Hey y’all! While in Tanzania recently I ran into an issue with chaya at a school yard. Several plants were stunted, but overall the foliage was green and lush. Another chaya was planted closer to the school building which isn’t stunted. I attached my observations to this message.
Please see my notes below if this interests you:
Chaya observations and questions a. Planted two years ago, but all plants except for one are stunted (76 cm or less in height)
b. There was an insect problem that was treated effectively with neem oil
c. Propagation: (anecdotal) the stunted chaya was propagated from cuttings that were potted up, and they may have sat for a long time before planting; the one chaya plant (planted closer to the school than the rest) was propagated from a cutting that wasn’t potted up but instead planted fresh in the ground.
i. I also wonder if cuttings were taken from woody or green growth from the parent plants
d. Nutrient deficiencies
i. A few yellowing leaves and a few curling leaves, but overall foliage looks green and healthy
e. Is the school providing enough water to the chaya?
f. Soil: volcanic (more research needs done on the chemical nature of the soil); chaya berm received manure application, but it doesn’t appear to have broken down effectively.
Hi Joel,
Do you have any photos of the chaya plants? What area of Tanzania is this school located?
Arusha region, west of Ngaramtoni. Here are some pictures:
Picture 1: stunted chaya
Picture 2: chaya with normal growth uphill from picture 1.
Hi,
Yeah, those are short and stubby…
Here are some things you could try:
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Dig around the plants a bit and check out the roots.
Could something be damaging them? Nematodes? Root knot nematode damage should be very visible. -
Dig holes into the soil in each location using a tuna tin so you don’t do your finger nails in… or something…down to your arm pit depth…
Is one more compacted than the other -are their hard layers preventing root growth? Does the soil differ a lot? -
Consider plot/ cultivation history - has one location been farmed for way longer… Has anything ever been built on or near the site that compacted it? Do other plants nearby seem affected too or only your Chaya?
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Even heavily fertilized plants can shed leaves if it’s had them for ages… If in doubt though fertilized it and tick that variable off - use a bunch of manure, a bit of wood ash and some fertilizer as well. In short fertilize it well and see that helps.
From what you said though I would guess the problem could just be that those plants that sat too long before being planted and got root bound. Their roots got all knotted up being stuck in the pot too long…
Rather then grieving them, take a bunch of cuttings from the good one and plant heaps more!
All the best!