Mango branches splitting open?

mullenium · Joined: 01 Apr 2010 Posts: 192

Oddest thing is happening to my Glenn, on some of the branches, there are like 1/4inch slits that look like they are bursting open going parallel with the branches, I took a photo but will have to wait and upload later at work..

Could this be cold damage? I have both mangos underneath that PVC sun shade structure with the same sun shade still hanging on top, plus each tree has 3 C-9 strands, 2 wrapping around the trunk and wooden stakes, 1 being draped from the top sun shade underneath down in sort of a looping arch pattern on top of each tree (zip tied), and the other is wrapped around the outside of the structure..

So the plants are not covered by any frost cloth, I didn't really want to take down the PVC structure, and figured cloth to cover that entire area would be outrageous!

I did a test the other night with my indoor hygrometer I use for my carnivorous plant terrarium.. I placed it handing on one of the mango branches and when I woke up that morning it recorded a low of 45 degrees when the temps on maricopaweather.com reported 32... maybe I shouldn't really rely on an indoor hygrometer to record outside temps? or maybe those C-9 lights really do the trick... espically with 8 strands!! (my neighbors must hate me, lights up my entire backyard)

If its not frost, what could it be? Antracnose? (I have noticed a lot of random small brown copper color dots on some of the leaves, almost like that area is totally dried out)

phoenixtropicals · Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 8:30 am Post subject:

The leaves will be killed long before the wood is frozen. However, mango leaves don't show frost damage for about a week, even if the tree is totally frozen. 32 F. isn't all that bad. A mango should be good to 29 F. I'd guess from what you told me that your tree is okay. However, I think you'd be better off covering it completely. I bought a 100 feet of frost cloth on the web years ago, and cut it into pieces. I think it was 10 feet wide. It was a reasonable price when bought like that. Nurseries in town hit you pretty hard when you buy it from them. Let me see if I can find a site selling it....

Here's a good one. 10 ft. wide and only a dollar per. ft.

http://www.growerssupply.com/farm/supplies/prod1;gs1_tarps_covers_pond_liners-gs1_covers;pgcc1101_CC1124.html

mullenium · Joined: 01 Apr 2010 Posts: 192

my hygrometers (one on each mango) showed a low of 35 for lastnight....WHEW

where did you buy that temp. greenhouse timer? I purchased a xmas one with a photocell but using the photocell to auto shut off wont do any good since frost usually sets in the mornings

mullenium · Joined: 01 Apr 2010 Posts: 192

I wonder if the splitting simply means its growing/expanding the branch diameter? hmmm

phoenixtropicals · Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 11:31 am Post subject: Greenhouse thermostat

Its a thermostat that turns on when the temp gets under what you set it at. This is the one I bought. It works well and can handle a lot of current. I've had it for more than 3 years. Just get some heavy duty extension cords and you can use it for everything.

http://www.charleysgreenhouse.com/index.cfm?page=_productdetails&productid=3139&s=thermostat&cid1=-99&cid2=-99&cid3=-99

mullenium · Joined: 01 Apr 2010 Posts: 192

so youve taken down your sun shade structure already?

seems like being lazy and keeping it up might not be so bad?

phoenixtropicals · Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 5:34 pm Post subject:

The one I had on the avocado I took down about a month ago. I don't put any shade on the mangoes, but yes using a structure as dual purpose makes sense. My frost cloth structures are simpler than my shade structures. I just make a sort of T out of pvc for them. The frost cloth is light so the purpose of the structure is to keep it just keep from smoshing the small plants too much.