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Tropical Fruits

Mango Keitt trees in containers in Tiburon, CA not growing

Lucas Birge gardening

6 years ago

Hi, my Mango Keitt trees are not growing. I would appreciate any help determining the cause from the photos below. Thank you, Lucas

Featured Answer

puglvr1

6 years ago

I'm no expert but your soil doesn't look too great...you want to use something that will drain properly and not stay wet all the time. Something free draining when you water it, keeping the soil moist not soggy. The potting mix look very dense to me at least that's how it looks on the picture.

That could be part of problem but could also have other issues like maybe the beginning of root rot?

Something like this might work better for you... equal parts of Potting mix, small pieces of Pine Bark and Perlite/granite or Coarse sand...

Couple of older pics of my tree...

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Comments (8)

PRO
Lucas Birge gardening
Original Author
6 years ago
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PRO
Lucas Birge gardening
Original Author
6 years ago
Thank you for the reply. Your Mango tree looks great. It's possible you get more heat in central FL than we get here in northern CA. I will consider the type of soil used. I noticed someone had heaped a lot of fertilizer at the trunk of both Mango trees so that could be contributing to the Mango trees' sickness. I've added 3 photos below of closeups of the Mango trees' leaves in case they are helpful in determining the reason for the trees not growing:
puglvr1
6 years ago
I think you're right about us getting more heat/sun than you guys do in northern CA. I'm sure that plays a major role in the growth and recovery as well...

Fertilizer burn is also a very good possibility in what is causing your issues...mango trees are very susceptible to fertilizer burn especially growing them in pots where the soil doesn't drain properly...if you can maybe you should repot the tree in better soil...that way you can rinse off all that excess fertilizer...certainly can't hurt I would think...of course its up to you...either way, best of luck! Hope it recovers...
stanofh 10a Hayward,Ca S.F. bay area
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Peat pots for Mangoes? NEVER!..not here. Cut off the lip on those pots to below soil level..and plant in BLACK NURSERY POTS. What they need here is- heat. Black pots absorb heat.

Put those plants against the hottest wall you have...and water the heck out of them all summer. When they start to flush? Fertilize THEN. Its when they absorb it best I found.

I have a near 9' Mango,thats flowering and I did all I told you (mine was never in a peat pot) until I planted it..in the hottest spot I have.

Mangoes in the bay area need to babied the first two years in ground..NO frost. Cover,heat, whatever needs to be done,but no frost.
stanofh 10a Hayward,Ca S.F. bay area
6 years ago

Its 8+. Bay Area grown
PRO
Lucas Birge gardening
Original Author
6 years ago
The soil in the Mango tree pots actually drains very well. I think I will need to water the Mango trees a lot to rinse out the excess fertilizer.
stanofh 10a Hayward,Ca S.F. bay area
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Its not the fertilizers. Its the lack of heat. Get them into black pots asap. Do one if you have doubts...you will see.

And LOTS of water all summer. NEVER use a saucer..roots hate even small amounts of sitting water.

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