Fukien Tea/Tokay Grape Problems

PTluv777

Its spring here in Florida, and only one branch on my Fukien Tea has gained new leaves. It seems very odd to me, as its had good leaves now for a month and theres still nothing else. Also, my Tokay Grape isnt sprouting either... seems late. Anyone know what might be going on?

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PTluv777

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nothing, anyone? Please help.

bmor

hi.....perhaps providing a picture of your tree might assist in the forum users identifying any health related issues.

some further information would be helpful too.....is the branch you're referring to, the largest branch or the smallest? have you recently moved the plant? has it been outside all year?. any repotting needed or completed of late? what about your fertilizing regimen? just some extra questions which might help to eliminate some scenarios and get some responses for you.

fwiw---- i've always found my fukiens' to be pretty vigorous growers. mine are under grow lights all winter but continue to get new leaves all year long.

PTluv777

Well, I thought about posting pictures, but unfortunatly the technology isn't available to me.

But to answer your questions, the Fukien Tea's leaves are all on the main branch. I think the other branches are still alive; is there any way I could tell? Its relatively new, a little less than a year in my possession. It grew like crazy up until winter, at which point I left it outside, bringing it in when the temperature dropped too much (since this is florida I wasn't too worried about low winter temps). It lost all its leaves, but I continued to water it. I fertilize March-September the same as my other plants, with a little mixed in with the water (I water daily, or at least every other day). Its not in direct sunlight, but it is kept outside.

As for the Tokay Grape, I'm even more stumped. There are no leaves, but I've had this one two years and have already gone through a winter with it. Last time it lost all its leaves, but then grew them right back once winter was over. The basic care is the same; fertilize/water every/every other day, outside but not in light, brought it in when it got too cold.

Thanks in advance.

Attila

Hi PT,

Just a thought about the grape: it needs winter dormancy. The country where it originates from (Tokai region of Hungary) has heavy winters. If you overwintered it inside your house, that's a slow death for the plant. It slowly deteriorates over a few years and eventually dies.

Regards,
Attila

rowan57

Atila its a good thought but it sounds like it went through dormancy last winter ok.

Sorry, i have no experience with tropicals or grapes, so i cant be of much help

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PTluv777

Well, I did bring it inside sometimes... I'll make sure not to do that next winter.

Attila

Hi Rowan,

You may or may not be right. There is a difference between dormancy and dormancy. For instance, my common lilacs do go through dormancy here in Los Angeles but never flower. That's because they need a certain number of days below a certain temperature (around freezing point) in order to flower. It's the same with apples, they go though dormancy but also need a number of days of low temperature in order to fruit (luckily my apples seem to get by with the winter they get here).

So the quality of dormancy may be a factor. Florida is a pretty warm place as it is, never mind indoors.

Regards,
Attila

susieq

RE: your fukien tea..... To check and see if the rest of the plant is still living, take your finger nail and scratch the bark. If it scratches green, you are ok. I live in Florida too, and have quite a few of these. Mine are just waking up from the winter. They are just now getting new growth. The old leaves from last year, are starting to fall off a little here and there. The main thing is the color of green in the leaves. During the off season, they get lack luster and dull. Now they are shiney deep green. I expect them to really take off like crazy this month. I don't know a thing about tokay grape, though. But usually if something is still alive, you can scratch it to find out. Good luck with them.