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Plum Tree Droping Leaves

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Old 23-Jan-2006   #1
St3v9
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Plum Tree Droping Leaves

I noticed scale on my plum tree so I treated it with an insecticide. Lately the tree began dropping leaves. In a period of 2 weeks the tree has dropped about 60/70% of its leaves.

Please advise. I appreciate all comments and suggestions.

Thanks!

Steve
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Old 23-Jan-2006   #2
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Is this an outdoor or indoor tree? (Just surprised that an outdoor plum would still have its leaves in Jan?) Pictures?

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Old 23-Jan-2006   #3
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The Plum is an indoor tree (I put it outdoors in summer). It is tropical and I think a native of Africa, although I'm not sure where (Africa is a BIG continent).
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Old 23-Jan-2006   #4
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You'd better look it up (google it) and let us know the Latin name. Otherwise you'll get advice that won't fit the needs of the tree. If you just call it a plum, we'll assume its an outdoor, flowering, fruit producing plum. That's called a "prunus", like apricots and cherries too.

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Old 23-Jan-2006   #5
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I have a sweet plum sagerat, i have kept it indoors, and had to repot it a month and half ago, it dropped tons of leaves and has some shoots now popping up in odd places...but i took it out of direct light, but kept it in a warm and bright room and the last few weeks it is bouncing back, so i suspect, event hough the shock is different, the same treatmetn will hopefully bring you the same result, they are such a great looking tree, it is a shame when they get mad at you and start fussing .
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Old 24-Jan-2006   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by St3v9
The Plum is an indoor tree (I put it outdoors in summer). It is tropical and I think a native of Africa, although I'm not sure where (Africa is a BIG continent).

Is it a Carissa Grandiflora/Macrocarpa or Natal Plum (where Natal is a provence of South Africa)? If you place a photo of yours, its easier to determine.
It has a greyish corky bark which is very breakable, the new shoulds are bendable when they are still green, the thick green leaves are between 1 and 2 cm long and 1 to 1,5 cm wide. It has thorns too and flowers with small 4 lobted white flowers.

When it is this tree the problem should be in the rootsystem, general or its about overwatering. I would wait for at least a week for giving it water again. Wait and see what happens.

This is btw my Natal Plum.

Hope your tree, whatever kind of plum it is, will survive.

Good luck, Wessel
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File Type: jpg carissa006 1-7-2005.jpg (66.9 KB, 23 views)
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Old 26-Jan-2006   #7
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Thanks

Thanks.

My tree is definately a Carissa Grandiflora/Macrocarpa or Natal Plum, though younger than the one in the picture. I try not to over water it. A concern I have is that although it gets good light, the room maybe too cold to promote a healthy environment, since it is a tropical tree. The room may reach 70 degrees F in the day and 66 degrees F at night. In addition, it has been very cloud for some time.

I am thinking of getting some lights and a portable heater. If anyone has thoughts or advice, please forward.

Steve
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Old 26-Jan-2006   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by St3v9
I try not to over water it. A concern I have is that although it gets good light, the room maybe too cold to promote a healthy environment, since it is a tropical tree. The room may reach 70 degrees F in the day and 66 degrees F at night. I am thinking of getting some lights and a portable heater.


Hi Steve,

The temperature is not a problem, installing a portable heater would be unwise. Note, that a Carissa is a plant which is in the Southern part of South-Africa, where temps can drop to around 32F. My Carissa is standing in an East facing window, without a central heater underneat. Temperatures vary between 70 during de day to 60 at night. As it is next to the window, temps maybe even dropping till 50 F.

I water the tree on Saturdays totaly (till it comes out of the drainage holes) and spray it. On tuesday I only spray it. So I get it through the winter. When nighttemps outside dont drop under 50F the tree goes outside in full sun, there it will be watered when needed, in summertime this will be every day. This kind of bush doesnt require a lot of water, you can tell, cause of the thick leaves, they hold water and a better equiped against evaporation through the leaves.

Hows the drainage of your soil? Does the water flows freely through? I think the roots are heaving a problem, for some reason. This effects the leaves.

Hope this'll help again,

Cheers Wessel
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