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Wilting avocado leaves
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Posted by
grounger 7 (
My Page) on
Mon, Dec 16, 13 at 15:21
Hi,maybe somebody has some advice for my avocado. It's 3 years old, grown from seed. Since i'm in zone 7 I bring it in every winter for about 5 months. It's about 6 ft tall and around 5 ft in diameter at the top. I repotted it this last spring into a 20" clay pot and it was doing quite well. It has been inside now for about a month and like it does every time I move it, has had a number of leaves turn brown and drop off. But now Im getting a lot of leaves (mostly new ones, large and small), that are curling at the edges and then wilting and dropping off without turning brown. At first I was giving it about 3/4 gal water every week but stopped a couple of weeks ago. For indoors it gets good light as there are skylights right above it. I have not fertilized it since it's been indoors. I'm including some close-up photos of the leaves.
Thanks |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Wilting avocado leaves
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More pics of the leaves
I also planted some begonias in the pot to dress it up when I moved it inside if that makes a difference. |
RE: Wilting avocado leaves
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More pics of the leaves
I also planted some begonias in the pot to dress it up when I moved it inside if that makes a difference. |
RE: Wilting avocado leaves
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| I am not an expert. I have had mine for about 8 months. At first when I bought I had it inside and the leaves started turning like yours and soon after fall off. Now its in the ground, we don't get too much of a winter. I am guessing that it need sunlight, they love the sun. Does it receive any sunlight? |
RE: Wilting avocado leaves
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| Thanks for replying. For an inside plant it gets plenty of light. I've got 16' ceilings with skylights. And the previous two winters that I brought it in, it didn't do this. It is larger than last year though. I just hope it lasts till April when I can set it outside again. I don't know the signs of too little water vs too much. I've held off for a couple of weeks in case it was over watered. |
RE: Wilting avocado leaves
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| I know they don't like too much water. It could be water stressed. Add water and wait for a couple of days, if you see the leaves pop up then they need more water. Usually they are not heavy drinkers. When I had mine inside, the leaves would do wilt and drop. And the area I had it didn't have too much sunlight. If your area is not under snow, take it out and let it get some direct sunlight and then store it away for the night. What variety is it? |
RE: Wilting avocado leaves
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| The symptoms of too much water and not enough are usually the same. The reason being that too much water will rot the roots which keeps it from getting enough water. Dig a hole in the soil and see if it is wet or dry. That is the best way to determine if it is getting too much or too little water. |
RE: Wilting avocado leaves
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| It's a Hass, just one I picked up at the supermarket. At 3 or 4 inches deep the soil was pretty dry so I tried watering it just now. We'll see what happens. |
RE: Wilting avocado leaves
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How does the indoor/outdoor humidity compare?
In the path of the heater vent? |
RE: Wilting avocado leaves
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| Thanks for replying. I've got gas heat so it's drier inside, but it''s not near the register. I tried watering it three days ago because the soil seemed dry but everyday there's more leaves wilting. I'm used to having them drop off after turning brown but this time they're just wilting and falling while green. It's spent the last two winters inside but never did this. |
RE: Wilting avocado leaves
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| What you or I might consider plenty of light, is not the same as the plants. Use a light meter to test both inside and outside light amounts, before you decide you have enough light. Al |
RE: Wilting avocado leaves
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| Looking at the begonias there does seem to be too little light. They're rather leggy. |
RE: Wilting avocado leaves
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| The photo above was taken at night with just artificial light ..the new photo below shows the skylights on a cloudy day. Obviously it's not going to get as much light inside as out. I was just thinking that it got more than your average indoor plant but maybe it's needing more since it's bigger this year. I see what you mean about the begonias being leggy, but they were rather leggy when they were outside too. It seems to be getting worse rapidly. I'd say 90% of the leaves are wilting now. I'm wondering if I should remove the begonias. |
RE: Wilting avocado leaves
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| Well, to give an update, it appears that every leaf on the tree is showing some sign of wilting. I gave it a light shake and 10 to 15 leaves fell. I would imagine they'll all be gone in 3 or 4 weeks. The only bright spot is that at the end of a few of the branches, there is evidence of new growth and some new leaves 3/4 to 1 inch long. Maybe that will keep it alive till the spring. |
RE: Wilting avocado leaves
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It appears to me that there was a shock when the tree was brought inside. From one climate to another - from one situation to another all at once. The photo also shows little light. That is a big tree. Can you move it in front of a window.
When acclimating a tree from the nursery to home or from outside to inside, it is wise to slowly acclimate which means to do everything bit by bit. I don't know if this is possible for you.
I have hurt many plants from the shock of plant nursery to home where the light and temp is different. Hope this helps.
I also believe and hope the plant is still alive, but may need the outside sporadically. |
RE: Wilting avocado leaves
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| Thanks, i had hoped not to move it around too much as it probably weighs 150 lbs and doesn't fit through the door to easily. But it's not unusual for us to get a few days straight of mild weather, even in Jan or Feb. I may try to move it out then. if it didn't get below 50, do you think it would be ok? |
RE: Wilting avocado leaves
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| I realize that you said you had a Haas Avocado. I don't know the frost with that tree. You would have to look it up. I have a Joey avocado. It is in the ground and will go down to 15 degrees. At least that is what it says.
I also have 2 mangoes with fruit. They have to be moved in and out of the garage at 39 degrees. It is not too bad since my husband built me 2 small wheeled carts that go in and out. It is fairly easy, but I don't want anymore like that.
Hope this helps. I am still learning so much. Thanks to all the helpful people on this website. Carol |
RE: Wilting avocado leaves
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| Your tree should be fine outside as long as it isn't below freezing. |
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