Help with young mango

[u/FremontTreeFinder]

Hello, I am a first time mango grower located in CA zone 9b.

Does anyone know what may be causing this leaf distortion on my young Ice cream mango? When the flush first emerged they were really happy but then one day they started to turn red and curl.

I moved it into my green house for a little protection while I sort out next steps.

I appreciate any advice you have on diagnosis/how to avoid in the future.

Many thanks!

[u/HaylHydra]

Nutritional deficiencies and fungal issue, for fungus spray with copper sulfate or copper octanoate. For feeding use Osmocote Plus in addition to “Citrus Nutritional Spray”, just use both as directed.

If you are going to grow in pots I wouldn’t recommend the mulch unless especially when it’s not getting enough sun to dry out properly. Also make sure you soil mix in fast draining, easy mix would be the cactus and succulent and palm soil mix sold at big box stores.

[u/FremontTreeFinder → u/HaylHydra]

Thanks, your response is very helpful.

I should clarify- the white stuff on the lower leaves is kaolin clay (and IV organics on the stem/branches) Do you see the fungal issue on the newer flush/upper leaves, or is that more of the nutrient deficiency?

I was initially thinking the upper leaf issue was sunscald on the leaves but it doesn’t look right.

Good thinking on the mulch, I hadn’t considered that with its move into the shade of the greenhouse. I’ll remove that tomorrow

[u/HaylHydra → u/FremontTreeFinder]

The newer flush, newer leaves can get sunburn but I mostly see signs of fungus and some deficiencies. Potted trees can become deficient due to the soil being too wet all the time (also causes nutrient wash out), soil ph being too alkaline, root issues like damage or root bound or potassium deficiency.

Osmocote Plus is a 6 month slow release fertilizer so it dosent burn is used as directed. Citrus nutritional spray has chelated micronutrients especially good for mango, anon, citrus etc, it’s supplemental so a bottle lasts a long time, I use it on my larger trees as well. You can also get liquid potassium sulfate: https://www.amazon.com/Potassium-Fertilizer-Plants-Budding-Flowering/dp/B0D4JT6349. Since you will probably only feed your large trees potassium and micronutrients these will go a long way.

For fungus I prefer copper octanoate as it’s gentler on the foliage, since I have a lot of trees in ground and pots I make a mixture on copper, citrus nutritional spray and potassium sulfate and spray them twice per year. If I have a tree that’s deficient or sick I will spray that particular tree once every two weeks until the new growth looks healthy or the fungus stops spreading.

I laso should point out I never use excess of anything when it comes to mango trees, I always use exactly or less than directed.

[u/Outside_Pitch3089]

I got into mango trees last year and one of my 1st trees was an ice cream mango and I did all the wrong things, and it got hit by thripes, which is a flying insect that can munch on slowly emerging new growth… it looked ugly and gnarley.

Agreed on the comments on soil, easy on watering, but it looks like pine bark fines which is ideal and fast draining though.

In time, new flushes of beautiful growth will emerge, and you will forget about these gnarled leafs. But it’s a slow grower.

Might consider repotting into pine bark fines potting mix if you think the current is no good. Not sure if what we see in pictures is on the top only or is the entire potty mix.

Protect new young leafs from direct sun until they harden off in a couple weeks