How to protect mandarin from catepillars?

[balaji27]

Hello Team,

I noticed this bug on my Mandarin plant, there were 3 and I removed them. What are they and how to protect my plant? I sprayed EcoOil, not sure this will help. Please advise.

Thanks 

Balaji.

 

 

[JacobZ]

Hi @balaji27,

@Noelle mentioned you need to remove 3 stems, leaving only the brown stem that you originally labelled as 2.

You still need to remove the green stem, as you can see it is coming from below the graft.

This green stem is growing from the rootstock and will not produce mandarins, so it should be removed.

Jacob

[balaji27]

Thanks for picking it up @JacobZ , much appreciated.

My question is, the one with the grafting / with the stake (the brown stem), doesn't have any leaves or haven't grown. Does it mean that this plant is not alive? Or were the rootstocks sucking all the energy and not allowed the brown stem to grow? Please advise, I am concerned about my plant.

Thanks,

Balaji.

[EricL]

Hello @balaji27 

Can you please take a photo of the entire plant and share it with the community? This will give us a better idea if the graft is still viable. Once we see the entire plant we'll be able to give you better advice.

Eric

[balaji27]

Morning @EricL , thanks for the message.

Please find the images as required. The brown stem attached to the stake (circled yellow) has no growth, no leaves, looks dried to me. Only the other stem (circled green) from the graft has growth. Please advise whether I should cut off this stem as well or not and the plant is alive?!.

Thanks

Balaji.

[EricL]

Hello @balaji27 

Thank you for sharing those photos of your mandarin plant. Looking at the current state of the grafted section, I don't think it will recover anymore. It appears that the trunk is already dry and there are no leaves to support photosynthesis. 

Let me call on our experienced members @Noelle, @mich1972 and @Adam_W for their opinion on the mandarin plant.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know. 

Eric

[Noelle]

You're right, @EricL . The grafted mandarin variety is dead. The only growth is from the rootstock, which will not have edible fruits. In my opinion, the entire plant should be removed and a new one planted as what's there is no longer viable.

[mich1972]

Yes I agree with Eric and Noelle. Definitely remove the plant.