skip to main content

All of a sudden leaves turn brown and fall off

9 years ago

Hi all

so in short. I have three citrus trees (an orange, a meyer lemon and a tangeloe). All three have been planted about three years ago and were fine.
About two months ago with birth of new baby I didn't look at the trees anymore.
Yesterday I looked at them and I was shocked. What has happened? Since all three show the same stress i assume I do something wrong or are they just offended that I neglected them?
Please help.
---
(Watering: once a week for 45 minutes;
fertilizing: moondust from moon valley nursery in Phoenix - once a month - but last time may).
---
(All pictures were taken from south side)
First picture:
Meyer Lemon; black buds; lot of lemons with brown spots; leaves yellow and brown and dry
Second picture: close-up of tangeloe tree with yellow branches and brown/white leaves
Third picture:
Whole picture of tangeloe tree.

Any help is highly appreciated. Please don't hesitate to criticize me what I am doing wrong as long as I get my dark green leaves and tasty lemons back.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

johnmerr
9 years ago
Sunburn... caused by hot temperatures and insufficient water. They will recover with adequate water and good quality citrus fertilizer. Don't know anything about your "moondust"; but you should be using something with about a 5-1-3 NPK ratio...3-1-2 is better for your Meyer; and be sure the fert. includes Mg, Ca, Fe, and Zn.
uncle molewacker z9b Danville CA (E.SF Bay)
9 years ago
Yup, this is exactly what i see / saw after pulling back on irrigation this past May. And then (of course) while away on travel a sudden heat wave with 100F+ hit.

Here in Northern CA i must irrigate lightly every other day, and try to get a decent soak in every 7-10 days. If i don't the pictures you posted look familiar.

A word of caution about the fertilizer... - unless you are assured that the hydration is back up to where it needs to be, the solid/granular fertilizer will burn the roots. In this case what has worked for me is a liquid fertilizer applied weekly to a pre-wet root area.

The recovery will take time so be patient. Good luck!
- George
Related Discussions
Weigela leaves turning brown all of a sudden?
Q
Comments (3)
Weigelas are deciduous shrubs that are typically in a full state of dormancy at this time of year. Brown leaves, if any remain at all on the shrub, are to be expected. Perhaps because your was in a container and in a protected location on your porch, it was just very late to get the clues to go dormant. FWIW, this shrub is fully hardy in zone 8 and shouldn't be considered a houseplant or treated as such. It NEEDS the cold temperatures. But because it is small and in a container now, find it some protected location outdoors, then plant in the ground in spring or when your weather permits (dormant hardy shrubs are available for planting now in my zone 8). And give it sun - this is not a plant that favors much shade and not enough sunlight will hinder flowering.
...See More
Desert Rose leaves turn brown and fall off
Q
Comments (1)
A picture would be helpful and you may want to post this on the Adenium Form, http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/adenium/
...See More
Leaves on Pachira aquatica turning brown and falling off.
Q
Comments (0)
I left for three days, came back and noticed some yellowing leaves. Now for the last week the leaves have been turning pale green, yellow then brown and falling off. Ideas?
...See More
Leaves turning yellow, turning brown, crunching and falling off
Q
Comments (1)
That could be drought stress or fertilizer burn. skuiiy: We bought the plant with the shown plastic pot and kept it in there since it seemed to be doing well & producing flowers and fruit. A plant from the nursery producing fruit is often doing so because it's stressed. When tomatoes are stressed, they fruit because the plant rushes to reproduce before it dies. So assuming it's happy because it's fruiting could be incorrect. Even if the pot is OK now, it won't be much longer unless that plant is a dwarf or small determinate. skuiiy: -Gave it liquid fertilizer. -Added about a spoonful of epsom salt to the soil/mulch mix it's in and mixed it in a bit. Epsom salt is really only necessary if the plant has a magnesium deficiency. If not, it could cause problems. Also, it's possible you've given the plant too much fertilizer, which can manifest as leaf burn skuiiy: now I'm watering(about 2 cups of tap water, instead of just 1)every other day starting today to see how that goes. First: Pot it in a much larger container. Gently knock off as much of the current potting mix as possible so that almost all of the mix is fresh, as this will help correct the problem if nitrogen burn is the problem. Use a normal, fluffy, well-draining potting mix, not a mix advertised as moisture-retaining, and not anything labeled as "garden soil". Mix water into the mix well before putting it in the pot, as peat-based mixes can initially repel water if they're dry. Second: Don't measure your water or water on a set schedule. To determine when to water, stick your finger down into the mix a couple inches. If it's dry, water and water very deeply, until the water is running freely out of the bottom of the pot. If it's still wet a couple inches down under the surface, hold off. In your climate, when it gets hot, don't be surprised if you have to water daily. As for fertilizer, you can give the plant a dose according to instructions once a week or every two weeks (depends on how frequently you have to water), or you can water at very dilute strength with every watering (dilute more the more frequently you have to water).
...See More
ThoFue
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks for the hints. I already increased watering.

