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Jul 19, 2015 1:13 PM CST
Thread OP
Orange County, CA (Zone 10a)
My tangelo tree is off to a slow start. It seems to have curling on the new growth. I noticed some damage from leaf miners and I've dealt with that. But there seems to be something affecting the plants that is separate from that. Any ideas - - attaching some pic's for reference.

thx!
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Jul 22, 2015 3:01 PM CST
Name: Elaine
Sarasota, Fl
The one constant in life is change
Amaryllis Tropicals Multi-Region Gardener Orchids Master Gardener: Florida Irises
Herbs Region: Florida Vegetable Grower Daylilies Birds Cat Lover
Max, it might be a good idea to test the pH of your soil in that bed. Citrus need an acidic soil to be able to take up the proper nutrients. You can get a pH test kit at any nursery or garden center, or get the soil tested at the County Extension service.

Also if you are watering with well water, it would be a very good idea to test the pH of your water as well. Even if the soil pH is ok, if you are watering with alkaline water (my well water is pH 8.2, way too high!) it will still affect the ability of your tree to use nutrients.

All that aside, I'm very surprised that you have been able to buy a citrus tree at all these days. The whole state is pretty well infected with Citrus Greening disease. That could be what is causing the curling leaves and mottled appearance as well. You can keep the tree alive for a few years if it is infected but once the disease really gets hold of it, you will not get any fruit worth eating.

Master Gardeners here in Sarasota County have been instructed to advise people not to plant any new citrus of any kind until some sort of solution to Citrus Greening shows up. Don't be fooled by con artists advertizing any "Citrus Greening cure". I've been a MG here for 12 years and it breaks my heart to tell people their trees probably have this disease. Some may survive, but most will die.

If you bought the plant from a reputable nursery or store, you should be able to return it and get your money back, and that's what I'd advise you to do.
Elaine

"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." –Winston Churchill
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Jul 24, 2015 11:30 PM CST
Thread OP
Orange County, CA (Zone 10a)
i am in southern california. but yes, i really should test my ph, like immediately. thanks.
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Jul 25, 2015 10:51 PM CST
Name: Daniel Erdy
Catawba SC (Zone 7b)
Pollen collector Fruit Growers Permaculture Hybridizer Plant and/or Seed Trader Organic Gardener
Daylilies Region: South Carolina Garden Ideas: Level 2 Garden Photography Herbs Region: United States of America
Citrus Greening disease sounds like another product of mono cropping. Next will be the grapes or even worse a replay of what happened to the bananas with Panama disease. Diversity is not only important in small gardens but for mass agriculture as well. When will we all see that our food system is not working and is causing more problems than solving hunger. Thanks dyzzypyxxy for bringing CGD to our attention it will definitely be worth paying attention to.
Max as far as your plant goes, besides PH it could also be from unfinished compost in the planting hole or a mild case of nitrogen toxicity. Both of these things can cause leaf curling and burnt tips with yellowing on new growth. Whatever is going on it's a good thing you noticed it calling for help. Good luck and keep us updated.
🌿A weed is a plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered🌿
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Jul 26, 2015 10:26 AM CST
Name: Elaine
Sarasota, Fl
The one constant in life is change
Amaryllis Tropicals Multi-Region Gardener Orchids Master Gardener: Florida Irises
Herbs Region: Florida Vegetable Grower Daylilies Birds Cat Lover
Yes, and I apologize for advising you to return your tree, Max. I had assumed wrongly that you were in Florida. As far as I know Citrus Greening has not spread to any great degree in California.

Leaf miners don't do anything but cosmetic damage, and by the time you see it the bugs are already gone so there's no need to worry about that. But the leaf curling you're seeing could have been caused by aphid or scale damage early in the life of the leaves, as well as the things Daniel talks about above.

Keep an eye out on the new growth for both aphids on leaves even before they open, and scale on the stems. The green stems will appear bumpy instead of smooth if there are green scales attacking them. A horticultural oil spray will kill them but on a tree as small as yours, you can probably just strip them off with your fingers. As for aphids, an occasional spray with the hose usually keeps them at bay.
Elaine

"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." –Winston Churchill
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Aug 2, 2015 2:05 PM CST
Thread OP
Orange County, CA (Zone 10a)
okay, i will check for scale, i have went over it daily though and haven't seen any scale/aphids thus far. the poor tree is struggling to finish off about 30-40 oranges right now. is it best to just let those finish out the season or is it ever better to just cut them off and let the tree get back to growth (?)
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Aug 2, 2015 3:38 PM CST
Name: Elaine
Sarasota, Fl
The one constant in life is change
Amaryllis Tropicals Multi-Region Gardener Orchids Master Gardener: Florida Irises
Herbs Region: Florida Vegetable Grower Daylilies Birds Cat Lover
Yes, unfortunately you are supposed to remove all the fruit during the tree's first year after transplanting so that it can grow more roots and leaves. Give it a bit more citrus-specific fertilizer too, so it can get down to business and be really strong for next year's crop.

It's gotta be the hardest thing to do, always the right thing is.
Elaine

"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." –Winston Churchill
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Aug 2, 2015 4:39 PM CST
Thread OP
Orange County, CA (Zone 10a)
so yes, cut off the fruit now?

the fertilizer has been citrus specific to date. happy frog and dr. earth's. thx
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Aug 2, 2015 6:06 PM CST
Name: Elaine
Sarasota, Fl
The one constant in life is change
Amaryllis Tropicals Multi-Region Gardener Orchids Master Gardener: Florida Irises
Herbs Region: Florida Vegetable Grower Daylilies Birds Cat Lover
Sadly, yes. Crying
Elaine

"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." –Winston Churchill
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Aug 2, 2015 6:47 PM CST
Name: Cinda
Indiana Zone 5b
Dances with Dirt
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Sad
I agree it is one of the hardest things to do , remove the fruit or flowers to let a plant concentrate on growing strong.
..a balanced life is worth pursuit.
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Aug 3, 2015 12:34 AM CST
Name: Daniel Erdy
Catawba SC (Zone 7b)
Pollen collector Fruit Growers Permaculture Hybridizer Plant and/or Seed Trader Organic Gardener
Daylilies Region: South Carolina Garden Ideas: Level 2 Garden Photography Herbs Region: United States of America
Sad I agree also I do the same thing for newly planted fig trees. A plant wants to reproduce and will focus all it's energy into doing so. It's important you establish a good root system before you worry about getting fruit.
🌿A weed is a plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered🌿
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Aug 10, 2015 4:23 PM CST
Thread OP
Orange County, CA (Zone 10a)
done and done
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