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HELP! I think my Key Lime has an infection...

17 years ago

I bought this Key Lime from a guy in FL and ive had it in my mini greenhouse for about 2 or 3 days but i noticed it had some whitish/light brown marks and holes on the top of the leaves and then the bottom has little trails and a little bit of the leaf curled over so i did some researching and im not quite sure but i think it looks like leafminers. so I took it out of my GH for now and hope that it didnt spread to my other plants whatever it is. what do you guys think it is and how can i get rid of it?

P.S. Sorry the pics are clearer but i have kind of a older camera..

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Comments (9)

hottielover14
Original Author
17 years ago
what does everybody think?
citrange2
17 years ago
You really do need to post a better picture. Even 'older cameras' can focus if you set them correctly and the object isn't outside their focus range. In your case it's probably because the leaf was too near the camera, because the carpet is perfect in both pictures.
Anyway, the second picture looks as if it is citrus leaf-miner. Squash the pupa in the rolled up edge of the leaf, if it hasn't already emerged as a tiny moth. On one small plant you can control the problem in this way if you inspect regularly and squash either the pupa or the larva as it makes the trail. Once the moth has emerged it will spread to other citrus in your greenhouse, but not other plants.
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In the winter you also need to watch for air that is too dry. Citrus handle dry air better than some houseplants (they do have waxy leaves) but sometimes you find one that does better in higher humidity. I would put a clear plastic bag over the plant after picking off all the dead leaves and trimming any crispy branches. I would water the soil until it is damp throughout and then only give a cup or two of water once a week and never let it sit in water for more than a few hours. If the stems are still green then they are alive and the plant can be revived. You may want to repot it - mostly to check and make sure the roots hadn't rotted or dried up. The soil can be a tricky thing with citrus. Mine like a mix that has a lot of bark chips in it or gravel - but that kind of soil breaks down within a year so I have to repot often.
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AH! I have NEW HOPE!! WHEE!! I hope it blooms again, I've never seen this plant bloom more than once. It's leaves are really nice and green at least! :) Thanks for making me non-bummed out again! :)
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At this point, I would not move it anymore but wait out the rest of the winter. Lay off the watering and keep the soil on the dry side. If in doubt about watering now--DON't. DO NOT FERTILIZE! Mist the remaining leaves and stems frequently if you can. When the weather warms and settles, place it outside into a protected, deeply shaded spot until it acclimates (a couple of weeks), then move it into full sun. Once it is shows signs of new growth, you can start watering more and start fertilizing. (I move most of my citrus out by early April to the south side of the house--but, being near the coast, excessively wet or chilly conditions may still force me to drag some back into the garage until late April.) Citrus really have a problem with indoor heating during our winter season. This is why I keep almost all my citrus in a garage where the winter temp is maintained in the 40-60 degree range. Under these conditions I never experience any leaf drop with the citrus (lemons, oranges, kumquats, limequats, etc.) Limes tend to like it a bit warmer than other citrus but they still suffer in our homes in the winter. The only citrus I currently have in the house is a Kaffir lime as they are more tropical; it's on a radiator and is actually doing very well (something must citrus would HATE). Having said all this, I suspect that your tree should make it (still having green stems is a good sign.) Good luck!
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Comments (5)
Thank you for the reply Travis. I usually add foliage Pro every time I water, sometimes I switch that for seaweed/fish emulsion and 1 in 8 waterings, just water alone. I only used the jobes granular fertilizer as I was repotting. I’ll up the foliage pro and maybe add some coffee grounds on the top in a few days. thanks.
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hottielover14
Original Author
17 years ago
ok but i thought that if it was to far away you couldn't see the leaf closely enough to tell what it was..ok i will squash them and im going to try and spray it with Hot Pepper Wax too, to see if that helps..oh ok so leafminers dont infect other non citrus plants?
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
17 years ago
I think that the fuzziness of the images were why people didn't jump in to respond.
orchidguyftl
17 years ago
I agree
it looks like leaf miner
if the plane is far away from blooming and fruit production, I would cut off the infected leaves and spray with a systemic insecticide to kill any potential juviniles from reinfecting your plant, key limes grow like weeds and will push up new growth quickly no matter what time of the year
by the way, mine is LOADED with flower buds right now
guess I need to learn how to make Key Lime pies
lol
hottielover14
Original Author
17 years ago
ok but almost sall of its leaves are infected espeically its new leaves and it could die if i cut them all off. i think i will just send it back to the guy i bought it from, because it came like that. oh thats awesome! i love key lime pies!! :D
jean001
17 years ago
Before you send it back, contact the seller and explain the problem. He/she may simply replace the plant without requiring the nasty one returned.
hottielover14
Original Author
17 years ago
i did and he said to send it back first before anything.
bencelest
17 years ago
Leaf miners are also not a big problem on citrus except the leaves look ugly but other than that they won't affect the growth or blooms.

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