What is attacking this fig tree???

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rhopkins

Registered:1333592653
Posts: 106

Posted 1335965108	Reply with quote #1

Well, Saturday a leaf fell off and now I have this showing up on 60% of the remaining leaves. See photo for detail. This tree has been doing fine through the early spring but now the temps are starting to get up there. Yesterday we had a high of 92. I am totally baffled as to what is going wrong. Attached Images figtree.jpg (189.41 KB, 109 views) __________________ Richard Hopkins South Western Arkansas Zone 8A Wish List: Keeping The Trees I Have Happy!

pitangadiego

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Registered:1188871011
Posts: 5,447

Posted 1335966759	Reply with quote #2

Leaves are a "trailing indicator" - they give info on what was happening in the past. I do not see any active growth at the tip. That is not a healthy sign at this time of year because they shouod be actively growing. If the leaves that you have are from last season, then it is probably normal shedding of old leaves. If these leaves formed this season, and the plant has stopped growing, that is very different. I would then be adding water and sunshine, and then some mild fertilizer. __________________ Encanto Farms Nursery http://encantofarms.com http://figs4fun.com http://webebananas.com "pitangadiego" everywhere

DesertDance

Registered:1247674606
Posts: 4,518

Posted 1335966867	Reply with quote #3

I was surprised to notice something is chewing on my baby Panachee fig. It is very healthy except for the obvious chewing going on. We sprayed all the plants with 1 part rubbing alcohol to 3 parts water and a little dish soap, and it seems to have discouraged the critter from additional chewing. __________________ Zone 9b, Southern California. "First year they sleep, Second year they creep, Third year they leap!" Wish List: I wish all of you happy fig collecting! My wishes have been fulfilled!

rhopkins

Registered:1333592653
Posts: 106

Posted 1335967533	Reply with quote #4

I have some 10-10-10 or do you mean milder than that? Thanks for the quick response. I do not know if this is last years growth or not. This was a gift from my son and he got it from a local source. Was not from Home D or Lowe's. I have been watering it about every three days but it is in the ground and we had much cooler temps. Maybe evaporation rate is so high I need to increase watering to every other day early in the mornings. __________________ Richard Hopkins South Western Arkansas Zone 8A Wish List: Keeping The Trees I Have Happy!

rhopkins

Registered:1333592653
Posts: 106

Posted 1335967683	Reply with quote #5

I looked it over and have not seen any critter's but that does not speak for after the sun going down... __________________ Richard Hopkins South Western Arkansas Zone 8A Wish List: Keeping The Trees I Have Happy!

rhopkins

Registered:1333592653
Posts: 106

Posted 1335968268	Reply with quote #6

additiona photo terminal buds have not produced any leaves. Attached Images figtree-2.jpg (183.29 KB, 65 views) __________________ Richard Hopkins South Western Arkansas Zone 8A Wish List: Keeping The Trees I Have Happy!

BLB

Registered:1214341548
Posts: 2,936

Posted 1335968463	Reply with quote #7

Did you pot it up recently? If so, the tree may be focused on spreading roots and leaves should follow shortly

james

Registered:1189185103
Posts: 1,653

Posted 1335968884	Reply with quote #8

If it is still in the container, I would check the roots. Typically, a tree with root issues (being root bound being the most likely) will be slow to grow. As the problem gets worse, it will seem like you need to water more often, and growth gets weak. Try sticking something into the growing medium (chopstick, pencil, etc.) It should go in without too much resistance. The harder it is to push in, the worse the problem is. ~james __________________ In containers - Littleton, CO (zone 5b) In ground - N.E of Austin, TX (zone 8b) 2016 Wish List: Dārk Pōrtuguese, Grānthāms Royāl, Lātarolla, Negrettā, Nōire de Bārbentāne, Rockāway Green, Viōlet Sepōr, Viōlette Dāuphine. Iranian figs are always welcome.

