Mangosteen in Miami

[Manolitus]

Gang,

With the help of members of this forum I was able to source/purchase this Mangosteen from hawaii. She has been in the ground for about 4-5 months now. SHe has some browning with her leaves and has gone on two different growth spurts, usually after heavy rains.

Any thoughts ? Is it the sun ? Is is not enough water ?? Food ???

Thanks in advance.

Manny

[Ken Johnson]

Pray! Manny Manny Manny what are you thinking? You know better. One puff of cold air and it's gone, right? I guess you have a big hot house plan for this winter?

[rprimbs]

Gang,

With the help of members of this forum I was able to source/purchase this Mangosteen from hawaii. She has been in the ground for about 4-5 months now. SHe has some browning with her leaves and has gone on two different growth spurts, usually after heavy rains.

Any thoughts ? Is it the sun ? Is is not enough water ?? Food ???

Thanks in advance.

Manny

Did you plant in full sun? I'm no expert on them but I've heard that mangosteens are sensitive to full sun until they become established. And I think that becoming established means that their roots become established. But it looks to me like you've got some good new growth.

[siafu]

Like most plants in this genus, mangosteen absolutely needs to be shaded during its early years. It's really important.

Also do not let it go dry. Garcinias also respond well to chelated iron drenches, especially if grown under alkaline conditions.

[Trava]

That browning,could it be caused with salt?

[ariscott]

You have to protect it from full sun until they get bigger. Put some enclosure to it, and once they reach the top, you can expose it to the sun. Some people in Darwin make enclosure from coconut fronds and once they shrivel up and die, they would then take the enclosure of. But that was too hard for me, so I just did temporary shadehouse.

Regards, Ari

[_Keith]

David Fairchild talked a lot in his book about his hopes to grow, and continuous failures with Mangosteen in that area. I saw some at Fairchild Gardens, in a greenhouse. And even then it didn't look all that healthy.

[Patricia-CR]

Very tropical demanding: warm, humid, rich soil. It grows well here in the warm places.

[Manolitus]

Gang,

Thanks for the advice. I will give it some shelter. Get it more water. And do the chelated iron drench. I need to cover anyway so when we get some cold here.

Manny

[Jeff in St Pete]

Manny, good luck with your Mangosteen! I planted two of them last year in a mostly shady position and they have been very slow. I've heard they take about 8 years to produce fruit. Here's a recent photo of one of them.

[aussiearoids]

Kiss it goodbye mate , its only a matter of a few weeks and it will be up in the arms of the angels

[Moose]

Manny - like a breadfruit, its just a matter of time before the cold gets to it. It also likes a soil with an acid reaction. You could put some canadian peat moss around the root zone and mulch the crap out of it with oak leaves. Build a tent heat trapping structure around it today. Even the ensuing cold front of mid 50's F overnight lows will not be well received by your little baby there.

As others have suggested, prayers may be in order. Its a Pigafetta scenario all over again.

[Manolitus]

Manny, good luck with your Mangosteen! I planted two of them last year in a mostly shady position and they have been very slow. I've heard they take about 8 years to produce fruit. Here's a recent photo of one of them.

Man Jeff, yours don't look that much better than mine and your in the tropics !!!!!

Thanks for sharing.

Manny

[Manolitus]

Manny - like a breadfruit, its just a matter of time before the cold gets to it. It also likes a soil with an acid reaction. You could put some canadian peat moss around the root zone and mulch the crap out of it with oak leaves. Build a tent heat trapping structure around it today. Even the ensuing cold front of mid 50's F overnight lows will not be well received by your little baby there.

As others have suggested, prayers may be in order. Its a Pigafetta scenario all over again.

Moose ! Good to hear from you. I know, I know.....but why not ?!?! She will be getting protection, hopefully tomorrow. The hole I dug is pretty big and deep. Maybe 6 ft by 6 Ft and about 5 ft. deep. I put clay mixed with Canadian Peat. Mulched it to no end yes, I am praying.

