Sick mariposa plum (forum)

BJ starts with ...
Hi,
One of my mariposa plums had a few small branches suffer damage in the Perth winds a few weeks ago. I pruned it (with snips I had rubbed disinfectant on) and thought it would be OK, but the older leaves are dying and the new leaves have a funny shape. The plant itself seems OK (it is still making more new leaves) but I'm a bit worried it may be sick or suffering from a lack of something.
Any advice? (Do I even need to worry about it?)
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Picture: 2

Time: 4th March 2010 10:04pm

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About the Author BJ11
Perth
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amanda says...
BJ - Personally I wouldn't be too worried yet. One thing I have finally understood about dry and hot weather is it's relationship to calcium movement in a plant - producing symptoms much like yours - it's not that calcium is necessarily lacking - it's just it's supply to the plant is disrupted by moisture levels.
As an example - I watered my fruit trees for an hour morning and night every day it was over 38oC (and I have 4 plum trees) - how did u water yours?

Give them a little gypsum and a good soak. Keep the water up to them in hot weather. I have attached a similar pic of my Grumichama - this problem has been resolved with a good spray from the hose out to a meter around the plant. See how the new growth goes. I hope this helps...
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Time: 4th March 2010 10:15pm

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About the Author amanda19
Geraldton. WA
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BJ says...
Thankyou so much Amanda ... I'll keep my fingers crossed that the plant will recover. The baby-tree might have had a little water stress over the last few weeks (and wind damage wouldn't have helped). I only water two days a week - but I use a watering can and the little tree gets 4-5 litres each time.
Thanks again - hopefully it will rain soon (it has been well over 3 months for me ... no 0.2mm in my rain gauge!)

Time: 5th March 2010 10:30am

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About the Author BJ11
Perth
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