Looks like it may have had a long side graft, and the rootstock has died back to the bottom of the graft, leaving what is essentially a dead spot, as if the bark had been peeled off. Eventually the bark will close up the wound.

Thanks for the info Pitangadiego :) It helps to know that it's not going to die because this plant produced some fruit last season.

Hi bananafan,

Nice Healthy Lychee tree, what variety is it? When you say it was a stem grafted tree, I take it its different from air layered Or is it? What fertilizer do you use, how much and how often?That's great it already fruited for you.I just planted a 3 gallon "Sweetheart" air layered a few days ago. My very first Lychee tree, so I am very new at this . Good luck with yours and thanks for the info.

Puglvrl,

Thanks for the kind compliment on my Lychee Mauritius. Ha ha ha, I'm an amateur as far as fruit tree planting goes. I started only a couple of years ago and still have much to learn. I transplanted this Lychee into the ground only a few months ago. I used the potting soil mix bought at a local nursery. They mixed the soil with pine bark chips and some time release fertilizer. A few weeks ago, I staked a spike meant for citrus/fruit trees into the ground. Since last month, the Lyche has shown more new growth. This is just my very limited experience with planting and caring for Lychees. I've recently visited the Tropical Fruit Trees Forum and have found some very good info there. You might want to check things out there and ask some questions. There are some very experienced growers there who might be able to answer your questions more appropriately.

I have two other Lychees (one is an Emperor and the other Brewster). Both of them are in the ground and they aren't too happy, so I'll be needing some help to find out why they aren't. The Emperor was purchased recently, but began to drop its leaves instead of growing new ones. The Brewster guy fussed over the last cold spell. The new shoots that popped out before the chill have been stalled since.

I've heard of Sweetheart Lychee (just the name of it). I bet it's a good tasting variety. All the best to your new "Sweetheart!"

Hi bananafan

Thanks for the reply and the suggestions, I am learning a lot reading forums and surfing the web, but it is very nice to hear from actual fruit tree owners and their experiences.From what I have read on Pine Island Nursery the sweetheart is suppose to be a good variety, but then so are the ones that you have. I also planted a few Mango trees a few weeks ago, so I have a lot of reading and researching to do.One of my biggest concern is protecting them from frost in winter a few days a year.I'm sure your Emperor and Brewster will be fine, it's probably just adjusting to its new home. I am hoping mine will do okay, hard to tell it's only been a week tomorrow since I planted it. Good luck with your trees, keep us posted.