Cajunrider
Imperial Masterpiece
I grew a mango tree from a seed of a great mango. In the first year it grew very well - straight and strong. I moved it to a better pot with lots of good soil. It put up a beautiful flush of leaves. Things were going great.
I babied that tree, watering and fertilizing it well. For the next year and a half, the tree stalled. There was hardly any growth. This past spring it put up a half hearted shoot with tiny leaves. I checked and checked yet could not find anything wrong with it.
I thought long and hard, drawing on all the knowledge and science I have learned. The matured leaves looked green and shiny but carried on just enough photosynthesis to keep the tree alive. The roots were healthy and full of energy but didn’t grow much because the top of the tree didn’t ask for much more. The tree was pretty much in stasis. It was kind of weird. The tropical tree just didn’t want to wake up after the cold winter more than a year ago.
I knew then what to do. I snipped all the mature leaves off the tree, leaving it almost bare. The tree responded to the challenge by putting up 2 strong shoots that grew 10 inches in less than a week. Those shoots have giant healthy leaves that are ready to capture the sun energy. The trunk grew 1/8” in diameter practically overnight so it could carry nutrient all the way up to the shoots at the top. At the crooks of the old leaf stems, many buds are showing for new branches. The tree shows tremendous vigor now.
I babied that tree, watering and fertilizing it well. For the next year and a half, the tree stalled. There was hardly any growth. This past spring it put up a half hearted shoot with tiny leaves. I checked and checked yet could not find anything wrong with it.
I thought long and hard, drawing on all the knowledge and science I have learned. The matured leaves looked green and shiny but carried on just enough photosynthesis to keep the tree alive. The roots were healthy and full of energy but didn’t grow much because the top of the tree didn’t ask for much more. The tree was pretty much in stasis. It was kind of weird. The tropical tree just didn’t want to wake up after the cold winter more than a year ago.
I knew then what to do. I snipped all the mature leaves off the tree, leaving it almost bare. The tree responded to the challenge by putting up 2 strong shoots that grew 10 inches in less than a week. Those shoots have giant healthy leaves that are ready to capture the sun energy. The trunk grew 1/8” in diameter practically overnight so it could carry nutrient all the way up to the shoots at the top. At the crooks of the old leaf stems, many buds are showing for new branches. The tree shows tremendous vigor now.
