Possible root rot in avocado seedling?? (forum)

Parkesy starts with ...
Hi Guys
I've just planted 2 avocado trees today that I got from the Daley's nursery a couple weeks back. They've been in their original containers for the last 2 weeks to acclimatize and also while some large trees nearby were being removed. Upon planting today the Hass roots looked very healthy, but the roots on the Bacon appeared dark brown and looked to be rotting and breaking away in spots. There were some healthier looking whiter roots in there though but not many. Could it be possible for a seedling to have root rot? Apart from that the tree looks very healthy.
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1
Picture: 2

Time: 25th May 2014 4:29pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author Parkesy
Tootgarook Vic
#UserID: 9982
Posts: 15
View All Parkesy's Edible Fruit Trees

Markmelb says...
Better i think to have left until August when plants have acclimatised a tad more and got thru winter which they will in a protected from wind spot - stick em in sun on a nice day - anyway back to the pics - Pic 1 which plant? bit worried myself about roots - even tho weve had warmish days how wet are you keeping them after arrival - did you know an avo can get root rot in 3 days if in a flooded very wet situation - white roots are good - opposite and shredding roots not good - Im only giving my plants a light water and when it pours rain the leaves are directing away from pot - remember up North is dry season and we have to emulate as much as possible here in the south - soon I will put some plastic bags over plant base to direct rain away from root zone - lots for you to learn - Avos one of the hardest in Vicco to grow - pic show Lamb Hass avo 2mt tall in 100lt grow bag 18mths after purchase - 10 of these like this and still more to grow b4 picking around october - so is very possible down south - with due care - if you see pic on right - is a bacon in a wet spot due to a clogged agi pipe - is a real challenge as is in raised bed but must have had root rot issues from start - is still alive but half the size and trying to regrow - more an experiment as have put a reed seed in front which will graft a lamb hass to or maybe a reed - time will tell
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Time: 25th May 2014 8:11pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
Original Post was last edited: 25th May 2014 8:08pm

About the Author Markmelb
,
#UserID: 7785
Posts: 1192
View All Markmelb's Edible Fruit Trees

Jason says...
I like to plant mine immediately because things in the ground don't die as easily as plants in pots. The weather in Vic over Winter isn't harsh enough to bother them much imho. Only Summer gives problems.

Time: 25th May 2014 9:46pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Jason
Portland
#UserID: 637
Posts: 1217
View All Jason's Edible Fruit Trees

Markmelb says...
somehow or other the roots in pics did look compromised and under stress of some kind which will delay ensuing growth - all my repottings had minimal root disturbance and beatiful stiff white roots encircling the root ball - it could delay excellent growth of up to 1.5mt plus growth in first year to almost nothing if trying to recover and could end up a total replacement - my bagged Avos with excellent drainage medium have a much superior situation than i could give them in the ground around here -
PS Jason i had only 2 out of 6 grafts power away so far using a wedge graft - a reed on a reed and a LH on a H

Time: 25th May 2014 11:08pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
Original Post was last edited: 25th May 2014 11:00pm

About the Author Markmelb
,
#UserID: 7785
Posts: 1192
View All Markmelb's Edible Fruit Trees

Parkesy says...
I knew about over watering them and we've had a little bit of rain so I haven't had to water them much. The Hass looked great it was just the bacon so I thought maybe it had come this way from the nursery? I wouldn't have thought roots could go from healthy and white to rotted and breaking away in 12 days? Should the plant have been showing other signs? The branches and foliage look extremely healthy. They've got some plastic film around them to help keep them a bit warmer through winter and the soil around here is very free draining so waterlogged roots shouldn't be a problem. They'll be getting full sun all day, will be protected from cold southerlies and we don't get frosts on the peninsula. From what I've read and heard from growers they should be in about a perfect location and soil as they can get in Vic. It's just that I think one of them is going to be off to a poor start! There's very successful Hass orchards 10 minutes up the road from here.

Time: 26th May 2014 6:55am

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author Parkesy
Tootgarook Vic
#UserID: 9982
Posts: 15
View All Parkesy's Edible Fruit Trees

Markmelb says...
Ill let you know soon if that sort of root system is indicative of a Bacon in a grow pot - my large potted one was encircled with as i said abundant white roots - Avos take a while to let you know if somethings wrong - some commercial potting media sometimes not perfect in drainage too - went past the Flinders orchard before xmas last year and they looked quite bad - yellow leaves and half defoliated - look at the growquest videos on youtube on planting for some excellent info - look at this too and go from there https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHU8p49_vEc&list=PLk6bZ0Eo1IKCwh6mfTxyNEbStQ9KLaTsA

Time: 26th May 2014 8:13am

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
Original Post was last edited: 26th May 2014 8:12am

About the Author Markmelb
,
#UserID: 7785
Posts: 1192
View All Markmelb's Edible Fruit Trees

Aquaman says...
Bought 50 avocado trees from a nursery today.
Was rather perturbed to see reasonably healthy green adult leaves, just falling off. On arriving home I cut open a few plastic pots to check the roots. Most were rotten and disintegrated to the touch. Is it worth trying to rescue these or am I going to infect the soil. Photos attached
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1
Picture: 2

Time: 22nd October 2018 8:01pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author Aquaman
Nelson nz
#UserID: 19210
Posts: 1
View All Aquaman's Edible Fruit Trees

Markmelb says...
Theyre appear fairly ok after winter - as long as theres white tips as theyve just come thru a few months of cold and wet conditions - one with soil falling off bottom shows the roots havnt got there yet - plant them out in good raised beds of mulch and will grow well - must have wind and sun protection too when young.

Time: 23rd October 2018 11:50am

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
Original Post was last edited: 23rd October 2018 8:12pm

About the Author Markmelb
MOUNT WAVERLEY,3149,VIC
#UserID: 7785
Posts: 1192
View All Markmelb's Edible Fruit Trees

denise1 says...
There is a problem with the long planter bags that nurseries use for avocadoes. Often when they are underwatered the lower part dries out killing the roots, If they are overwatered a few times in a row the soil loses aeration also affecting the roots. It is so easy to happen to the best of nurserymen. Ideally in a large operation there should be meters poked into sample bags to reveal moisture levels lower in the pots. The trees should grow new roots with a bit of care as that happens with trees in the ground on a regular basis. The big trees will have lots of surface roots dying in wet weather which then grow back again . I always wonder why the nurseries use long pots for a supposedly shallow rooted tree prone to wetness/ dryness issues. All nurseries do it. There may be a reason for it. When released from the nursery the trees are best planted quite soon as they dont do well sitting in the pots, they are a plant that needs to keep growing. Show your sick trees to the nursery soon so they can learn.

Time: 24th October 2018 7:27am

Reply | LIKE this Answer(1) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
People who Like this Answer: Markmelb
Original Post was last edited: 24th October 2018 7:32am
About the Author denise1
auckland NZ
#UserID: 6832
Posts: 688
View All denise1's Edible Fruit Trees

Markmelb says...
I agree Denise - I believe they use them for ease of watering and retention of some water in the base that causes root death - I had a cherimoya seedling in one that was going backwards - had plenty of soil for its size so i got the soldering iron out and made more holes in the base for better drainage and it came back and growing well still in same bag for 2 years now - need to up pot soon

Time: 24th October 2018 9:36am

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Markmelb
MOUNT WAVERLEY,3149,VIC
#UserID: 7785
Posts: 1192
View All Markmelb's Edible Fruit Trees