[Arid_gardener] Re: Ficus Nitida - Leave twist and dry

[Dick]

I can't picture the twisted foliage image, Neal, but Ficus Nitida should 
thrive in this area and I can only guess at the problem. I looked at a 
friends ailing Ficus several years ago and found that he was still 
irrigating the tree in a tight trench arount the trunk but the foliage 
extended several feet beyond that where the soil was as dry as a bone. The 
feeder roots could extend no further out than the moisture but had to try to 
sustain foliage that was way beyond the restricted capacity of the feeder 
roots.  If this scenario resembles your situation, it may reveal clues. 
Irrigation should be at least three feet deep in a shallow trench around the 
drip line. I believe the native soil has adequate nutrient for this tree if 
the water is in the right place in the right amount at the right time. I 
don't know what the textbook says about irrigation frequency but I try to 
deep water at the dripline when foliage has a dull appearance and droop and 
I scratch about three inches into the soil at the drip line and find it 
qiute dry. That would be no more frequent than monthly in the cool weeks and 
a week to ten days when the ambient is over 100F. I don't practice this 
regimentation very carefully but with deep water there is some room for 
error. If you deep water, the tree will have a much greater resistance to 
wilt, a little of which may not be harmful. There is a point I refer to as 
critical wilt from which the organism may not fully recover. You are not apt 
to go there.

Without knowing any of the soil and geographic conditions, your frequency is 
too often for a two year old tree. It might be wise to ween it gradually.  I 
have no concrete thoughts on that but if you have good drainage it may not 
be possible to over-water.  Get a soil probe and when you can easily sink it 
three feet deep in several places around the drip line, shut off the water 
no matter how long it has run and don't turn the hose on again until, using 
the guidlines above, you confirm the need for it.

Dick Gross, MGV

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Olin Miller" <olindmiller at att.net>
To: "Neal Lee" <phxguy77 at msn.com>; <arid_gardener at CALS.arizona.edu>
Sent: Monday, November 19, 2007 10:05 PM
Subject: Re: [Arid_gardener] Re: Ficus Nitida - Leave twist and dry


> Sounds like a lot of water.  Try holding off water for several weeks to 
> let
> the roots dry, then water slowly at the canopy edge where the feeder roots
> are located.  But first dig a small hole in the root area to test the 
> roots
> to be sure they are not moldy or rotten.
>
> If the tree has been like this since last spring, it may have been killed 
> by
> last winter's freeze.
>
> Olin Miller, Master Gardener Volunteer
> U of A Cooperative Extension, Maricopa County AZ
> ============================================
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Neal Lee" <phxguy77 at msn.com>
> Sent: Monday, November 12, 2007 5:29 PM
> Subject: [Arid_gardener] Re: Ficus Nitida - Leave twist and dry
>
>
> To Whom It May Concern:
>
> My ficus nitilda is almost 2 years olds. How come my leaves are twisted 
> and
> dry.
>
> The tree does not grow any more. I water the trees every day for 30 
> minutes.
>
> How to solve this problem?
>
> Can I add some plant food?
>
> What kind?
>
> Thank you very much.
> A. Long
> City of Surprise, AZ
>
>
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