skip to main content

Repotted My Plants. New Problems.

9 years ago

Last week I repotted two citrus plants, each is about 1.5 years old. Above is an orange tree. It's looked like that ever since I got it. For some reason the leaves won't open up and it hasn't fruited. I'm in zone 10.

Below is a Meyer lemon tree. Its leaves have begun yellowing. For both of these plants I used a standard potting mix recommended by the hardware store gardener with a little soil conditioner and added Vigoro fertilizer. My water is from an outdoor faucet.

Any tips on these plants?

Thanks!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
9 years ago
Yeah, tip one, get the trees off of those stakes....they're too close to the trunk.
Re-site the stakes at the edge of the container and loosely tie off to a branch.

Secondly, the orange looks fine. And it's blooming nicely, too.

Thirdly, am I seeing correctly that the top of the root-ball is exposed?

Fourth, the Meyer is most likely hungry for some nutrients. I would supplement the fertilizer for both trees.

Lastly, if the potting mix holds too much moisture (hard to imagine in zone 10), that could lead to yellowing leaves. Just to keep in mind.

Josh
BarbJP 15-16/9B CA Bay Area
9 years ago
What greenman said. Also, Vigoro fertilizer is a good fertilizer for citrus grown in the ground but it does not work well in container soil.

I would switch to Osmocote Plus slow release, and add a liquid fertilizer once or twice a month, such as Dynagro Foliage Pro or even Miracle Grow at half strength.
Related Discussions
A few of my African Violet plant have a new problem, interested?
Q
Comments (3)
Probably the most important thing now is to make sure of your diagnosis. Pictures might help to make sure. Botrytis Blight or Gray Mold has a gray, fuzzy coating on older plant material. Spores begin the infection and can remain in the soil during the winter. At times the young center leaves turn grayish and hair may become abnormally long. Botrytis can kill the plant. First thing to do would be to isolate the plant or plants from your main collection. Increase air circulation to the area. Remove all fading flowers or leaves. Lower your humidity if possible. Keep room temperature even and warm. Do not over fertilize. Leaves of plants should not touch. You can use the homemade treatment as suggested above. One tablespoon bleach in one gallon warm water sprayed over foliage. If you have only a few plants affected just remove them and see what happens. If many are affected in your collection you may want to buy Benomyl. You can also purchase sulfer from the drug store. Put this in little pots around your plants. Check your rootball just to make sure this is not root or crown rot. Nancy
...See More
New AV: need to repot, not sure if sucker or second plant
Q
Comments (0)
Hello! I am a newbie in all things related to growing my own AVs. I bought one today that looks healthy, and I plan to repot it to make sure it is in good soil. Actually, I will probably use the plastic pot it came in, just change out the soil. Anyway, when I got home and started researching AVs, I learned about suckers. I started looking at my plant, and definitely see one sucker. But looking at it, I am not sure if it is just a sucker or a sucker that has become a second plant or even just a second plant. So my question: when I take it out of the pot and remove the soil from around the roots, I am guessing I will know pretty quickly if it is two plants. If it is two plants, can I simply repot them and have them out in their pots or do I have to do anything like put them in their new pots and then stick them in a plastic bag like you do when you propagate them? Also, should I pull off the sucker I see now, or wait until I have removed the soil and can see what I am dealing with? I am attaching pictures. Many thanks in advance!! Lori Anne
...See More
New AV: need to repot, not sure if sucker or second plant
Q
Comments (4)
Royals - you are correct. If I would be repotting - I would remove the outer row or 2 of the old droopy leaves. The leaves under your fingers with the pale tired leafstalks are prime candidates. At that point you can see where your sucker is attached to the stem - and you can slice it off - I use Xacto knife. You do not want to dig into the main stem, or cut a sucker too short - so the slice should be parallel to the stem. After that - you treat it as Royals suggested - take a small plastic cup - like solo cup - or fruit cup with punched hole in a bottom, fill with soil, pin your sucker to it - I use floral pins - bobby pins or paper clips work too - so it will stay up - and bag it - in 2 weeks it will have roots of its own. And you will have 2 identical pink AVs.
...See More
The old "repotted my Calathea" problem.
Q
Comments (2)
After root disturbance the leaves they will sag for a while. As long as the soil is fast draining and kept moist and not wet they should come back okay.
...See More
mangodamia
Original Author
9 years ago
Thank you greenman and Barb.

The orange tree leaves appear the be cupped and hasn't changed at all in over a year. I'm assuming this is normal and hopefully will fruit now that it's in a bigger pot. I'm not sure if that's the root ball that's exposed but I'll try adding more planting mix.

I had no idea that Vigoro was good for ground but poor for container plants. I'll look into Osmocote.
maxinmontrose
9 years ago
I've had good luck with Dr Earth fertilizer for my citrus in pots. Presumably you already know citrus are heavy feeders?

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES Solve 3 Common Landscape Problems — With More Plants

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Sometimes the best defense is a good offense

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Problem Solving With the Pros: An Abundant Garden Stretches Its Means

By Jay Sifford Garden Design

Swaths of resilient, eye-catching plants thrive with little care or resources in the landscape of a Pennsylvania farmhouse

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Problem Solving With the Pros: Sustainable Landscape Captures Runoff

By Jay Sifford Garden Design

An underground cistern, permeable paving and a rain garden are part of this Washington, D.C. yard's thoughtful design

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Problem Solving With the Pros: How to Build a Garden in an Urban Canyon

By Jay Sifford Garden Design

Skyscrapers, noise and deep shade create an unlikely sweet spot for a timeless green retreat in New York City

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Problem Solving With the Pros: Rustic Simplicity in a Country Garden

By Jay Sifford Garden Design

Editing thoughtfully and adding some magic result in a timeless weekend retreat

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Problem Solving With the Pros: A Garden Built From Scratch

By Jay Sifford Garden Design

Nature is reintroduced and redefined in a Dutch urban setting, to forge a dynamic relationship with city dwellers

HOUSEPLANTS 8 Essentials for Healthy Indoor Plants

Houseplants add so much to our homes — and can thrive when grown in the right conditions. Keep these tips in mind

GARDENING GUIDES Great Garden Combo: 3 Wonderful Plants for a Deer-Resistant Screen

Protect your privacy and keep deer at bay with a planting trio that turns a problem garden area into a highlight

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Plumbago

A multifacted ground cover with an enormous range, plumbago solves landscape problems with panache

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Sedum (Stonecrop)

By Annie Thornton

Terrific at filling gaps and in a wide range of colors and shapes, sedum is a problem solver in the garden

Sponsored

More Discussions

New Zealand lemonade tree with flowers

0

figs vs kumquats

6

Productivity of kumquats and their hybrids

4

What varieties?

0

bottom work on Meiwa kumquat's roots

0