Avocado issue

I know it seems like a silly question here, but I have had no success on the Gardening in Portugal Forum. I get answers like put an umbrella or sheet over it, move it to shade water it more ......

Here is T'other Half's Avocado he did from a stone when I was in hospital ... so it is his to look after.



Now he wants my help ...



I say he should cut it back to fresh wood and give it a feed

Apparently our high heat spells created havoc.

Thanks in advance.

 

It was a nice plant.
Give the wood a scratch to see if its still alive.
Could it be a watering issue?
Keeping up with watering in high temperatures is a big chore with container plants, but Keeping them throughly wet is a problem with big pots, I've had a few problems myself this year.

 

Thanks Pete. He's done this ...


I've been doing some reading today ...
Protecting avocado trees from heat - Greg Alder's Yard Posts: Southern California food gardening.

 

I'd do as you suggest and remove the obvious dead stuff and then check what's left by lightly scraping to see what life remains and if it looks encouraging, a good water and feed as you say.
Whilst Avocados readily produce plants from discarded stones and do well as House plants over here, it's a different ball game to get the them much further than that.
I'm guessing you have had a hot dry summer which may account for it but a larger container may help for the future.
At my last place in SW France, there was an Avocado nursery which produced and sold the fruit - the trees were in the ground and even tho it was almost 20 years ago, production was high. May well be different now given the recent weather extremes.
Hope it recovers

 

Just read this. It gets to 55c in The Courtyard ...

Avocado trees get sunburned - what to do? - Greg Alder's Yard Posts: Southern California food gardening

 

Hello @Philippa

Thank you for your input, always welcome from a soul who has lived in two hot countries nearby.

Yes, we have been 55c /131F in The Courtyard for several days this year, In general we have been running higher than normal here/ Also permanently there is Bamboo, Podragicas, Plumeriam Thevetia peruviana. Westringia, Geraniums and Salvias, none of which have suffered.

I shall keep this thread updated on how things progress.

Jim is not a gardener but has several things he likes, which I insist he look after as I can't deal with them. Isto é vida!

 

I've heard of that white stuff being painted on citrus trunks to stop sunburn.

I still wonder if the bottom half of that pot was getting thoroughly wet during waterings.

At 131f I would expect most of the other plants to be showing signs of stress also.

 

Gosh @Victoria that IS hot. I can only think of a sort of tent which would cover both tree and container in those conditions.
The pics of your garden which I have seen always look wonderful so Jim should follow your advice with his collection
Yes, be nice to know how Avocado does.

 

Obviously that temp was in full sun ... whilst we were "enjoying" a cooler temp of high 30s/low 40s in the shade. I never left the house, in the a/c. After 57 years there is little hope.

 

There is perhaps signs of hope ...