Manny

[Cindy Adair]

I have some experience with growing mangosteens from seed in Virginia but of course they are in my greenhouse when it's below 50 degrees F. They sprout easily from fresh seed. In Puerto Rico, I'm told that 10-15 years is the norm before fruiting. My dozen there have maybe 6 producing now, after being planted about 12 years ago by the farm's previous owner. The ones in total sun will wilt mid-day and have not yet bloomed. Still always worth trying to grow so have fun!

[Manolitus]

As snug as a bug in a rug.

My beloved Mangosteen will not succumb to our Miami winters !!!!!!!

Manny

[Ken Johnson]

As snug as a bug in a rug.

My beloved Mangosteen will not succumb to our Miami winters !!!!!!!

Manny

Yes it will.

[Alan_Tampa]

Bill Whitman did it, so can you. Don't give up. I think foliar spray is in order. Maybe too much sun, shade doodad is a good idea too. Don't give up. I kept mine for 6 years before I pushed too hard and it carked.

Alan

[Manolitus]

You all will be proud:

Ken, I am pulling out all the stops !!!!!!!!

Manny

[siafu]

Very nice. But make sure you don't cook it when the heat returns...

[Moose]

It was 57 F at 7:09 am as I drove through the Grove this morning. Its only December 1st. Manny, the previous post does bring up an important issue, do you a temperature monitor in your "hot box"?

[ariscott]

Good luck Manny. Do what you can and hope for the best. You never know, I guess.... Mine is about the same size of yours. It has been 1 year in the ground and so slow. So, it will be in that enclosure for a little while longer before you have to build a bigger one. As they are all saying, it is unfortunately very ultra tropical.

Regards, Ari

[Cindy Adair]

You all will be proud:

Ken, I am pulling out all the stops !!!!!!!!

Manny

I like what you've done!!! And there's a lot to be said for those of us defying the odds to cater to the plants we are passionate about. I'll even offer to send you a free replacement small plant (I have some in my greenhouse in Virginia) or seeds when I have them to keep trying if nature wins and you're up for a rematch in the future. Of course I'm cheering for your current plan to be a success!

[Manolitus]

Thanks so much for the follow up comments.

Moose, I think that during the winter, I should not have a problem with making it too hot in there. I am actually planning on incasing the structure so that it truly acts like a greenhouse. Right now its more a shade house that I cover at night with that heavy material. As mentioned by some of the members, the direct sunlight was just too much for this small a plant.

Cindy, it is very very sweet of you to offer me either seed or a replacement plant if mine dies. I hope I don't have to take you up on your offer

Otherwise, I will keep you guys posted.

Thanks !!!

Manny

[Manolitus]

Good luck Manny. Do what you can and hope for the best. You never know, I guess.... Mine is about the same size of yours. It has been 1 year in the ground and so slow. So, it will be in that enclosure for a little while longer before you have to build a bigger one. As they are all saying, it is unfortunately very ultra tropical.

Regards, Ari

Ari,

Thanks for the encouragement. Any pics of your puppy ??

Manny

[Alan_Tampa]

Nanny, I think you can do it. Bill Whitman did, but in Bal Harbor, I think he stayed pretty warm there, fruited mangosteen and breadfruit there. I think your little shade hut is a good start. Find a copy of Five Decades with Tropical Fruit. A collection of the late Mr Whitman's contributions to the rare fruit council's publications.

Alan

[Jeff in St Pete]

Hi Manny, can you give us an update on your Mangosteen? I walked past my two small trees the other day and noticed that one of them had some new growth, I think the second one already flushed and I missed it. Anyway, it made me think of you and I was wondering how your plant is doing.

Here are a couple updated photos

New growth

A week later here is the same tree - new leaves turn from red to yellow/light green

Here's the other one which already finished a new flush of leaves. New leaves have turned green

[virtualpalm]

Bill Whitman did it, so can you. Don't give up. I think foliar spray is in order. Maybe too much sun, shade doodad is a good idea too. Don't give up. I kept mine for 6 years before I pushed too hard and it carked.

