44 year old potted Calamondin is sick

14 years ago

In Massachusetts we have a potted calamondin that my husband has had as a houseplant since he was 10 years old. We kept the plant outside during a week in November since it was above freezing. We think that the foliage became dessicated from the cold winds and that is one reason for the excessive leaf drop right now. We keep our house warm these days since we have a new woodstove. To counter the dry wood heat warmth we have a sonic humidifier aimed at the calamodin. The brown on the leaves suggests that a disease is present now. Thank you for your feedback in advance.

Here is a link that might be useful: brown leaves calamondin

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Comments (17)

fruitnut Z7 4500ft SW TX
14 years ago
chervil2: Sounds to me that you are saying that your house is warmer, and therefore drier, than in the past due to your new heater. So it's pretty obvious that your problem is the new warmer and drier environment, not the week outdoors. Also that is probably not a disease. Your humidifier is not getting the job done. Can you find a cooler, more humid area with adequate light?

The Fruitnut
tsmith2579
14 years ago
Why don't you sit a kettle of water on the stove to add warm humidity. If you have leaf damage from cold winds, you may lose more leaves before recovery begins. Cool weather around 40* will not hurt it. The biggest problem is usually lack of light.
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meyermike_1micha
14 years ago
I agree..Lack of light....

If your tree is being held hostage from all that warm air. then it will require at least 9 or more hours of good sunlight or artificial lighting to help it recover...

You will not need as much sunlight if you can find a room that is much cooler, therefore less dry enviroment...

By the way, if you want a chalamondin tree, I will meet you somewhere and give you a nice one..I am impressed you have done so well with it all these years up here in our state! I was going to ship one out to someone, but when I found out the cost and how difficult it would be to package it, I backed off...

Mike..;-)
chervil2
Original Author
14 years ago
Thank you for your helpful advice. I really hope the tree will live another 30 years so that one of our sons can inherit it. I have tried for years with different methods to propagate the tree with no success. The seedlings do not look like the parent and do not bear huge crops of wonderful tasting calamondins.

Yes, Mike I would be interested in your tree. I work in Worcester.

Thanks,

Abbie
meyermike_1micha
14 years ago
Just so happens I am driving by there tommorrow in the am..

I am heading down 495 s to 290 east to conneticut..If you want we can meet and I will bring it to you..It is a beautiful tree with fruit on it to boot....

Get back to me...No problem

mikerno_1@yahoo.com....978-376-6561....

Mike..:-)
meyermike_1micha
14 years ago
Chervil,

I see you don't do well with plums and cherries...Either do I...I don't even do good with peaches!!!! My stupid squirrels steal them all!!

You have wood drift? Arnt they the most fragrant plant to put in the ground...Boy once the frost melts away. or snow, it can make a whole yard smell sooo good! I love this stuff!

Ooops, sorry, back to citrus..lol
meyermike_1micha
14 years ago
Chervil,

I see you don't do well with plums and cherries...Either do I...I don't even do good with peaches!!!! My stupid squirrels steal them all!!

You have wood drift? Arnt they the most fragrant plant to put in the ground...Boy once the frost melts away. or snow, it can make a whole yard smell sooo good! I love this stuff!

Ooops, sorry, back to citrus..lol
tsmith2579
14 years ago
Oops, I meant to add that you should buy some SuperThrive and feed your tree with it. Many people say it is snake oil but I think it is almost Biblical in that it can almost resurrect the dead.
meyermike_1micha
14 years ago
tsmith.

Are you serious? If you are then I might try some...

Have you had good experience with the stuff?

Thans alot

Mie..:-)
meyermike_1micha
14 years ago
Something is wrong with my "K" button!lol
tsmith2579
14 years ago
Meyermike, I am as serious as a heart attack. I believe SuperThrive is the real thing. I've watered plants which seemed to be beyond saving and SuperThrive brings them back from the crypt. - Terry
meyermike_1micha
14 years ago
Will try on one one my particular houseplants then...It has been having a tough time getting back in shape since a transplant 2 weeks ago...Thanks terry!

It is expensive, and I can get it...But sounds like it is well worth it..
jerry_d
14 years ago
Chervil, I hope your calamondin is doing better. Obviously, you must know what you are doing to keep a container citrus alive for 44 years... I have a baby calamondin tree that I bought this past summer from Four Winds and it is doing well. Just trying to baby it through the next few months until I can put it out on my balcony in the spring... Anyway I am sure that MeyerMike will help you with your sick calamondin.

Mike, I have never used SuperThrive myself, but I believe that Toni is a big SuperThrive fan. Let me know if ST works for you and if you recommend it... For now I will just stick with Dyna-Gro Foliage Pro and vinegar as you recommended in another posting.

Jerry
meyermike_1micha
14 years ago
Hi Jerry!

I have known Toni for a long time and the funny thing is, after talking to her all this time, it never occured to me to use the stuff..lol. I will tell you though, Toni has helped me many times over since I have joined here. She is a gem to these forums!!

The sick plant I am refering to is a Corky plant..It is a rare tropical that I have only had a short while...I transplanted it a few weeks ago, and it hasn't done well ever since...I thought it was the bare rooting process that I had done to it.But No..

Toni told me that this particular plant is a spidermite magnet! Yes..Everyone on these forums knows me as the paranoid pest member..lol

I have been bug free this far...But it NEVER occured to me to examine this one...Gues what? It was LOADED with mites..ARGGGG!!!

So I treated it tonight and had to seperate it from all my other plants, including my citrus..I pray to GOD that just one day in my plant room, it didn't infect the others..

Now I won't know if the ST works, since I have no other sick plants..But I am getting some anyway, to keep it on hand just in case..Some swear by this stuff, and others not. Guess I will have to see for myself when in need.
I wonder if this stuff is good for just an additive with fertilizers..? Hum..

How are your citrus doing? have you a favorite yet?.

Take care...

Mike..:-)
tsmith2579
14 years ago
Abbie, I was re-reading your post from Dec. 11. Are you sure you have a calamondin and not a kumquat. I've never known of a wonderful tasting calamondin. All of them I've ever tasted are so sour they will make a pig squeal. Everything I've read also describes them as being very sour, almost to the point of bitterness.
chervil2
Original Author
14 years ago
The kumquat identity seemed correct until a visit to the citrus museum in Riverside County in Southern California in 2005. In the orchard, there was a calamondin that looked identical to the tree here. The fruit is sour and juicy and makes wonderful marinades. Adding sugar makes the fruit delicious tasting. Since my posting, the leaf dropping disaster stopped. I had a fear that the tree had blight. Severe windburn from being outside during Thanksgiving seems to have been the issue, since the leaf drop was more pronounced on the side of the tree not protected by the wall of the house. There is new growth now. An ultrasonic humidifier blasts the tree constantly. A fluorescent light is on 24 hours a day. A dozen wooden skewers in the soil are keeping our crazy kitten from climbing the tree and breaking limbs. I am optimistic about the tree's future.

I will try again to root cuttings. I purchased stonewool mini blocks, Olivia's cloning gel, and Rootech gel for my next efforts. For the past 15 years I have been unable to obtain a rooting cutting. I hope this time the cuttings will work.

Thank you for all your advice and help.

Abbie
meyermike_1micha
14 years ago
Hi Abbie..How are things?

You might have better success on rooting if you get a heat pad and a dome cover tray..Makes a big difference in rooting..
Glad to see your tree is doing better,,Bravo!

Mike

44 year old potted Calamondin is sick

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fruitnut Z7 4500ft SW TX

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44 year old potted Calamondin is sick

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