Question about Lemon Tree - Yellow tips

15 years ago

I have some yellow tips on my meyer lemon tree. The leaves that are affected are on the lower part of the bush. The entire leaf is not yellow and the yellowing has not progressed. It doesn't appear to be a huge problem at this point, but I don't want it to become one.

What I have tried:

I read that it might need fertilizer, so I put some composted cow manure (Black Kow) down in a ring around the tree and mulched with leaves. It appears this hasn't worked.

I also tried watering it more often and a better soak (about twice every 10 days). It has been about 4 weeks now and still no change. I have read that you don't want to overwater during the winter months.

Are these yellow tips a bad sign or is it normal? What other suggestions do you all have for this?

Thanks

Here is a link that might be useful: How my garden grows!

Featured Answer

aesir22

15 years ago

It sounds like it could be either:

1) A deficiency.

2) Overwatering/salt burn from over-fertilizing

3) Old leaves dying off. Citrus leaves only last 18-24 months, then fade and die. With it only being on the older, lower leaves, this is quite a possibility.

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Comments (11)

birdsnblooms
15 years ago
Dutchess..I think Aesir hit the nail on the head.

In Fl, they discovered Urea (nitrogen) foliar sprayed on citrus, can cause leaf tips to yellow. It depends on the time of year trees were sprayed.

Another reason could be is, perchlorates (a salt of perchorate acids) that occur as impurities in fertilizers.
Symptoms of this toxicity shows up first with a bright orange yellow color of the tips of leaves.
Do you see orange/yellow on leaf tips?

Howdy Aesir..how ya doing? Toni
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How about this, I went out and checked on the tree after 4 days of tons of rain and all of the leaves are normal. Must have been the lack of nitrogen. The rain must have washed in the fertilizer spikes I put down two weeks ago. This is relief as I though I was going to have to write the tree off.
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I would switch to a more appropriate fertilizer. This particular fertilizer is very high in N, and nearly all from a Urea N source. You're seeing biuret build up and burn. Most container citrus folks on the list have found that Dyna Gro Foliage Pro fertilizer does an excellent job without burn, and with a better NPK ratio (and better N source). Also, you may want to consider a different potting medium as well. If you search for "511 mix", you will find a great recipe for an indoor citrus potting medium. Citrus do not need an acidic environment - not sure how this misconception started and continues to circulate. Citrus actually prefer a rather neutral environment. If you tap water is extremely alkaline, you can consider acidifying it with a little vinegar, but citrus do not need fertilizers designed for "acid-loving plants", as they do not fall into that category. Patty S.
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aesir22
15 years ago
Hi Toni, am fine thanks :) Have been rushed between citrus and bonsai forums! How are your plants getting on?

Dutchess...I have heard that manure isn't the best product to use (not sure if that applies to in-ground as well as container grown) but have read it takes a while to get nutrients broken down.
tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
15 years ago
Many things aside from urea based fertilizers sprayed on leaves can lead to yellowing of foliage - as could the three possibilities mentioned in the first response.

It's such a HUGE leap to suggest it might be one of the perchlorate toxins. (The sky is falling.) While we have to allow there is a minute possibility, it's thousands of times more likely it's not perchlorate.

First, contaminated fertilizer is not considered to be a major source of perchlorate. Chilean fertilizer, the only known source of perchlorate in fertilizer, currently makes up only 1/10 of 1 percent (.001) of the U.S. fertilizer market. In addition, the company that distributes Chilean saltpeter has made processing modifications which has greatly decreased the concentration of perchlorate in the final product sold. After many studies, there is now a consensus among researchers from the EPA, the fertilizer industry, and other federal and state laboratories that fertilizers currently being used are negligible contributors to perchlorate toxicity.

Al
dutchess_9
Original Author
15 years ago
Okay...first, I haven't used any foliar sprays. Second, I haven't used any fertilizers since I put it in the ground last summer and at that time it was still only cow manure compost.

I have no idea what perchlorate is...but would that only be in store bought packaged fertilizer or could it be in cow manure compost.

I will google perchlorates...learn something new everyday

aesir--if cow manure compost is too slow...do you have any suggestions about what I could do?

I will take a picture tomorrow and upload it so you guys can get a better idea of what I am talking about. I appreciate you time.
dutchess_9
Original Author
15 years ago
Hey guys- I don't know how to put pictures in here...so could you click on my blog link and check it out there. I would greatly appreciate it...Thanks.

Here is a link that might be useful: How my garden grows!
meyermike_1micha
15 years ago
Tapla,
Of all the great friends on this site here, I thought you would comment on my citrus tree pictures since they are all growing in your soil, with your fertilizer suggestion,without coffee grinds and without foiliar spraying, and with your expertise!;-)
Thanks Al...I owe you all the credit for great growth, as for the insects, I owe someone else...;-)
This is the first time I ever had such healthy trees with simple suggestions from you...
meyermike_1micha
15 years ago
In fact Al, I am kind of hurt. It is like a coach helping his team to win the biggest game in their life, they do , then there is no comment or pat on the back on their sucess by their mentor.....:-(
You started me on the right path, on the right soils, and you are not there to see me at the end with pictures of your ideas applied in my case.....
The proof is in the pudding, for the great help from all here to get me to where I know so much about indoor citrus growing.
Still your citrus friend!
Thankyou
tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
15 years ago
I'm unsure of what you're saying/referring to. I didn't see anything upthread. Are you referring to another thread I probably didn't see? I don't come here (citrus) too often - just been bored lately & trying to expand my horizons a little - I must have missed it. Sorry - I didn't mean to hurt your feelings.

Al
tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
15 years ago
PS - Please accept my apology for the off topic cross talk, Dutchess.

Al
meyermike_1micha
15 years ago
Just that I posted " pictures of my citrus finally" about 5 threads down from the top of Citrus page. It has been hanging there for days, and the one I expected to hear from was you, since I took close up pictures of the soil in the pots so you could see and smile...
No big deal Al...Hope your well
Mike..:-)

Question about Lemon Tree - Yellow tips

aesir22

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birdsnblooms

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