Rob

Registered:1320245426
Posts: 550

Posted 1335969019	Reply with quote #9

I don't think anything is necessarily attacking the leaves. It's more likely due to growing conditions, either moisture (or lack thereof), temperature, sunshine, nutrition, etc. I have a number of trees that have a similar look. As BLB says, it may be focusing more on root growth right now. A bit of fertilizer might be in order, but don't panic. Be patient, it will probably grow out of what it is going through right now. __________________ Rob Maryland Zone 7 http://rbfigs.webs.com/

rhopkins

Registered:1333592653
Posts: 106

Posted 1335969717	Reply with quote #10

Thanks everyone for you input. I took a pencil and had no problem sticking it into the earth completely. This plant is not in a pot. I removed it from the pot and unbound the roots the best I could that was back in Feb. Maybe it is focusing on root growth right now. It is now in direct sunlight for about 3 hours a day. Then the shadows from another tree give it some relief from our harsh enviorment. This is a California Brown Turkey I am told. It may be that the climate is just to harsh in the summer months. __________________ Richard Hopkins South Western Arkansas Zone 8A Wish List: Keeping The Trees I Have Happy!

pitangadiego

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Registered:1188871011
Posts: 5,447

Posted 1335982094	Reply with quote #11

What are you day time and night time temps, currently. __________________ Encanto Farms Nursery http://encantofarms.com http://figs4fun.com http://webebananas.com "pitangadiego" everywhere

rhopkins

Registered:1333592653
Posts: 106

Posted 1335986096	Reply with quote #12

Nights are running in the low 70's and the daytime temps are running on average 88~93. And it is going to get alot hotter before it's over with... __________________ Richard Hopkins South Western Arkansas Zone 8A Wish List: Keeping The Trees I Have Happy!

Centurion

Registered:1293429646
Posts: 810

Posted 1335996091	Reply with quote #13

While I am no expert, I did read somewhere (maybe here), that more trees are killed from over watering than under watering. What are your soil conditions? Is your tree planted in a heavy clay soil? Our trees (all planted within the past month or two), get watered every 5 or 6 days, are in a heavy clay soil mixed with rocks, and other conditions are similar to yours. Most of the big box stores sell moisture meters pretty cheap. Might be worth the investment. (I use mine a lot). __________________ Dave Verde Valley, AZ Zone 8

rhopkins

Registered:1333592653
Posts: 106

Posted 1335997894	Reply with quote #14

That is a good idea. No the soil is very rich. No clay I did put Perlite and mixed it with potting soil when I planted it. Then I covered that with Cyprus. I went out and dug around and the ground was not dry. But then I watered it this AM. With our temps rising to the 90's evaporation can be pretty severe. I have a cutting that is planted about 20 yards from this tree and it is doing fine. However, it is a Celeste and was from this area. I might note that in the afternoon the leaves usually go limp, but after the sun gets real low they have all perked back up. That was until this showed up on Saturday. __________________ Richard Hopkins South Western Arkansas Zone 8A Wish List: Keeping The Trees I Have Happy!

hoosierbanana

Registered:1287901146
Posts: 2,186

Posted 1336007635	Reply with quote #15

Test the soil ph. I bet you have acidic soil and a micronutrient is "locked out". __________________ 7a, DE

BLB

Registered:1214341548
Posts: 2,936

Posted 1336010797	Reply with quote #16

Lime time

rhopkins

Registered:1333592653
Posts: 106

Posted 1336013521	Reply with quote #17

I have not checked the ph, so that is on the agenda for tomorrow. I suspect it is on the acid side. Thanks for giving me some direction to go with. I'll get some lime as well just to have it on hand. __________________ Richard Hopkins South Western Arkansas Zone 8A Wish List: Keeping The Trees I Have Happy!

