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what's up with my Valencia orange?

12 years ago

hey guys, I have Valencia orange growing in my backyard. I planned it before summer time and it grew pretty good (well I had some problems with pets but it was cured.) Now is the winter time and here where I live (California, Sacramento) temperature falls bellow 40 sometimes. So, I made handmade green-house which you will see on pictures. Usually, I cover trees at night. However, just week ago It appeared to me that the tree was infected with pets so I sprayed it with "Bug Buster". I continue covering tree at night but now tree started to drop it's leaves, and it looks like half of a tree leaves fell down. I do not know what the problem is. I do not know what to do or how to help this tree. Could it be the Bug Buster? or could it be the green house? As you can see on the picture, green house sweats (however, at the beginning I cut two big holes in it). I noticed that green house is not wet at night but only at morning time. Please help to rescue my tree. thanks!

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Comments (5)

johnmerr
12 years ago
I think you have two problems. First, the "greenhouses"; by putting them over the tree, you are changing the light, the temperature and the humidity; the tree responds by dropping leaves and replacing them with leaves more suited to the new environment; this is not unlike if you moved the tree indoors, as in potted plants. In Sacramento I would only put the covers on the trees, if the temperature will be below 30; and then I would take them off as soon as the temp. rises above that.
Second, judging from the white/dead spots under the tree, I would guess your dog likes to pee on your tree; while it is arguable about the benefits of humans peeing on citrus, dog urine is very strong and can damage a small tree.
greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
12 years ago
I agree with Johnmerr.
Only use the cold-frames on the coldest of nights, and remove them when temps rise.
I spend a lot of time in Sacramento, and none of the citrus are covered once established.

Also, I'd scrape that grass away and replace it with a layer of bark mulch about 1 inch deep -
don't put the mulch against the trunk directly, though.

Josh
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It is difficult to get oranges to fruit when left indoors all year. Have you tried to give a dose of high nitrogen fertilizer? Usually fertilizing stimilates a citrus tree to bloom. Oranges usually prefer cool nights, which it isn't getting if left indoors all year. Try putting it outside on a patio in late spring through early fall after all danger of frost is over. Be aware that if the temperature and humidity outside it is very different than inside, the tree may go through shock when moved between the two. As for the leaf drop, it is not normal. One of my valencias lost leaves like that last summer. It turned out to be underwatering. Once I increased the watering schedule, the leave drop stopped.
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I was going to suggest birds looks it from the marks in the side of the fruit depending on the types of oranges, your tree may still produce more this year all my citrus have been constantly producing since January My area of Ft Lauderdale, by the beach has had an exceptionally wet year so far, while other parts are in a drought but yours may still produce more flowers what kind do you have?
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>> You can't get rid of them once they are in the leaf Why not? I found my first case of one alive. It had already done it's "mining" (and pooping of course) and had cocooned itself on the edge. It rolled a teensy little leaf edge over to make itself a blankey -- aww how cute! I went to wake that sucker up, peeled the blankey back and he went wacko. My focused beam of full sunlight through my magnifying glass obviously startled him from a deep sleep. I granted a temporary stay from his execution while I took some pics, but he wouldn't stop squirming to pose. Afterward, I went back to get my magnifying glass and he was long gone, flew the coop, awol, hasta la vista and what not. I'm thinking about calling Dog the Bounty Hunter on his pupa behind. Here is a link that might be useful: Univ. of CA Citrus Miners PDF
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I have several Tangerines also, a Satsuma, 2x Honey and what I believe is a Fremont. The Fremont and Satsuma are growing nicely but just beginning to produce a few fruit. The Fremont: It does feel as if it is getting very close to being ripe. The fruit does show some canker on it. The Honey's are not doing as well. They are very susceptible to canker and something else I don't remember right now. I am reluctant to use pesticides, and have read that they are quite susceptible to these things when young, but become more resistant as they get older. Time will tell what happens and how I'll deal with it.
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mrtexas
12 years ago
Worst thing you are doing is letting grass grow around the tree. Make an 8 foot circle and keep the grass out. Don't worry about the tree freezing unless below 26F.

Here is a link that might be useful: mrtexas
User
12 years ago
As stated above, first off, I would remove the grass from the drip line around the planting and mulch. I don't think your tree needs covering this early in the year (in California), still, don't think the covering is the main problem. What's the soil moisture like--the curled up leaves begin to show up on mine if I neglect a watering.
johnlll
Original Author
12 years ago
So, it looks like nothing is wrong with my tree. It is just a change of climate, temperature, or humidity. thanks everyone for your effort and helpful posts!

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