Lychee leaves drying-out

8 years ago

Hello All!

A couple of months ago I planted litchi seeds into citrus soil (as I had some left from lemon re-planting). The litchees themselves are growing, but as you can see from the picture, ends of leaves are drying out.

So, my question is, is it the soil? Is it missing some vital elements? Your recommendations?

P.S. No fertilizers have every been used.

Regards,

Jure

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

mmm12315
8 years ago
I have had similiar experiences with certain trees including Lychee, avocado, longan,cherry of rio grand. I finally figured out it's my water. I started using rain water for all my sensitive trees and it has made a tremendous difference.
Jure Hrovatin
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks for comment. I actually don't have anything else than rainwater so this is't that... Any other ideas? I'm almost sure is the soil. I will replant them in classic soil for flowers and hope it will make a difference.
Related Discussions
Gardenia leaves drying out
Q
Comments (49)
I’ve had the same gardenia standard (tree form) for 15-20 years (?) and here are my thoughts. - most homes are too hot in winter. The dry air from the heating is tough on them (also on my michelias, citrus), and I see them suffering as soon as the central heating kicks in. I like quite a cool house (everyone complains when they visit haha) so this is less of a problem for me. Usually I just have to water more often. Over winter there will inevitably be a bit of leaf drop but plants perk up as soon as spring comes and the heat is off. - I am too lazy to mist. I water when soil is a bit dry (once a week?) and then give them a good drink. Do it slowly. Let the water absorb, come back after a bit and water again. When the soil is dry, water just runs out and you think it’s watered but the soil is dry as a bone inside. Your pot must have a drainhole! I water until water drains out of the bottom. If your plant has dry crispy leaves, then you haven’t given it enough water. - In the spring on a warm day, I take my plants outside to gently hose them off, give them a little pruning etc. & bring them back inside. I tried leaving them out all summer before and yes they grew very well outside. However, my pots were big and too much work to haul back inside. More importantly being outside meant a lot of pests, so it involved a lot of work to clean them up or suffer with mites, scale, etc once they came inside - in the fall, they get another cleanup outside, and I found that Neem oil is my saviour for keeping them pest free indoors. This product is a lifesaver! No more sticky sap from the scale insects:) - in the spring, after the dry less than ideal conditions, they respond with a heavy flush of buds then have sporadic blooms throughout the year
...See More
lychee tree drying out, droopy, dying. please help !
Q
Comments (53)
I'm so sorry, but, it doesn't look completely dead yet. Your potting mix looks very wet or is it just very black? Young lychee plant don't need the extreme moistness of larger trees does. Carefully pulled out the tree and look at the root ball/system. If they are still whitish and not dark brown. Then the lychee still has a fighting chance. All those leaves will eventually drop or you can pull them off now. It will be a slower process to regrow new leaves, but, if the root system is dark brown, then it is most likely dead. But, whitish roots, still have hope for recovering. Will be slower, but will recovered. I have some young plants like that too, all the leaves died and turned brown. But their root system is still alive, just took longer to recover, after such a stressful period of leaf drops. Hang on to the little guy, it will recover, eventually. Just don't give it water unless you notice the soil is getting on the dry side.
...See More
White Spots and Leaves Dying/Drying Out
Q
Comments (10)
The spots looks like damage from sawfly larvae, it is a small green worm. You can either squish them or spray them off of the undersides of the leaves with water. I can't tell with the burned leaves, but no fertilizer on these plants, please, until after the first bloom. Water is all that they need now, they are busy growing roots. Roses like less frequent, deep watering. "Bloom Busters" aren't needed, a good balanced or organic fertilizer will give great results.
...See More
Leaves on Moonshadow drying out?
Q
Comments (11)
Pardon me Randi, but it needs to be said: you can't assess a plant like this w/out checking the roots. It appears thirsty like it's not drinking, or somehow, like the water isn't being taken up into the leaves. IMO it's more stressful to leave it unresolved -- makes for a crapshoot kind of treatment plan, I'd rather not do that. Let me actually see what's going on, that dictates what if anything is to be done. Also, it's name is Moonshadow? I hadn't seen or heard of it before, hum? Soil moist down an inch or 2 doesn't tell much. Do a dowel or stick test to feel if there's any moisture down below, at the bottom. I might almost be tempted to trim the bottom & put it in water to rehydrate. Let's see what others say.
...See More
lavenderosey
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Jure,

It's good you didn't use any fertilizer on your Lychees as they are very sensitive to it. I've started a few seedlings myself just for the fun of it and I've noticed that when they are left dry too long between watering, their leaves will begin to dry up. I'm not sure yours is the case. They like to be watered once the soil becomes dry, but not soaking wet all the time.

Are you growing the seedlings to produce fruit at a future date? Lychee seedlings unfortunately don't produce fruit quickly. I heard it may take 8-10 years. I have some seedlings which I started 8 years ago and they are still in the pot and never fruited at all. Then, I have also quite a few lychee trees in the ground that are about the same age. Some of them have produced fruit already--though they don't always have a lot of fruit every growing season for me. Assuming that you do wish to have the fruit soon, I would suggest you order an air layered or grafted plant and plant it in the ground. They'll grow quicker and bigger for you and the fruit production will definitely be more than those cultivated in the pot. Even when cultivated in the pot, the air-layered or grafted ones will fruit at 3-4 ft tall, but of course the fruit is scanty.

If you're just planting them for a hobby, they're nice little plants to look at. I have some sitting on my window ledge and I enjoy looking at them whenever I enter or leave my house. Have fun with your little seedlings.

My username used to be Bananafan, but somehow after they changed the web page

name and format, I have difficulty getting back my username and password, so, I had to sign up again and now I got a new name which I don't even remember since I haven't been here for quite a while .. lol.
Jure Hrovatin
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks for answer lavenderosey! Regarding watering of plants, I try to water them when I see that the soil is becoming dry.

In any case, I have them only for a hobby as the weather in my country (Slovenia) does not allow this kind of plants (freezing winter temperatures). I'm also not expecting them to have fruits, only for the view.

As I said, I will replant them in regular flower soil and will see if the situation improves.

Thanks all for the help!
greenman62
8 years ago
i just posted about this for someone else, so hope yo dont mind copy and paste...

i have several seedlings. mine have done that too. i have one doing it now, and i think its a couple of things...

1 - too much water. they seem to like constant soil moisture. not to wet or too dry. and too wet seems to impede nutrient uptake. i think this is why ive heard many lyche growers say mulch is important.

2 - Lychee seem to need live soil. - worm castings , compost tea , mycorrhizal fungi...

3 - sometimes they try to put out more new leaves than the plants can handle. the roots have to bring up minerals, water etc... not enough nitrogen, or other mineral can cause it, but if there are not enough roots, adding chemicals will just make it worse... so, what i do is prune 1/2 of the new growth off. it takes the demand off the roots and lets them provide all the nutrients to just a few leaves... this has actually helped me.

http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/3646259/help-with-lychee?n=4

Lychee leaves drying-out

Comments (5)

mmm12315

Jure Hrovatin
Original Author

Related Discussions

lavenderosey

Jure Hrovatin
Original Author

greenman62

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Lychee leaves drying-out

Comments (5)

mmm12315

Jure HrovatinOriginal Author

Related Discussions

lavenderosey

Jure HrovatinOriginal Author

greenman62

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Jure Hrovatin
Original Author

Jure Hrovatin
Original Author