JoAnn749

Registered:1325443625
Posts: 1,184

Posted 1336031677	Reply with quote #18

Hi Richard, I am in the DFW Texas area and it sounds like we have very similar climate conditions. My tree is new also you can see a picture of it and my garden in the topic "what else do you grow". I am very happy so far with the tree and it's growth. I will tell you what I did: I purchased the tree in mid January from a local nursery - about 4 ft tall 1" or so caliper trunk March 2 It is in a new garden area - I reclaimed lawn in the back yard which is the North side of the property. For soil prep I (well a friend did this) tilled out the grass and removed it. Tilled the red clay (they try to pass it off as soil here - HA!!!), added a 50/50 mix of bedding soil/top soil, some lava sand (had a bag so what the heck - it can't hurt!) expanded shale - all tilled in. I was trying not to go crazy which was a mistake! I should have gone totally nuts on the soil prep, but I was trying not to overextend the money on this project The actual planting - I (the friend) dug a hole about 1 1/2 times the depth and about 50% wider. I added more shale, some cotton burr compost and Jobes Organic Fast Start Granular Fertilizer - A couple of handfuls and mixed it in the soil in the hole, loosened the root ball a bit and back filled with the regular soil mix from the prep. The friend who helped was great but I was so anxious to get it in the ground there were things I forgot to do. About a month later it seemed to not be taking off like I anticipated, so to try and do what I forgot at planting time, I dug around the tree - about 12 inches from the trunk and down about 12 inches and added more cotton burr compost and added more soil up the trunk so it is planted deeper then it was in the pot. About 2 weeks ago I fertilized with fish emulsion (added to a hose end sprayer - have no idea how much) and sprinkled Epsom Salt to the whole garden. The tree is planted about 20 ft from the house and gets full sun from 7-8am? (I start work at 1pm, so I usually get up after 8am) until about 3-4pm. As the day goes on, the tree is shaded by my neighbors post oak. I hope this helps. I understand the emotional attachment you may have with the tree since it was a gift from you son, but you may consider going to the local source and ask if there is a guarantee on the tree. Good luck and keep us posted Jo-Ann __________________ Jo-Ann DFW TX, Zone 7b-8a Wish List: Black Madeira,, Kathleen's Black, Malta Black, Marseille VS Black, White Paradisio, LSU Scott's Black, Conadria, White Trianna, Marttineca Rimada, Excel, Peter's Honey, Bebera Preta (Abebereira), Strawberry Verte

rhopkins

Registered:1333592653
Posts: 106

Posted 1336050768	Reply with quote #19

Thanks JoAnn for your helpful comments. Yes were near each other. I am going to test my soil and lime it today that is if the ph is below 7. I feel that is the issue at hand. Your compost is a good idea if the soil test ok. __________________ Richard Hopkins South Western Arkansas Zone 8A Wish List: Keeping The Trees I Have Happy!

pitangadiego

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Registered:1188871011
Posts: 5,447

Posted 1336054068	Reply with quote #20

If you are 70F at night and hotter during the day, there should be new growth on your plant. __________________ Encanto Farms Nursery http://encantofarms.com http://figs4fun.com http://webebananas.com "pitangadiego" everywhere

rhopkins

Registered:1333592653
Posts: 106

Posted 1336060157	Reply with quote #21

We now meet all that criteria. One terminal bud cracked with one leaf but it has since died. __________________ Richard Hopkins South Western Arkansas Zone 8A Wish List: Keeping The Trees I Have Happy!

JoAnn749

Registered:1325443625
Posts: 1,184

Posted 1337845642	Reply with quote #22

Richard, how is your tree doing? Have you tested the soil? I am interested to see if you cured the ailing figgy __________________ Jo-Ann DFW TX, Zone 7b-8a Wish List: Black Madeira,, Kathleen's Black, Malta Black, Marseille VS Black, White Paradisio, LSU Scott's Black, Conadria, White Trianna, Marttineca Rimada, Excel, Peter's Honey, Bebera Preta (Abebereira), Strawberry Verte

rhopkins

Registered:1333592653
Posts: 106

Posted 1337864613	Reply with quote #23

Hi JoAnn; Well the lime treatment was successful. Less than a week after application, it perked up leaves stopped dying and all is well. My soil had a Ph of 5.9 so that was the culprit. Bought a bag of Calcium Carbonate and applied 4oz to a gallon of water. I did this every other day for a week. Sent a soil sample off to have a lab test it, as I don't trust the kits, or maybe I should say myself. __________________ Richard Hopkins South Western Arkansas Zone 8A Wish List: Keeping The Trees I Have Happy!

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