Need some advice on meyer lemon tree in phoenix az
Matthew Watts
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I planted a Meyer lemon tree from home depot in late February (2 months ago). It seems to be thriving, it has grown a lot and I have counter over 50 tiny lemons on the tree.
That leaves me to my problem. Most of the leaves are slightly yellow along the edges. I have had 2 or 3 leaves drop off the tree within the last 2 months. Even one little lemon has turned yellow (although the rest are green). What could be causing this?
I am giving it plenty of water, plenty of sun and I just fertilized (with organic fruit fertalizer) it 2 weeks ago but it hasent seemed to help.
Like I said the tree is growing like crazy and the lemons are too but the yellowing is concerning me. Also it is watered on an irrigation system. It gets a half gallon of water at 6:00am and another half gallon at 1:30pm. I have 7 other trees that get the same amount of water and there is no yellowing on those trees. The other trees came from home depot the same time as the meyer lemon tree, so they are around the same size and age im assuming.) My other trees are 2 ficus, 2 gardenia, 1 peach, 1 pomegranate, and 1 nectarine)
Also here is a link for the fertilizer I am using.
Thank for the help
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (6)
Silica
8 years agoRelated Discussions
New Meyer lemon tree- need advice!
Comments (4)schulerbeth, That's a beautiful tree! The yellowing leaves dropping is due to lighting being changed. The tree came from the nursery were it was likely getting ideal lighting. So the tree might be cutting back a bit to adjust to its new home. Once the tree has adjusted to the spot, it'll stop dropping leaves. The symptoms of over watering are very similar to under watering. Slight leaf curl, and may also droop. I do not see the with your tree. You shouldn't be too concerned with the browning on the back of the leaves yet. Like Greenman28 said, looks like old damage. It'll never go away until the leaf is replaced. So if it doesn't worsen I wouldn't take any action. You'll find that Meyer lemons would rather make lemons then make new leaves. So don't worry about trying to make it bloom. Because you say you are new at this. And I see the tree is at a sliding glass door. Come spring time. You may be tempted to put the tree out in the morning on a nice day. You will want to be careful not to burn the leaves. Citrus trees need to acclimate (about 3 weeks) going into full sun from only a few hours of sun....See MoreNeed advice on keeping this meyer lemon or not
Comments (3)The Meyer, in container has a semi-well deserved reputation for being "finicky" , but if you are a fan of Meyer lemons, it is a small price to pay. First, when you dramatically change the light conditions a Meyer will drop most, if not all its leaves, to replace them later with leaves better suited to the new light conditions. To move a Meyer from outside to inside without the leaf loss, you need to move it from full sun to partial sun for 2 weeks; then to full shade for 2 weeks; then indoors; reverse the process when putting it out in the Spring... and please DO put it out, if you can; you will be rewarded with a happy, healthy plant. Second, when you bring it indoors to a sunny window, the plant gets warm; but the roots generally stay cool; and citrus roots don't like to grow into cool soil... the solution is to put some sort of heater to warm the soil, or to put the plant a little further from the window. The thing to remember is first the roots grow; and then the leaves and branches. Last, get it out of that Terra Cotta pot. In cool climates the evaporation from the clay creates salt build up, and cools the soil... citrus roots do not like to grow into cool soil....See MoreNeed some Meyer lemon advice
Comments (9)Thank you both for the advice! I have mid to high 40's in my area the next week or so, so I'm leaving it out for now. I am not as concerned about transitioning light levels now as its literally going 3 feet inside of its exact spot that its in. but I am concerned about pests. This is my first year with fruit trees and I've already lost my apples and fig to what I'm guessing was spider mites. One week they were fine and healthy then they started drooping and turning brown. I didn't see an pests so I assumed it was a watering issue but once it was too late (they were all brown/shriveled) I noticed fine webbing that seemed to be on the remains of the leaves. I assume they are beyond salvage but I cant bring myself to toss them out. I plan on washing my pot of the lemon tree and spraying it but I have no idea what to spray with or how much. I've sifted through the forums and seen HO and neem mentioned as well as insecticidal soap but I'm not sure what brand to get or how to treat. Any suggestions or favorites?...See MoreNeed Advice on Meyer Lemon in container
Comments (3)I grew one in a 30-35 gal container. It put out a lot of fruit after the 3rd year(I think it was). I had it outside in Southern exposure. Had to give it away,it got too big. If you get even 1 fruit,save the seeds.The,1 seed can grow 3 or more new plants.they have several embryos per seed. The plant I grew in a pot to 8+ft. tall is in a guys backyard at 30x as big. Seeds were from grocery store seeds. Once they grow a tree they really are easy to grow/keep alive-outside here in S.Ca. where we have no real winter.Coldest it gets is a week at most of 30+ degree temps. Not enought to kill them. Smoke...See Morecory (Zone 7a, NJ)
8 years agoMatthew Watts
8 years agolast modified: 8 years ago
evdesert 9B Indio, CA
8 years agoDocHollywood 9b Central Tucson
8 years ago
Related Stories
GARDENING GUIDESHow to Keep Your Citrus Trees Well Fed and Healthy
Ripe for some citrus fertilizer know-how? This mini guide will help your lemon, orange and grapefruit trees flourish
Full Story
EDIBLE GARDENSHow to Grow 10 Favorite Fruit Trees at Home
Plant a mini orchard in fall, winter or early spring to enjoy fresh-off-the-tree fruit the following year
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESSpring Citrus Care Reaps Months of Sweet Rewards
Learn how to tend citrus trees in spring and ways to preserve their delicious fruit
Full Story
EDIBLE GARDENSHow to Grow Your Own Peaches and Nectarines
Make gardening a little sweeter with these juicy fruits, which you can eat after plucking or preserve for later
Full Story
SPRING GARDENINGTop 10 Scented Plants for Your Garden
A palette of perfumed plants can transform even the smallest of gardens into a sensory delight
Full Story
MOST POPULARThe Right Way to Test Paint Colors
Here are 5 key steps to take to ensure you're happy with your wall paint color
Full Story
LANDSCAPE DESIGNRecipe for Mediterranean Edible Garden Style
The only thing better than a delicious meal outdoors is the satisfaction of growing some of the key ingredients yourself
Full Story
LIFE9 Ways to Unclutter Your Holiday
If piles of gift wrap, boxes and extra items are weighing you down, clear the way to enjoy a serene holiday with these decluttering tips
Full Story
HOUSEPLANTSIndoor Winter Gardens for Cheerier Days
Bring plants inside for drab-days mood boosting — not to mention cleaner indoor air and protection for your greenery
Full Story
MOST POPULARMy Houzz: Open-Air Living in the Mountains of Bali
Community, jaw-dropping beauty and sustainability come together in a tropical paradise for a London expat
Full Story
BarbJP 15-16/9B CA Bay Area