Giant Kratom Trunk Split!!!?
SubstanceTheSqid liked this

has anyone experienced anything like this? 

never had that firsthand but looks hazardous depending on where the rest of it hovers.  Good eye!  👀 

@Laurie it's my largest Kratom tree. :(

By Liking, doesn’t mean “like”.  Holy cannoli, Will.  I’ve not been around big kratom trees in real life.  That is one big tree trunk!  So long as it isn’t leaning over your house/car, maybe it will continue to thrive!?  Just don’t park beneath it!!??

@willtest  I've seen this happen to carrots. If a dry spell is followed by rain,  the roots can swell and split. I doubt that there will be any longterm damage. 

I'd prolly seal that with wound care spraypaint, just because I've seen the damage of what just one borer beetle can do. Any spray paint would do. Just do it.🤯

... and we've another vote for "don't top your kratom trees too young".  Crooked~ish, squidley, and impossible to train up straight. These would make some challenging. 🎄🎄 bonsai. 🎄🎄

@peteypyro said:

... and we've another vote for "don't top your kratom trees too young".  Crooked~ish, squidley, and impossible to train up straight. These would make some challenging. 🎄🎄 bonsai. 🎄🎄

 The cat crushed this one at around six inches tall, and then Irma almost toppled her triggering the most vigorous and sustained growth I've ever seen.

I have five trees that I started at the same time. I could do a video to demonstrate the sheer size difference between them all. Interesting stuff.

last edited by will

My little tree has a looong way to go before her trunk gets that big. Is the split right under where it’s leaning?  Looks like it could be from compression. 

@pete2000 said:

My little tree has a looong way to go before her trunk gets that big. Is the split right under where it’s leaning?  Looks like it could be from compression. 

 It is! Shyt. last thing I want to do is cut it back. It's a huge tree! 

last edited by will

If it was a bit smaller I’d consider root pruning and then straighten her back up. But probably not much to do now other than keeping an eye on her. 

FWIW, I have an oak and a royal poinciana that are leaning a bit from various storms, and they’re doing fine. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you!

I had something that looked just like this on a loquat tree. And it killed my tree. Don't want you to panic but you have to address it right away. I had mixed diagnosis has from various tree people. In the end we figured it was either a bacteria or fireblight. I tried everything on it and had no success. It may be because I caught it too late the split on mine was probably 10 in and had a reddish-brown sort of look to it. I'll see if I can't find a picture.

@roadkill said:

I had something that looked just like this on a loquat tree. And it killed my tree. Don't want you to panic but you have to address it right away. I had mixed diagnosis has from various tree people. In the end we figured it was either a bacteria or fireblight. I tried everything on it and had no success. It may be because I caught it too late the split on mine was probably 10 in and had a reddish-brown sort of look to it. I'll see if I can't find a picture.

 That's absolutely terrorfying. I have a few trees I need to treat for fungus. Haven't really seen too much on the big tree. Definitely want to see your picture. 

I couldn't find a picture of it when it first started here is one as it progressed the split got wider and

these brown patches started showing up around it. It looked just like yours when it started I would start to look at other parts of the tree for any kind of brown looking patches similar to this. Maybe yours is something completely different