It sounds to me that the soil has hardened and that the water is running around the sides of the root-ball and out the pot. After ten years, I'd certainly expect this to be the case. I've had great success growing Christmas Cactus in a mix that is mostly Orchid Bark (fine grade). It can be watered thoroughly and often, without fear of excess moisture or root-rot. Josh

Francesca, Are you fertilizing these trees. Sometimes impurities in the nitrogen source can cause leaf yellowing in lemons. It could be micro nutrient deficiencies as well. Iron, zinc and magnesium are the micro nutrients that usually become lacking in citrus. As the trees begin to get larger and the wood becomes more mature they will loose lower leaves. If fertilization could be the problem run clean water through them for a while and see if you can leach out some of the salts. If you are not fertilizing you probably should start with something water soluble like Peters or a slow release like ozmocote because citrus are heavy feeders. How about overwatering. Do they get good drainage and dry out between waterings? Wet or poorly drained soils can cause root lose which contributes to leaf drop.

I have lost one seedling this year from Spring Sickness, but it was a tiny fan and not too strong anyway--may have been the one tet seedling I've ever grown. Some seedlings looked terrible last year,but snapped right out of it this Spring. I don't grow daylilies to sell and they are all either old historicals or my own seed grown plants so I never bother to cull, unless a plant gets too invasive somewhere, so I have seen plants that looked sad in their first years blossom out like a teenager when they are ten . One pale pinkish single fan started in 1999 now has over forty fans and I can't count the scapes, it's developed the habit of popping up two scapes from a fan and it's now bright red and been in bloom a week. I'm not at all sure what causes Spring Sickness---were I younger and better organized and not such a procrastinator I would like to try a few trials to see if I could learn something. For the last few years all of the plants that got Spring Sickness have been seedlings newly planted in cultivated soil--my established plants are not disturbed and naturally mulched by falling leaves and dead leaves and I'm wondering if bare disturbed soil splashing on plants doesn't cause some problems or if younger plants are more susceptible ?? Anyway I think some may grow out of it and be healthy adults just like bratty kids! -----------------Weedy

I have a 2 1/2 year-old son and we also struggle with working in the yard at times. IT is better this year here are some things I have done... Let them water your containers or play with water. Drexler now tells me the flowers are crying because they are thirsty. I then give him the hose and let him have at it...last night he was right. One of my pansies was thirsty! Get excited about things. Right now EVERY DAY when I get home from work my son asks to go pick the strawberries. We go out and usually a new one is ripe (can't wait a few more weeks). He is still working on not picking the green ones, but he'll learn. Teach them what is yummy. Last year we planted carrots in a container and he would go out and pick a carrot out, wipe it off and eat it. Clean soil, no chemicals and hey he was eating carrots. Teach them to love flowers. How does it smell? How does it taste. Have them help you pick out what ones to pick. Drexler and I will do this together, go into the house and put them in vases and then talk about how pretty they are. I have a small vase by my bed that he empties out every day and replaces the water in...and then the flowers. A bit of a pain, but he is learning to appreciate my yard. Don't freak when they step on a plant, but do teach them to be nice to your plants. I have a large yard and Drex has hurt some of my plants, but we talk about how to treat them. Teach them to watch for bugs and to be interested in them. Ants can keep a kid busy for at least fifteen minutes. Tell yourself you will most likely not get a lot accomplished with your helpers so when you do accomplish something it feels good. Make them an area that is all theirs.