Alan

Alan, I was just about to say something to that effect. I saw Bill's tree many years ago in Bal Harbour. I would be surprised if it was not still there.

Jody

[Mandrew968]

Any updates? Did that cage keep it from escaping??

[stevethegator]

Sorry to bump this old thread, I'm interested in hearing what happened to this mangosteen! I recently heard of Mr. Whitman's success in getting it to fruit in Bal Harbor. So it IS possible?

I have no delusions of ever trying to grow one in the ground unprotected (unless I move somewhere ultra tropical), cold temps aside the soil in SoFla seems too poor. But, in a large pot with really good soil, sunk in the ground and then a removable greenhouse for cold protection? Does it even fruit in regular greenhouse culture?

[rprimbs]

I think that mangosteen culture outside of the tropics -- even in the ground -- is very possible. It would definitely require some sort of protection. If nothing else a "frost blanket" or sheet covering it during the coldest part of winter.

I bought one last year and I was told that it could be grown in San Diego if I covered it with a blanket on the coldest nights. I did that for a while, then I chickened out and moved it inside -- because I figured that since it was in a pot it would get colder than if it were in the ground. I am going to try fertilizing it with bone meal. I understand that mangosteens -- like orchids -- can be easily overfertilized. And they definitely seem to like acid soil.

I think that you could easily grow a mangosteen if you planted it in a large garbage can with holes drilled all through it for drainage, and sunken in the ground. Then during the winter you would drape a sheet or a "frost blanket" (I like the Agribon frost blanket) over it. That seems to raise the temperature by about 10 degrees. And if you were really worried about it you could stick a small space heater, that has a thermostat, under the blanket and set it to keep the temperature from falling below 45 degrees (7 C).

Here is a picture of mine. It is looking a little "burnt" because I moved it back outside before I should have and it took a little freezing weather some nights. I need to be more careful in the future because I think that stress like that really slows it down.

[rprimbs]

Sorry I don't know why the picture ended up tilted.

Incidentally I planted it in a mix similar to what I use for some orchids -- bark, perlite, peat moss. Actually I ran out of orchid bark so I used some coco husks in the mix too.

Edited February 2, 2014 by rprimbs

[monkeyranch]

Are there named varieties available with differing provenance and cool tolerance?

[Cindy Adair]

I have never heard of named varieties of this species. I grow my seedlings in regular potting mix but haven't kept them beyond the foot tall stage before sending them to new homes.

Just a view of some of our unripe Mangosteens in Puerto Rico from last August. By October they were so many we couldn't begin to pick and clean them all!

It's legal to take them to the states now as long as they are thoroughly cleaned and inspected first. Dawn dishwashing liquid in a bucket of water worked fine and none seeped into the flesh.

The fruit doesn't keep long once picked and neither do the seeds.

When perfectly ripe they are delicious! The few I've seen for sale in Virginia Beach were either over or under ripe though. I hope we are able to visit when they are ripe this year too.

PM me before next Fall and I'll use it as a running list if I'm able to share fresh seed.

[stevethegator]

I think that mangosteen culture outside of the tropics -- even in the ground -- is very possible. It would definitely require some sort of protection. If nothing else a "frost blanket" or sheet covering it during the coldest part of winter.

I bought one last year and I was told that it could be grown in San Diego if I covered it with a blanket on the coldest nights. I did that for a while, then I chickened out and moved it inside -- because I figured that since it was in a pot it would get colder than if it were in the ground. I am going to try fertilizing it with bone meal. I understand that mangosteens -- like orchids -- can be easily overfertilized. And they definitely seem to like acid soil.

I think that you could easily grow a mangosteen if you planted it in a large garbage can with holes drilled all through it for drainage, and sunken in the ground. Then during the winter you would drape a sheet or a "frost blanket" (I like the Agribon frost blanket) over it. That seems to raise the temperature by about 10 degrees. And if you were really worried about it you could stick a small space heater, that has a thermostat, under the blanket and set it to keep the temperature from falling below 45 degrees (7 C).