@BECAUSEICAN (or anybody else with an answer:

What liquid fertilizer do you use? I looked online and only found to websites with liquid fertilizers specifically for citrus trees but they are expensive.
Any links, brands, stores?

Thank you!!!
uncle molewacker z9b Danville CA (E.SF Bay)
9 years ago
I alternate between a couple of them; always with added vinegar due to my irrigation water pH of 9+.
Most often it is Liquid Gold (Master Nursery/EBStone) [15-6-3]
Then, Foliage Pro [9-3-6]
And lastly once every 2 months (and because i bought a bunch of it years ago-cheap) Miracle Grow - very weak solution.

this is not a cheap method, but its the only way i have found to feed the citrus during the heat season and keep it growing without using excessive water. [there are improvements and changes that i need to make to the irrigation, but unable to attack that project at this time. So i am stuck with what i have for now].

I used to mix it all in a watering can and apply to pre-wet soil. I mixed for a 1 gallon amount, but in a full 1.5 gallon can (so a bit weaker solution). 1 can per tree (or more if taller than 6ft.). Today i tried a sprayer and believe it worked well. I used a Hudson hand-held sprayer that has a metering knob. I could turn the liquid addition off, and then adjust up to 1 Tbsp /gal. This turned out to be a much faster and more convenient method (45 citrus trees) so i think i will stick with it.

-George

Related Stories

LIFE When You're Suddenly Solo at Home

Whether you stay in a home alone or move on, these strategies from professional organizers can help you with the process

FALL GARDENING 5 Ways to Put Fall Leaves to Work in Your Garden

By Therese Ciesinski

Improve your soil and yard the organic way with a valuable garden booster that grows on trees

LIFE Slow Living 101: Tips for Turning Off the Chaos

By Laura Gaskill

It may feel as though you're too busy to slow down and enjoy life. But even little changes can have a big effect

Hurricanes Turn Candles Into Elegant Fall and Winter Décor

By Debbie Snider

Add height to a centerpiece or vignette with the glow and shine of these tall glass candleholders

GREAT HOME PROJECTS Turn That Spare Room Into a Walk-in Closet

New project for a new year: Get the closet you’ve always wanted, starting with all the info here

DECORATING GUIDES Inspired by Fall: Reds, Oranges and Browns at Home

By Shawn Gauthier

Add just an accent or rake in the color with shades of autumn all over the house

DECORATING GUIDES 9 Easy Ways to Decorate With Autumn Leaves

By Vanessa Brunner

Give your home a burst of color that can be used Halloween through Thanksgiving

EXTERIOR COLOR Exterior Color of the Week: Rich, Fall-Friendly Reds

By Jennifer Ott Design

Look to the crimsons and burgundies of turning autumn leaves for a deep, captivating home color

REGIONAL GARDEN GUIDES Welcome the Turning Season: Advice for Your September Garden

By Annie Thornton

Roll with the cooler weather by planting away. Our gardening guides tell you what plant picks are best for each U.S. region

FALL AND THANKSGIVING It's Black and White and Fall All Over in a Holiday-Happy Home

Get inspired for budget-friendly fall decorating by a resourceful stylist's thrifty but sophisticated adornments

Sponsored

More Discussions

Advice needed. Just repotted my two dying avocados in Tapla's 5-1-1

7

Flying dragon seedlings

6

Trying to choose greenhouse size for my citrus

14

In ground outside Meiwa kumquat on flying dragon

2

Grafting Citrus and Rootstocks

2