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botanicalbill

Non Flying dragon root stock

16 years ago

from this, http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1216/is_6_211/ai_111354238/ ,

I have learned that the reason why they put citrus on this root stock is to slow the growth of the tree so I will not reach 20+ feet tall. On my property, I have the room for a tree that large and would desire a tree that large. Is it possible to get various types of oranges that are not grafted on to a flying dragon root sock?

Thank you for your responses.

Comments (7)

  • 16 years ago

    Growing citrus on shorter trees doesn't have much to do with whether or not you have room. It's all about the ease of harvesting.

    Also, size is not the primary (or even close) reason the Poncirus is so often used as a root stock. It's famous for being disease resistant (this is extremely important), as well as very tolerant of clayey, less than perfect soil conditions. It is also extremely cold tolerant. Fruit stock propagated onto Poncirus are typically of high quality, too. THEN comes the size!

    So! If you know your soil and its behavior, your climate, and how citrus generally does in your location...you can find other root stock, I am sure. There are web sites that explain the pros and cons of different root stock selections. Make your choice based on some simple homework.

    Your local extension office might even have some good suggestions, based on the specifics of your site.

  • 16 years ago

    Another way to control the height is by restricting fertilizer. I can also tell you this, the hybrid rootstocks like swingle, the citranges, etc DO have hybrid vigor and will grow bigger. Most important is your location. If it is South Texas, then flying dragon won't grow. So where do you live and what is the soil type?

  • 16 years ago

    Im in SW Florida, the soil is sand, very fine sand, sugar sand to be exact and the ground freezes once every 20 or so years.

    Ill update my profile, I thought I had my location there. I would like a honey bell or similar orange tree.

  • 16 years ago

    I'll echo the same question, but for the Houston, TX area...for some tree's I'd love a big look. (Same zone as botanicabill, but clay.) Seems like flying dragon I see around may not be the best choice for either of us.

  • 16 years ago

    Actually the most trifoliate strains,including flying dragon, FD,can be made to grow in clay but they really grow slow.

    The main thing is acidity or alkalinity in the soil.

    Here is the best rule of thumb for the Gulf Coast (and inland to San Antonio in Texas]. Look around for wild conifers. If you see them trifoliate will grow well.
    If you dont see them, do some research. Trifoliate also grows south of Houston along ancient streams courses and newer, still flowing waterways like Oyster Creek where there is much better soil and yet no conifers. Ask your Ag Extension Agent or Soil Conservation office. Our county library system has a soil altas. What you want is a neutral to slightly acid soil AND subsoil.

    Also check the water, if you have hard water, its alkaline in this region.

    If you have alkaline clay including down 4 ft, use a raised bed and acidify. You will have a lot less trouble with sour orange in either case.

    I lost one citrus in this Jan freeze and it was on citrange. My sour orange trees were OK.

  • 16 years ago

    My property is surrounded by pine forests, my soil is acidic. I took samples to the extension office when I moved here 2 years ago. It hovers around 6.8 or so. My well water has sulfur in it and is around the same pH.

  • 16 years ago

    If you want a really big tree, lemon rootstocks are available to commercial growers in Florida. But they
    have fruit that I would not want any of my friends to find out that I grew.
    If you want good fruit and are in CTV zone you may want to look at Swingle rootstock,
    aka 4475, which does well in that sand. If no CTV you can also use sour orange.
    CTV kills sour orange and the trees grafted to them.

    I grafted a few trees on Swingle and they grow large and give fine fruit. Swingle is a hybrid of trifoliate and citrus maybe Duncan gf.

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