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Avo_Luke starts with ... Hi, I live in SE Melbourne and potted two Hass avocado trees a few months ago in large pots with well draining potting mix (both trees are about 3ft tall). They've been doing well, and grew new leaves a month or two ago, one's even flowering! However over the past few weeks a lot of the leaves have been getting disfigured, particularly newer leaves. I've been reading through these forums, which have been a big help. Initially I thought it might be excess salt build-up, so I've flushed the pots with water a few times (I live reasonably close to the sea). However it's not just burnt leaves, a lot of the leaves have holes in them, and look like they've been eaten by something. The edges of some of the newer leaves have been crumpling too. Does anybody know what might be causing this, and how it can be treated? Thanks in advance for your advice! Luke | About the Author Avo_Luke Chelsea 14th November 2016 8:30pm #UserID: 14960 Posts: 4 View All Avo_Luke's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Markmelb says... AL - you didnt say if they were out in the open or under some form of protection because we had Hail in Melbourne recently and sounds like Hail damage - mine got it but more leaves are flushing still - it possible did more damage to my flowers though knocking off possible set fruits? Put up some photos to give us an idea? | About the Author Markmelb MOUNT WAVERLEY,3149,VIC 15th November 2016 7:32am #UserID: 7785 Posts: 1192 View All Markmelb's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Avo_Luke says... Hi Markmelb, thanks for the response. The avocados are outside next to a fence, but not undercover. The holes probably appeared 4-5 weeks ago, so I don't believe that it is hail damage (although it's possible). I initially thought that it might be a combination of salt build-up(burnt leaves) and something else (distorted leaves & holes), I haven't found anything online that matches what I'm seeing though. Apologies - I added photos but they didn't attach, hopefully they work this time. Thanks for your help!
| About the Author Avo_Luke Chelsea 16th November 2016 8:58am #UserID: 14960 Posts: 4 View All Avo_Luke's Edible Fruit Trees |
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brad16 says... Hi Avo_Luke, Has it been windy? The trees seem to be pretty healthy, as The leaves look like they have good colour and hold up well (ie. not limp), despite the disfigurement. To me it looks like the cause is external to the tree itself and isn't causing them enough stress to be too detrimental to their growth. The damage looks like it is localised to reasonably new growth. In Picture: 3 there are some older, darker leaves that look uneffected. I get the impression that it could be one of two things: 1. Something is eating the young and succulent leaves (as you have already suspected). In which case, I'd be looking around, and under all the leaves and branches for a leaf eating critter (they're normally not too far away). 2. The leaves are being damaged in wind. Wind will whip young growth around quite a bit, but since you are also close to the ocean (you have already suspected salt burn), the high wind will also be carrying abrasives (like sand, and even salt can be abrasive). Since new growth will be tender, it will be highly susceptible to damage from impact. Sand particles may damage the edges and cause small holes. The leaf tissue at the spot of damage will be retarded, but the growth will continue where there is no damage. The wind may also be whipping the leaves against something else (like the fence behind it, or other branches and leaves etc.) and causing damage that way. That's the impression that I get from the photos and knowing your proximity to ocean 'breezes'. It doesn't look too much like leaf burn to me. The damage is too erratic and I would expect more of the dead leaf material to remain. Do you find much sand near the base of the trees? It would be a good indicator of how much 'sand-blasting' they get. Anyway, just another suggestion for you to consider (and probably eliminate). | About the Author brad16 GOROKAN,2263,NSW 17th November 2016 12:40am #UserID: 14079 Posts: 175 View All brad16's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Markmelb says... I still think it was hail as my leaves look identical. Sometimes when earwigs munch an emerging leaf the munched bit gets larger as the leaf grows. Luke - can you ask any neighbors who may have been home that could identify if it did hail or check back on weather records as hail leaves no evidence - like that Russian ice bullet their spys used. Otherwise the plants look pretty good - get them in the ground asap with a raised bed and lots of mulch and good compost. | About the Author Markmelb MOUNT WAVERLEY,3149,VIC 17th November 2016 8:39am #UserID: 7785 Posts: 1192 View All Markmelb's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Original Post was last edited: 17th November 2016 8:40am | |||||||
Avo_Luke says... Thanks Brad - it's been a very windy few months, so that may well be the issue. I checked for bugs and couldn't find any - could be something that can fly i guess. There's not much sand around, but the trees were getting blown around quite a bit when the new foliage was coming on, so that's probably more likely. Reassuring to hear that it's not likely to cause permanent issues though - thanks! | About the Author Avo_Luke Chelsea 18th November 2016 7:44am #UserID: 14960 Posts: 4 View All Avo_Luke's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Avo_Luke says... Thanks Mark - if hail caused the same to happen to your plants then it's probably the same thing with mine (I'm usually not home during the day, so might have missed it). I was planning to keep the avocados in the pots long term, and add compost/check pH/moisture regularly. The size of the trees will be limited in the pots, but based on the advice I've found online I think they should be ok in the pots. Thanks for your help! Luke | About the Author Avo_Luke Chelsea 22nd November 2016 8:24pm #UserID: 14960 Posts: 4 View All Avo_Luke's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Markmelb says... Luke - i am having great success with a Hass in a 45gallon root pruning Geopot i got at Autopot people next to Gardeworld - its flowered in is 2nd year and looks to be holding fruit too so far - i found a nice aggregate to use next time (called grow stones) im using with a young Cherimoya in a 10gal Geopot - they have a much slower root system | About the Author Markmelb MOUNT WAVERLEY,3149,VIC 23rd November 2016 6:57am #UserID: 7785 Posts: 1192 View All Markmelb's Edible Fruit Trees |
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