My tangerine tree is dying

[MoodyBlues]

I have no idea why, but my tangerine tree is dying.

It has produced a plethora of fruit all this year, but right now it's looking awful. It has branches that are already dead, and many more that appear to be dying.

Nothing has changed in its environment, such as how often it's watered, how much sun it gets, etc.

A lemon tree ~10 feet away is thriving, as is a fig tree ~10 feet away; three orange trees elsewhere on the property are also thriving, as are 10 (I think) mulberry trees and three avocado trees.

I don't allow any pesticides, weed killers, etc., on my property.

I'm in the San Gabriel Valley (of Los Angeles), and huanglongbing disease has been found here; it's a disease of citrus fruit trees. However, the tangerine tree shows no symptoms of HLB and, of course, if it has been infested with the insect responsible, the other citrus trees would also be affected. But they're not. I don't think HLB is involved here.

Any fruit tree gardeners out there who can offer some ideas? Or anyone? I really want to save the tree if possible.

 

[general eclect]

I don't know enough to advise you, but I've often seen one diseased/dying citrus tree in a back yard where there are other healthy citrus trees. On a side note, we call tangerines mandarins...

 

[zuben el genub]

See if your local college has an agricultural extension or department. CSU does here on the Front Range, and there is usually advice about any disease or pests. It's available to the public.

 

[MoodyBlues]

I don't know enough to advise you, but I've often seen one diseased/dying citrus tree in a back yard where there are other healthy citrus trees.

That's interesting. Perhaps it's a life span thing?

On a side note, we call tangerines mandarins...

They're called that here, too--when you buy them in cans or jars, then they're called "Mandarin oranges." I guess that sounds fancier or something.

 

[MoodyBlues]

See if your local college has an agricultural extension or department. CSU does here on the Front Range, and there is usually advice about any disease or pests. It's available to the public.

Thanks. I actually had a similar thought [while not sleeping last night]. The Los Angeles Arboretum is a mile from my house. They have all kinds of experts there, so perhaps a call will yield some clues.

 

[out of ideas]

I would check in and around the root system for various bugs and grubs. Could just be in the one trees roots if that's the only one with trouble.


You should probably call the arboretum too.

 

[MoodyBlues]

I would check in and around the root system for various bugs and grubs. Could just be in the one trees roots if that's the only one with trouble.

There really doesn't seem to be anything.

You should probably call the arboretum too.

I did. I put a call in to their "Botanical Information Consultant" and I expect a callback tomorrow. Fingers crossed that he'll have some ideas. I really don't want to lose this tree.

 

[general eclect]

How old is it? I've seen an orange tree that was about eighty years old, forty feet high with a trunk about a foot diameter at waist height, so I don't really think age would be a problem. We used to climb it to pick the fruit.

 

[MoodyBlues]

I really don't know for sure how old it is. My mom could've answered that question...but not now.

It's definitely less than 20 years old, probably less than 15, but I don't know exactly.

 

[Dngrsone]

My first thought is to find a healthy branch and graft it to one of the other trees...

 

[MoodyBlues]

My first thought is to find a healthy branch and graft it to one of the other trees...

I like that idea. A lot. Thanks.

I'll wait until I've spoken to the arboretum's botanical expert before doing anything. If the problem with the tangerine tree could be transmitted to the other trees by grafting, I'll have to skip that.

But if that's not a problem, then I could do several grafts, one per tree on each of the three orange trees. They're similar in size to the tangerine tree and probably a better match than the lemon tree.

 

[general eclect]

Buying a 'rough lemon' sapling and grafting to that might be better, it's what all grafted citrus trees use as root stock here.

 

[Joelgp83]

I don't suppose your trees run *nix as well, Moody? Because it sounds like they have root. Er, roots. :vroam:

</lighter_note>

 

[Dngrsone]

Buying a 'rough lemon' sapling and grafting to that might be better, it's what all grafted citrus trees use as root stock here.

That, too, is a good idea; but I'm thinking she may be short on time for this particular plant and that is why I was suggesting a graft to an already established tree.

 

[MoodyBlues]

That, too, is a good idea; but I'm thinking she may be short on time for this particular plant and that is why I was suggesting a graft to an already established tree.

Yeah, it's not looking good. Unless something miraculous happens, FAST, I don't think it's going to last much longer. :bawling:

PS I haven't heard from the botanical guy from the arboretum yet.

 

[MoodyBlues]

Damn...

I talked to the plant expert, and it's not good news. He said its symptoms indicate oak root fungus--and there's nothing that can be done to save the tree. I asked about grafting some of its branches but he recommended against it. He also said that it would be best to have it cut down, and all of its roots should be removed. If they're not, the fungus will remain, and spread, in the soil, so it would not only affect any new tree planted there, but will also jeopardize the trees nearby.

Not what I was hoping to hear.

 

[Dngrsone]

Total suck! I'm sorry to hear that, Moody.

 

[Joelgp83]

Damn...

I talked to the plant expert, and it's not good news. He said its symptoms indicate oak root fungus--and there's nothing that can be done to save the tree. I asked about grafting some of its branches but he recommended against it. He also said that it would be best to have it cut down, and all of its roots should be removed. If they're not, the fungus will remain, and spread, in the soil, so it would not only affect any new tree planted there, but will also jeopardize the trees nearby.

Not what I was hoping to hear.

Damn. At the risk of beating a dead horse, it sounds like you have a corrupted root partition.

 

[MoodyBlues]

Damn. At the risk of beating a dead horse, it sounds like you have a corrupted root partition.

Thanks for the chuckle, Joel! :laugh:

 

[MoodyBlues]

I decided to take pics of the tree this afternoon, and I was shocked at how quickly the damage is progressing. It looks so much worse today than a couple days ago when I last walked back there:

:bawling:

 

[Dngrsone]

Moody, I was thinking (dangerous, I know), maybe you could take a cutting our two and just root them in a jar or something... at least try to save some of it...

 

[MoodyBlues]

Moody, I was thinking (dangerous, I know), maybe you could take a cutting our two and just root them in a jar or something... at least try to save some of it...

I had the same thought when I was out taking pics of it yesterday. It's so tempting to just snip off some of its healthy LOOKING young branches and try to root them. But that's probably not a good idea, for the same reason the botanical guy advised against grafting--the fungus might be present.

This is upsetting me more than I expected. It's another thing of Mom's that's going to be gone.

 

[Dngrsone]

I know... that's eighth I was thinking jar-- keep it in a terrarium-type setup until you can ascertain whether you have that fungus or not. There's no antifungal that though could apply to the stem before rooting it?

 

[MoodyBlues]

I know... that's eighth I was thinking jar-- keep it in a terrarium-type setup until you can ascertain whether you have that fungus or not. There's no antifungal that though could apply to the stem before rooting it?

I really don't know. :idea: All I'm going by is that there's no cure for this fungus, so anything affected by it will die, and should be removed to prevent spreading.

But I'm going to go ahead and snip some of its small, healthy looking branches, and start some in water and some in potting soil. I know there's such a thing as sterile soil, so if they start to root I'll get some of that and transfer them. THEN decide what to do next.

 

[Dngrsone]

There are rooting prefers you can get to dip the stems in... I figure it doesn't hurt to try, and if you can get one cutting to survive then you'll have a remnant of your mom's legacy. If nothing works, at least you can console yourself knowing you tried everything.