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Sick lemon tree

15 years ago

It was fine, living in my conservatory ( 16 degrees C all winter), until I asked a friend to care for it for 6 weeks. It came back shedding leaves ( which look a little dry and lacking gloss, but not dead) like a deciduous tree at this time of year. I thought perhaps it was struggling, so I removed all the ripe and unripe fruit, sprayed it for white fly as I found some small evidence of that, watered it once, pruned it slightly, then left it in its usual place in the conservatory. It continues to shed, and has very few leaves left, what should I do? It is a species that will produce fruit all year round, but I thought I should give it a rest so am not feeding it.Help!

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Comments (7)

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
15 years ago
The soil in the container looks muddy and heavy like garden soil. Or, at least it appears so in the picture. If so, I'd say that the tree is having an extremely difficult time accessing air at the root system. Do you think that this is a possibility?
Kimmsr
15 years ago
Was this tree moved from its normal location?
Has the soil been changed from what was used for a long time?
Has the amount of light this tree been getting changed?
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Thanks for everyone's response :) Hi meyermike_1micha, I know I overwatered from having the pot sitting on the floor with a plastic water catch thing. It sat in water for a bit before I had someone help me get it onto the rolling crate that it now sits on. I did notice one really small bug by the underside of the pot when I was flushing the soil. But other than that, nothing else. As far as freezing, I don't think so. I brought the tree into the house early October, but there were a couple of nights the temp. was around 45-50 degrees, so maybe that?? I had been watering it once a week, with 1 pitcher of water until the time that I watered with an additional pitcher (which I thought it looked like it needed) and then discovered the extra water in the base pan the next day. I am an inexperienced gardner and have no idea what to do other than getting some additional lighting (grow lights??) Should I flush the soil again, just in case my cat had pee'd in the pot? Should I give it some kind of food/fertilizer?
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Weed, I just attempted to open your pics today and for some reason they won't open..I think it's my computer and not your pics. If you're seeing nibbling then something is munching on it. Is your lemon in or outside? Check for fine webbing, white cottony patches, brown/tan armored-like bumps..Shake the tree and see if anything flys around. When you check for scale, look everywhere..On the trunk, under and atop leaves and stems. When they're youngin's, they're almost impossible to spot, but as they mature, they're quite obvious. Yellow leaves are caused by over and underwatering, lack of minerals and/or nitrogen and insects. Since I can't open the pic it's hard to say..I'm trying to remember what the leaf looked like, but nothing's coming to mind. I'll try again later. When I water, I don't do so by schedule, only when soil is dry. Do you consider your soil to be well-draining? This is also important. What type of soil are you using? When you water does it drain automatcially or sit on top? You don't want it sitting.. What size pot is your tree in? Toni
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jilly-mac
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks to both rhizo and kimmrs.

The plant spent 6 weeks in my sister's home- I don't know in what position, whilst we were in the States (would you believe!). The soil is the same as all summer, but it is very damp, so yesterday I stood the plant on the floor of the conservatory which has gentle under-floor heating, to dry out as I did notice the trunk was wet 1" above the soil level. Should I feed it by spraying what leaves remain? Should I try repotting it- if so what should I use? Thanks
Kimmsr
15 years ago
It may be that the tree dropped the leaves because the soil was simply too wet. Until you see new growth do not feed that plant anything because that will simply add to the stress the plant is already under.
tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
15 years ago
Could be a number of things. What temps was it subjected to during it's move back and forth? That, combined with a change of light, change of watering regimen all could shock it into leaf drop. And I agree with rhizo, that looks like very heavy soil. How long have you had this plant?

tj
sawpnut
15 years ago
I planted a lemon tree in early 2008. The leaves are light yellow on ends and curled up. I feed it and I think it getting plenty of water. It gets plenty of sunshine. Please help
jeannie7
15 years ago
Evidently the friend looked at it differently. Was the tree removed to his residence. If so, the loss of leaves is a common result of a changing environment.
I suggest you not change its soil until the plant is ready to add new growth. Then, changing its soil and possibly going up one size of pot, will add to the encouragement the plant will use for spring growth.

AT this time, follow what fertilizer regimen you have done in the past. Citrus are heavy feeders and, much like the African Violet, can be fed with every watering. A fish emulsion or high potassium fertilizer can be given.

Sunlight at this time is very low and your citrus will benefit from being given as much, and as equally, as possible. Place it where it can receive the best light...a southern or western exposure and turn it 1/4 turn every day or so so that the crown receives all the sun it can use.

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