize and hope that it will solve the problem..

I think I have given up hope. it only has three live branches left out of fifteen. I don't know what else I can do.... I handled all the issues that usually the cause. Not over-watering, not under-watering, not nutrient deficient, no signs of insects in the soil or on the tree. I really think this is the end!!!!

Also forgot to mention all of the new growth is falling off as well. The growth doesn't eve grow it just fell straight off from the bottom of the growth before maturing.. Could this mean something??? Also I checked the roots don't feel very wet, even though I watered it yesterday. But if it was underwaterimg would the branches turn brown with growth falling off? And this problem did start before the repotting so maybe not.

If it is any comfort,a great majority of containerized citrus trees never make it to their second birthday, especially the first or second trees that a person purchases. However, don't give up. As you are a member of the citrus forums, the knowledge you learn from other growers, your success with citrus is assured. Of my first three container citrus trees, the first one died in the first year, and the other two never made it to their second year. Now I have over 50 trees. One comment: in a 5-1-1 mix the water pass through will be extremely rapid. A normal bark mix is more like a 3-1-1. Anyway, when a person falls off a horse, many say get right back on. I would encourage you to go out and purchase another tree right away. All citrus tree deserve a nice home. Take care. - Millet (607-)

Thanks Millet!!

I wish I had more money to spend on citrus, but I have to spend it on basic needs first. Lastly one branch is dying again but along the main stem there is new growth, so I will see.

Also I shouldn't forget I have navel orange still that's growing new growth and has been my first citrus tree so wish me luck.

Tasty , I got the same behaviour when I had problem with the roots, too much water and too little oxigen is there, also when you change the soil , be sure that it does have the same porosity as the one traped inside the root ball.

Root rot maybe also a cause to this.

Good luck and as Millet say , we've killed some lemon trees before .

Tasty,

I know quite a bit about both the soils discussed at GW. Did you add the required amount of Dolomite/Garden Lime? That can certainly be a problem without any. It's possible healthy roots were too damaged in the process or the roots were already weakened before and the transplant shock was too much. With the 511 mix you don't have to (you shouldn't) wait until the mix is completely dry before watering again.

At this point, it's probably too late and the tree is toast. But as long as it has a few leaves on it or is growing some, I would keep it.

CF4 why would you need dolomite? Just about any tap water, and especially well water, containers more than enough calcium for a citrus tree. The Epsom salts that all growers add satisfies all the magnesium a citrus tree would ever require. - Millet (606-)

There's no way I'm giving up yet A good sign is that the main trunk does have a lot of new growth, the bad is one of the three branches has blackened, so only two left.

Man its hard growing citrus in Canada!!!!!