Here is a picture of mine. It is looking a little "burnt" because I moved it back outside before I should have and it took a little freezing weather some nights. I need to be more careful in the future because I think that stress like that really slows it down.

Wow that's impressive for San Diego!

Yeah that's what I was thinking, in a large container, buried in the ground and then some type of protective structure, maybe even supplemental heat. They make those collapsible greenhouses that could be perfect, esp since south Florida sees a fairly finite number of damaging temps during the winter and is almost always warm enough during the day.

This is just my two cents based on zero experience (so please correct me if I'm wrong) but mangosteen seems to be finicky in the best of

circumstances. I wonder if a lot of failures with this species can be attributed to less than ideal soil, wind exposure, sun exposure, etc rather than just pure cold

Edited February 3, 2014 by stevethegator

[stevethegator]

I have never heard of named varieties of this species. I grow my seedlings in regular potting mix but haven't kept them beyond the foot tall stage before sending them to new homes.

mangosteens DSCN7670.JPG

Just a view of some of our unripe Mangosteens in Puerto Rico from last August. By October they were so many we couldn't begin to pick and clean them all!

It's legal to take them to the states now as long as they are thoroughly cleaned and inspected first. Dawn dishwashing liquid in a bucket of water worked fine and none seeped into the flesh.

The fruit doesn't keep long once picked and neither do the seeds.

When perfectly ripe they are delicious! The few I've seen for sale in Virginia Beach were either over or under ripe though. I hope we are able to visit when they are ripe this year too.

PM me before next Fall and I'll use it as a running list if I'm able to share fresh seed.

Do they grow well from seed? Is it even possible to obtain a potted specimen in the lower 48?

[rprimbs]

I have never heard of named varieties of this species. I grow my seedlings in regular potting mix but haven't kept them beyond the foot tall stage before sending them to new homes.

mangosteens DSCN7670.JPG

Just a view of some of our unripe Mangosteens in Puerto Rico from last August. By October they were so many we couldn't begin to pick and clean them all!

It's legal to take them to the states now as long as they are thoroughly cleaned and inspected first. Dawn dishwashing liquid in a bucket of water worked fine and none seeped into the flesh.

The fruit doesn't keep long once picked and neither do the seeds.

When perfectly ripe they are delicious! The few I've seen for sale in Virginia Beach were either over or under ripe though. I hope we are able to visit when they are ripe this year too.

PM me before next Fall and I'll use it as a running list if I'm able to share fresh seed.

Do they grow well from seed? Is it even possible to obtain a potted specimen in the lower 48?

Toptropicals.com sells mangosteen trees, hulabrothers.com sells them, and I bought mine from Ong Nursery -- which I think is in Claremont Mesa if I am not mistaken.

If you want to try growing them from seed you can get seeds from fruitlovers.com

Edited February 3, 2014 by rprimbs

[mnorell]

Mike at Pine Island Nursery told me that the minute a Mangosteen's root system hits the coralline/limestone soil, it's toast. So perhaps it is really more of a pH issue than anything (though obviously it is cold sensitive as well!). Also the need for constant watering would mean a free hand with the hose, which generally delivers very high pH water unless you're collecting rainwater, acidifying municipal supplies, watering with distilled water or taking other corrective measures. I recently looked at a muni water report for the Keys...documented at a pH of 9.3!!!

[rprimbs]

I have found them to be very sensitive to full sun when young. You need to give them shade. I've had them burn in morning sun / evening shade. Mine is in a protected spot next to my house in all day shade.

[stevethegator]

Thanks guys! Sounds like mangosteen needs the total package to succeed (soil chemistry, water, exposure, and of course temperature).

Glad to know they are available for when I decide to take a stab at it!

Edited February 4, 2014 by stevethegator