Moro Blood Orange Bark Split
The bark on the trunk of my Moro blood orange has split. We had a hard freeze this year and I saw splitting on the small branches of several of my citrus as a result of the freeze.
The split in the bark of the blood orange is on a much larger diameter trunk and I don't see signs of splitting on the smaller branches of this tree. The split is on the south side of the tree where it gets more sun exposure but the split is very well shaded (I had to push away a branch and use the flash to get the second split photo) so I wouldn't expect sun damage.
I would appreciate input on two questions:
Are there other causes of bark splitting?
How should I care for the split to speed healing?
Here are photos
Thanks
John
Comments (11)
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Moro Orange - Bark Splitting
Comments (6)Thanks for the responses. That does make sense considering I have a Meyer lemon is doing the same thing on the branches that froze also. Does this indeed heal over time? Is there anything I need to do?...See MoreWhy won't a mature blood orange tree bloom?
Comments (26)JB made a good point, if it’s a seedling tree, yes it could take a lot longer to start bearing fruit. Starving your tree of nitrogen before new flushing is one way, but they still need micro,s and p, k., just don’t cut the tree down....See MoreMy New Four Winds Trees pics! (but also transplant shock worry)
Comments (14)Thanks Josh for the reply! I have them under the ledge of the patio, so they are getting some wind protection. I could put them in the greenhouse away from the fan and they would be better protected wind wise, but I think it may be still too hot for them in there? Yes Josh, I love blood oranges! I have another blood named Vaniglia Sanguigno I got from Logees when I was on vaca in CT, but it is not in fruiting stage yet. I just think blood oranges are so beautiful! And i am also excited for tasting a finger lime. The vesicles are round and the juice is suppose to just pop in your mouth. I was reading some fancy chef article or something that says because the vesicles are round and closed until bit into, the release of flavor in very intense and tasty along with the added addition of texture when it pops open. Again, the article explained it much better than I am here. I hope they have the red finger lime in the US one day. What is considered "too hot" for newly transplanted citrus? Mike, I know the worst part is the change of seasons and hauling the citrus in! I did this for years. But now I have the greenhouse and it has made a tremendous difference! For the first time i did not have to worry about leaf drop due to indoor lighting issues. If I remember correctly Mike, you have a greenhouse, but still bring them in around February when it gets real cold? I kept mine in the greenhouse all winter with heat of course. I only kept it in the low 40's on the coldest nights, sometimes even getting to the upper 30's, experimenting since it was my first year, and the citrus had no issues! I was suprised! Definitely reacted much better to the greenhouse than all the years being in my house with lights. Although I did not have the greenhouse up yet when Sandy came, which was a good thing because who knows if it would of gotten destroyed. But when Sandy came, I had my one room in the house filled with all my citrus and figs and other special plants so I would not lose them in the storm. Then, I had hauled them all back outside just to have them all hauled back inside less than a week later because of our freak Halloween snow storm! I am sure you had part of that too Mike? Oh, before I go, should I give them any epsom salts or vinegar now, or when I first fertlize over the weekend? Thanks guys! Christy...See MoreDwarf Moro Blood Orange
Comments (18)Take a paper/plastic cup and punch a small hole in the bottom. Fill it with your mix and then put your finger over the hole while you fill with water. Remove your finger from the hole and leave it to drain. The perched water will remain. You can see it if you have used a clear plastic cup. Insert a toothpick into the hole. The perched water will drain out. The toothpick acts as a wick and will demonstrate why you generally need a wick in anything other than gritty mix. This test will show you how much perched water your mix retains but bear in mind it will hold more over time as the mix degrades. Organic mixes will degrade faster. I use a mix similar to the one you are considering in pots that I expect to last a year or so before re-potting or planting. Just buy a rayon mop and use a few strands to make a wick. Tie a knot to keep it from falling through the screen that you use over the drain hole. I put about 4" of mix in the bottom while holding the wick vertically. You can find pictures in Al's thread on water movement in container soils, which you should read carefully. It has lots of great info but bear in mind they are mostly talking about wetter parts of the country. If you buy the typical nursery citrus in heavy organic mix, I would remove all the loose parts. After setting the loosened rootball on the mix and confirming planting height, I usually add a bit of mix at a time and use the Dramm Water Breaker nozzle on my hose to gently loosen the roots and let the nursery mix and the new planting mix combine. You want to avoid any sharp changes in potting mix. This is the opposite of just plopping the plant in the pot and filling it up with planting mix. This post was edited by GregBradley on Fri, Oct 11, 13 at 11:57...See More
John 9a
7 years agoJohn 9a
7 years agoJohn 9a
7 years agoSilica, I guess the grass reduces the temp by adding more surface area for evaporative cooling. I have gone in and hand-pulled the grass now and then but it's a chore I seldom do.
Here is my happy medium between bandaging and not bandaging the bark crack. I took a few turns around the upper part that was trying to dry out and peel away from the trunk. The material is fiberglass mesh they use for sheetrock finishing. I'll keep an eye on it and post anything that might indicate it was helpful or not helpful.
John 9a
7 years agoHere is an update on the splitting blood orange bark. The tree still looks healthy but lots of new bark splits have appeared.
John 9a
7 years ago
uncle molewacker z9b Danville CA (E.SF Bay)
7 years ago
Silica