What to do with struggling Owari satsuma?

[Ben G.]

I have an Owari satsuma that I planted in June of 2024 near the Southeast wall of my home here in the suburbs of San Antonio, Texas. I ordered if from a West coast mail order nursery and planted it pretty quickly after it arrived. Perhaps I should have potted it up for a season to let it grow larger before planting, but I thought it would be best to simply get it acclimated to the local soil as soon as possible.

I have babied this tree more than any other in my yard. I have watered it regularly (more than any other tree on my property) but it completely defoliated slowly over its first summer in the Texas heat.

To my surprise, it pushed out new leaves the following spring. So, I was determined rehab this tree in 2025. I wrapped the trunk and branches with tree wrap to protect against sunburn (I should have read about sun protection for young citrus sooner), and the tree produced a good number of healthy looking new leaves in the spring. 

Over the summer I used a stake to place a shade on the West side of the tree to provide even more sun protection. Despite my efforts, the tree looks sun stressed and hasn't really grown at all since planting.

On the other hand I planted an Arctic Frost satsuma in June of 2025. Other than wrapping the trunk with fabric for protection, it has gotten far less care than the Owari. I even got sent out of the country for work for 5 weeks less than a month after planting it. It has grown steadily and looks very healthy.

After that long explanation, here's where I am seeking advice. Should I:

1. Continue to baby the Owari and hope it takes off after eventually getting established?

2. Pull it out of the ground, grow it to a larger size in a pot, then put in in the ground once it is large enough to shade its own trunk and branches better?

3. Pull it out and trash it? I have a Meyer lemon in a pot I could try in the ground, even though it is a bit marginal here.

4. Replace with a non-citrus palm or fruit tree, since the Arctic Frost satsuma will have fewer seeds if there isn't another citrus nearby?

Thanks.

 

Owari:

 

Arctic Frost:

[SeanK]

Number-2

To me, there is some root problem. 

[Ben G.]

1 hour ago, SeanK said:

Number-2

To me, there is some root problem. 

Thank you for your input Sean. That may be the best option. My soil has a lot of clay in it, but also a lot of rock. There is a pretty decent layer of good topsoil in most parts of my yard that was likely brought in them the lawn was initially sodded.

This tree could just be in a little bowl of clay where the roots aren't penetrating outward.

I have a fig that looks healthy, but is very slow (for a fig) growing also. I have wondered if the fig's roots are not penetrating out from the initial hole I dug for it. There are many nice and large dogs in my area, so I know that the climate and soil shouldn't be a problem in general.

[Chester B]

I'm thinking it might not have a lot of roots going on as well.  I had a persimmon just sit for 3 years doing pretty much nothing.  I gave up on it and dug it up and had almost no roots and no sign of recent root growth.  Probably worth digging yours up for an inspection.  I think I'd likely put it in a pot with afternoon shade protection and baby it to see if it shows any signs of growth before attempting to replant.

As far as figs go, I find they are very slow growing here in Texas compared to Oregon.  I have two in ground and they aren't nearly as quick as I am accustomed too.   The one has hardly grown but it does produce figs. I had a few figs in Oregon and I had clay soil there as well, and it never seemed to bother them.

[SeanK]

It might not have had good roots when purchased.

[Ben G.]

On 10/8/2025 at 1:06 PM, Chester B said:

I'm thinking it might not have a lot of roots going on as well.  I had a persimmon just sit for 3 years doing pretty much nothing.  I gave up on it and dug it up and had almost no roots and no sign of recent root growth.  Probably worth digging yours up for an inspection.  I think I'd likely put it in a pot with afternoon shade protection and baby it to see if it shows any signs of growth before attempting to replant.

As far as figs go, I find they are very slow growing here in Texas compared to Oregon.  I have two in ground and they aren't nearly as quick as I am accustomed too.   The one has hardly grown but it does produce figs. I had a few figs in Oregon and I had clay soil there as well, and it never seemed to bother them.

That's interesting that figs grow slowly in the Houston area as well. They were frozen to the ground most years I grew them in Oklahoma. They always grew back 4 to 6 feet tall with a good crop of figs every year. Love and learn I guess.

I will probably dig the satsuma up on Saturday. Hopefully it will recover well over the next year or so in a pot.

[Ben G.]

Well everyone was right. I dug up the satsuma and found that it hadn't grown any roots at all in the last 15 months. It may have even fewer than when I planted it.

I am actually kind of shocked it was staying upright without being tied to a stake.

I potted it up and put it a spot on the east side of my house, where it should only get a few hours of early morning sun. Let's hope it recovers.

Edited Saturday at 06:39 PM by Ben G.
Typo

[SeanK]

I would keep it indoors over the winter.

[Chester B]

@Ben G. that is exactly what my persimmon looked like when I dug it up.  No small roots coming off the main branches.  You might want to try a a root stimulator on that.  I've never used one so can't say how effective they are.