Does this Meyer Lemon have a Magnesium or Zinc deficiency?
rblythe
9 years ago
(See attached, or go here: http://imgur.com/VwS9KCj)
Does this Meyer Lemon have a Magnesium or Zinc deficiency?
Notice the defined veins in the leaves.
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Comments (9)
silica
9 years agorblythe
9 years agoRelated Discussions
Lemons Too Big for a Small Meyer Lemon Tree???
Comments (8)Hi All, I need some Meyer lemon assistance. I received a dwarf tree in the spring from QVC thru mycitrustree(dot) com. I had some beautiful blossoms in the summer and now have 2 lemons about 3 inches and 3 1/2 long. It was kept outside and watered as needed in addition to Mother Nature. I live in NJ and it was about to dip into the 40's one night so I brought it into my basement two weeks ago. I watered it before I brought it in and it got a soaking rain too. It's in a pot with drain access and it still moist. It has also now begun to bud on all end branch A LOT. My original question is some random leaves are turning yellow. They are not dry or curling and have no pests. The leaf veins are also not turning white. I am a nervous first time fruit tree mother. I did not give any fertilizer since I received it in the spring. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much! Barbara-Ann...See MoreHelp diagnosing Meyer Lemon (pics!)
Comments (35)Where I live Meyers are common, my biggest rooted from a neighbor's bush when a lost lemon landed on our side and one of the seeds found a foothold. Your pot is really, really small. Meyers have good taproots and very wide surface roots. They don't tolerate competition very well in the garden; like roses they're heavy feeders. Because they fruit young, people get all excited about harvesting a crop. However, you might be better off putting it in a larger pot and letting the root ball expand larger; e.g., stronger growth now vs a few early fruits which are taking nutrients away from future growth. Remember that lemons are a winter crop, not a summer crop. Out here I have loads of hard green lemons in August, but it's only now I'm starting to pick a few each week from our three Meyers. Biggest crop is usually January-March. Inconsistent watering and feeding contribute to leaf/fruit drop; citrus appreciates a regular schedule. To me, besides the yellowing, your Meyer looks like it just doesn't get enough light. Meyers are bushes, actually, not trees, with heavily crossing branches, and they need a lot more leaves than you have before the plant can support fruiting and growth at the same time. My biggest Meyer actually grows in a very shaded spot, but it's bright shade and receives it steadily 10 hrs a day. Warmth isn't as important as sufficient light. In a California winter, our temps regularly go into the mid-40's at night. As long as the daytime temps hit the 60's, outdoor Meyers will ripen fruit. Because of their heavy feeding needs, larger pots are better, along with citrus fertilizer and liquid iron in regular amounts throughout the year. Non-citrus fertilizer mixes will not do except on an occasional basis. Citrus fertilizer is specifically formulated to work well. Good luck to you and HTH a little....See MoreAlkaline soils = magnesium deficiency?
Comments (15)Phosphorous is locked up by the pH. It's in the soil but until you drop the pH a bit, it shows as lacking. That's why they fertilize with it....so the plant will find it readily available. If you set up an environment that the soil microbes can really get going in, then the phosphorous will be unlocked. If I add anything when I plant a potted item, it's some Rocket Fuel by Gardenville. Just a teaspoon so the plant has some help until the soil relationships are set up. Too much and it could actually slow down the microbes. Organic matter is the big key to our soils. We have so little of it that it sticks together. Every time you have plant debris leave you area, you've lost the nutrients that the plant used in those leaves and branches. If you don't put that back (and a little more for next years growth), you deplete the soil. But fertilizer alone won't fix the problem. You have to return the organic matter of the leaves and branches too.......hence compost should be added. Working the land properly is much more difficult than plowing, fertilizing and spraying pests. It requires close monitoring of the soil and rotating animals and plants around to keep everything at it's peak. Even weeds have their place in this dance as do insects. Chemicals won't fix the problem completely but sweat and smarts will....See MoreYellow Leaves on Young Meyer Lemon
Comments (2)I might recommend that you study your soil a little bit. Could you guess what the pH of your soil is or perhaps the pH of your local water? If the plant is in an alkaline environment you can add all the micronutrients you have but they may not be "bioavailable" i.e they would be bound up as some metal oxide in the soil never free to pass into the roots. How deep did you plant the tree? The soil you described should not be compacted especially this soon but if the roots are compacted they may have poor aeration and be susceptible to a fungus. If you can check to see that your roots are nice and white and not brown or slimy. As for the pH issue you can adjust the pH using sulfur (lowers pH, more acidic) or lime (raise pH, more alkaline). Fish emulsion is not particularly strong nor does it contain very much nitrogen. The Jobes organic fertilizer may take a while to break down into bioavailable nutrients. I am not sure but I have heard that the break down of organic fertilizers requires soil borne bacteria which may be absent if your soil is too sterile thus further delaying the incorporation of the nutrient. Also make sure it is getting enough sun. Dont go crazy buying a million products to fix your plant. Patience pays off. Many folks recommend DynaGro foliage pro (solube inorganic fertilizer) that might be a good start. Its not cheap but it has a good NPK and micros balance. Also many recommend using Osmocote plus as a slow release, but your Jobes would work just as well now that you have it already. Lastly dig gown deep into the soil to check for water logging. The top might look and feel dry but it may be water logged 3 or 4 inches below. Good Luck....See More
johnmerr
9 years ago
ocelaris
9 years agorblythe
9 years agojohnmerr
9 years agoHere's a photo of incipient Iron deficiency....look familiar?
Note, if your soil pH is 7.5 or higher, you will have to use chelated iron, as citrus cannot effectively utilize soil Iron at that pH.
silica
9 years agojohnmerr
9 years ago
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