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Dying Kumquat Tree - Help me save it!

confusedcitrusowner

7 years ago

I have a Dwarf Kumquat tree and it looks like it's dying. 3/4 of the tree has dried up - brown leaves, twigs are dried up, and I'm not sure what is going on?

It has been really hot for the past 2-3 weeks with temperatures ranging from 110 - 118. So I'm not sure if it's the heat/sunburn killing the tree. If so, could this be remedied by applying white paint the trunk?

As far as watering, it is not watered that often. I gave it some water the other day to soak but that hasn't helped any. I scraped away some of the fallen leaves around the base of the trunk and the soil is damp. I've read that if the soil is damp then no water should be added.

I haven't seen any insects crawling on leaves or anywhere either.

So I'm at a loss. Anyone have any advice? I really would like to save this tree.

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Comments (7)

Laura LaRosa (7b)
7 years ago
I can tell you that before anyone gives out advice here they want to see pics...can you post some?
confusedcitrusowner
Original Author
7 years ago
Yes, here is a picture of the kumquat tree.
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Laura LaRosa (7b)
7 years ago
I honestly don't know what to tell you. Hopefully someone will chime in. Do you water it enough?
eSilviu
7 years ago
The dark wall behind the tree is getting hot in the sun?

It's possible that the kumquat is irradiated with too much infrared (heat) during midday. If so, you can't do much except relocating the tree...
User
7 years ago
Please post close ups of the green leaves and the bark of the trunk. How far down is the soil damp?
BarbJP 15-16/9B CA Bay Area
7 years ago
It needs water asap imo.

And Vladimir has a good question. Check the soil moisture by digging down with a small trowel. If it's only damp the first few inches, but the trees roots go down over a foot then it's not getting enough water.

Depending on your soil it could take a slow soak for up to an hour to properly water the root zone. If it's clay it will take a long time to soak but won't need watering again for a week or more. If it's more sandy, it will soak quickly but need watering again in a few days.

Painting the trunk white will help with the temps but it still will need more water at those times. You can also put a patio umbrella over it when you have a heat wave.

As far as watering "not helping", the damage has been done and it will take a while, like several months, before it recovers from this. So be patient. Citrus grow in flushes, one to several times a year, depending on the variety. It doesn't grow continuously like a tomato plant does.

I would not fertilize at all while it recovers. Instead wait until it starts to grow new leaves, then feed with a dilute liquid food right after watering.

The roots were damaged first by the heat and drought, then they could not support the leaves. And also the tree would have drawn water out of those leaves back into the tree to try and survive until it got more water.
User
7 years ago
It's a Citrus, not a desert cactus..., WATER IT!

BTW, where are you geographically?

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