Sick Avo Tree (forum)

jwhittaker86 starts with ...
hi there everyone,
am just enquiring about an avocado tree I've been growing as a hobby from a seed. Its been going super well and is about three years old, but recently started getting brown leaves and this brown coating over the trunk. Can anyone help? it is in a half barrel as im at a rental and under a roof so it only gets the morning and afternoon sun. Thanks
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Time: 1st January 2014 3:02pm

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About the Author jwhittaker86
Townsville
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Markmelb says...
Hi jwhittaker86 - it looks crook
You didnt say what soil/potting mix you have it in as well as PH and your watering regime - to me the soil looks very dry and full of rubbish - go for a free draining bagged potting mix like Debco Premium with extra saturaide wetting granules - then top the top 1.5 inches in something like Amgrow water saving Mulch -- being a flat liver as I once was you may water only when you remember - living in Townsville dryer in winter and moist in summer is the go - and I mean even a light water every day in summer - to me it looks like youve had it sitting in a saucer for a while and it has root rot - in fact are there HOLES in barrel for drainage? at least 6 or 8 an inch in diam maybe with some flyscreen on top - I wouldnt use a wine barrel and have 2 year old Lamb Hass Grafted with 2 fruit each in 100lt bags and plants love it -- Yes here in Melbourne (they grew to this size from 2ft nursery plants in 12 months)
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Time: 1st January 2014 6:56pm

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jwhittaker86 says...
hi mark
will definitely look into the soil. I think its just a couple of bags from Bunnings as the soil around my house is very clay like. the barrel does have a fair few holes drilled in the bottom for drainage. Will look at getting some new potting mix, and the amgrow and see how I go... I hope I can save him as I've never grown anything from a seed before lol. A local was telling me about splicing and ive never done it so I left him be as im not really in a rush for fruit just wanted a healthy happy avo!

Time: 1st January 2014 8:48pm

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About the Author jwhittaker86
Townsville
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Markmelb says...
I think you should play with a few seed grow Avos in tall 160cm pot - start them off all in a big diam seperate pot full of course saw dust mulch like eucy mulch for playbrounds -
Then treat yourself to a Grafted Birdwood -- Lamb Hass (daleys dont have unfortunately) and a Bacon from Daleys (thats an A and B flowering type) pot in a 430mm pot in above soil mix suggested and you might have Avos in 2 to 3 years (not 8 to 15 from seed)also look at what can be done in a big pot on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dhp55p_afKo

Time: 2nd January 2014 7:49am

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About the Author Markmelb
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jwhittaker86 says...
hi Mark, thought i'd keep you posted as you've been very helpful. So I removed the dead leaves from around my avo tree. Found the soil to be really good a couple of layers down. But avo is looking worse than ever so I moved to drastic measures. I went to Bunnings, got 3x Debco Premium Potmate potting mix, 1x Hortico Water Saving mulch, 1x Scotts osmocote plant food and soil improver. I removed him from the barrel today and found the soil seems to be really good... damp and retaining moisture but not wet. Found no root rot at all all the roots seem in really healthy condition and are plentiful. So I proceeded anyway, cleaned the barrel out and planted him a little bit deeper. BUT I did find some grubs in his previous potting mix and these tiny white ants (not termites) housed in his root system just where it becomes trunk. So I washed his roots and removed all the ants and replanted him. Gave him the recommended food and topped with 5cm of mulch. Pics are included. Will go to Bunnings tomorrow to get some pest control as I feel the little ants might be the culprits. Thanks heaps for all your help you have been truly a great help. Will keep you posted! thanks heaps (sorry if this seems short but I typed a huge speel and it didn't seem to post. If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask thanks Mark).
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Time: 4th January 2014 6:51pm

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About the Author jwhittaker86
Townsville
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jwhittaker86 says...
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Time: 4th January 2014 6:52pm

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Townsville
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gimme says...
That tree is dead :/
It was most probably too wet in that big barrel and died from root rot.

Time: 4th January 2014 8:08pm

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Original Post was last edited: 4th January 2014 8:21pm

About the Author gimme
Brisbane, Qld
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Markmelb says...
Hi jwhittaker86 -
Sorry to tell you also but I agree with Gimme as Avo roots that are heathy are light brown/white on the ends and actually dont like being washed out and bared as would set it back or even kill it anyway - Turf the barrel and plant a Bangalow Palm in it then get a grafted Avo maybe wurtz variety - using your supplies plant it in a 430mm pot from Bunnings - check out Masters for a Birdwood Wurtz Avo as they put good directions on tag for beginners - after planting sprinkle 2 handfuls gypsum around top mulch and water in with some seasol then your slow release a handfull around top water daily over summer and keep just moist thru winter - Hope this helps -
PS - those holes in barrel are far too small even for a palm and need to be closer to edge - 1 inch minimum or potting medium will block - to get over that problem in a barrel also put a 1.5 inch layer of road gravel and finish your mulch 1 inch below top rim

Time: 4th January 2014 9:59pm

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Original Post was last edited: 4th January 2014 9:58pm

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Brendan says...
Hi jw86, what variety of avo is it? Have to agree with the others, holes in pot way too small. In pic 1, top of page, that burnt leaf tips is usually a sign of a lack of Phosphorus. Can also be caused by salt burn, maybe from your water supply?
If you can lay it over, drill the drainage holes larger and give it some seasol, you 'might' just save it's life? keep it in the shade too. It does look like it's past the point of no return tho, sorry :-(
I see you're in T'ville. Why not buy a grafted Shepard & Hass!

Time: 5th January 2014 8:56am

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About the Author Brendan
Mackay, Q
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Markmelb says...
I feel for pot/Bag growing - and from my own experience Hass grows too big - Best to go for a dwarf (wurtz A) or at most a semi-dwarf (Lamb Hass A) (and a B semi dwarf like Shepard for pollination) for Big Plastic pot/Bag growing - I have a 2 year old Lamb-Hass 2mt Tall in 430mm pot with 21 fruit growing on it in MELBOURNE :)Might try getting a Shepard myself as my Ederanol not a good plant - sometimes it comes down to luck when you buy a plant or getting lots and selecting the best ones for yourself and sell the reasonable ones??
Heres a Pic of Lamb-Hass done today 5/01/2014
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Time: 5th January 2014 12:38pm

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