On 3/12/2015 5:30 PM, Hypatia Nachshon wrote:
On Thursday, March 12, 2015 at 11:00:57 AM UTC-7, David E. Ross wrote:
On 3/12/2015 10:47 AM, Hypatia Nachshon wrote:
On Thursday, March 12, 2015 at 9:37:15 AM UTC-7, Hypatia Nachshon wrote:
On Thursday, March 12, 2015 at 9:33:56 AM UTC-7, Hypatia Nachshon wrote:
Bought organic rose food "Espoma Citrus-Tone".

Directions say not to apply within 6" from trunk.

We all know that feeder roots are where food enters tree, but curious why this
positive instruction to stay 6" from trunk.

This is an ADORAbleshingto Drwae

Sorry, this keyboard is driving me nuts.

Where were we? Oh, yes -- adorable Washington dwarf barely 3' high,
just COVERED with buds!

So, -6" proximity to trunk..???

IA

HB

OMG, Pls don't send the butterfly net after me!

This was NOT about a ROSE, it was supposed to be about a Dwarf Washington ORANGE tree! (I had fertilizing roses in another part of my so-called mind!)

Brooklyn's reply about not encouraging [feeder] roots to grow too close to the trunk may be the answer. Didn't occur to me.

If any further comment, now that we know it's a DWARF ORANGE TREE, TIA

HB


Is your dwarf orange in the ground or in a container? Mine are in
containers except for the tangelo, which is in a raised bed. If I
limited feeding to beyond 6 inches, my dwarf citrus would never be fed.
I make sure the soil (potting mix) is damp. Then I stir the fertilizer
into the top 1/2 inch and lightly water.

I never get enough oranges ('Robertson' navel). In some 8 years, I got
only three tangelos; after I planted it, I read they need
cross-pollination from tangerines, which I do not have. I get more
'Eureka' lemons and kumquats than anyone could use.

Just make sure your fertilizer contains zinc. For some reason, both
citrus and gardenias both require more zinc than most other plants. I
feed my gardenia with citrus food.

Tree is in the ground.

Formula of new "organic" citrus/avocado fertilizer does not contain zinc. Formula is 5-2-6 with calcium, magnesium, sulfur and 3 kinds of bacillus.

Why do you think zinc is essential? For what kind of soil?

TIA

HB


A lack of zinc causes a blotchy chlorosis of the leaves in citrus, which
weakens the tree. With gardenias, a lack of zinc causes flower buds to
die and fall off the plant before opening.

In any case, dwarf citrus with desirable fruit is not a natural plant.
It is never found growing wild in nature, although it sometimes seems to
be growing wild in what is actually an abandoned orchard. Unnatural
plants require at least some unnatural care. If you want to use an
organic fertilizer that apparently does not contain zinc, you should
also apply some zinc sulfate. A 5-pound box or bag will last you many
years since you need to apply only a generous pinch or two each time you
fertilize.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean, see
http://www.rossde.com/garden/climate.html
Gardening diary at http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary