Lemon Tree Losing It's Leaves... What do I do?
andy99mich
7 years ago
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andy99mich
7 years agoRelated Discussions
Meyer lemon tree losing leaves
Comments (4)Huntro: I think watering thoroughly at least once a week is your problem. Yellowing leaves, followed by leaf drop, is fairly typical of overwatering. Try watering only when you are certain the soil in your pot has dried out; that may be a period of two weeks, depending on your soil. Citrus requires less water than most other fruits and potted plants, and it is easy to rot citrus roots in waterlogged soil. I also believe it is good practice to re-pot plants like Meyer Lemon about every third year, just on general principles. Fresh soil that drains well and a little root pruning should help to re-invigorate your plant, and that is what I would do with it now, just in case there is some life left in the roots. Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA...See MoreMeyer lemon tree losing leaves and fruit, Hawaii
Comments (7)Yes, you have a combination of things going on.. The light is not an issue since you said that has not changed, but I tend to think it's that mix.. It looks a little to wet fine, peaty for my trees and that alone can cause severe issues.. It looks like it has had its day, worn out. It has lost its structure and porousity..That alone can be certain death because of reasons I mention here. It can collect salt residue from fertilizing and tap water if you do not flush once a month and fine roots killed off from those salts can cause your tree to starve for fertilizer and or water.. Root rot can also cause this effect.. Which is why I also question whether you have pests or no,t since they are attracted to trees that are rich in sugars and defficient on hydration.. If it were me, I would either flush the mix and keep an eye on how long it takes for your pot to dry out right down to the root zone.. I would also check the root zone to see if it has suffered any root loss which that is a symptom. If the roots are still healthy and the soil works like it is suppose to, then flush the heck out of that mix with fresh water and the fertilize on a regular basis.. If that soil is not doing the proper job, then I would use a very fresh porous mix, rinsing all the old soil mix of those roots.. I would wait about 2 weeks before fertilizing again in this case.I would do a repot a.s.a.p if it needed it after examing every thing and you see a need. It looks like it's in need of some much needed food, for sure to support good growth in all areas, once you make sure the roots and mix are ok.. Good luck! MIke This post was edited by meyermike_1micha on Mon, Mar 10, 14 at 19:58...See MoreMy Meyer Lemon Tree is not doing well... can I save it?
Comments (11)Hi Mike You stated the vacuum idea very accurately. I am just suggesting one plant, one month, one vacuuming. Then in spring time lets transplant the tree to gritty mix or 5-1-1 so we go very well from this point on with a tree that otherwise had NO chance. Braun Mike is correct in that you do not want a system that needs the vacuum idea. When I planted my trees I to had way to heavy of mix. My trees suffered and I came up with this vacuum system to pull the trees though the winter to spring when I re planted them. If I had used 5-1-1 or gritty mix my tree would have done very well with no vacuum. My trees grew so well because of the light box and heat It was not the vacuum that worked. The vacuum pulled my trees through what was probably a terminal jam. Mike The only 2 things wrong with my light buckets and hot box is 1) The electric does not pass IBI inspection codes. 2) The garden forum consist almost entirely of people that are flush with money. I work in communities that have residents who work 2 jobs and still rely on soup kitchens to keep from starving. One 5 gallon bucket in a lawn with kale can produce enough greens for one person all year that he/she could NEVER EVER afford at a grocery store $$$$$$$$$$$$. Mike it appears to me that you have NEVER EVER had a REAL problem in your life that amounted to more than an insecure feeling in high school because Joe Sluck's girl friend was prettier than yours. I do greatly respect your tremendous knowledge of growing of plants and citrus trees You trees are admirable. I fear I am Preaching to the wrong group of people in this forum. If there is a few People that I have help with my outside of the bucket thinking then it was worth it to me. There are other forces that are diminishing the citrus forum and it to will come back as we figure out how to correct them. STEVE HAS SPOKEN...See MoreMeyer Lemon tree losing it's leaves inside under grow light
Comments (45)I'd say Silica is correct about the ratio of light to soil temperature. This is only meant to simplify the balance of the relationship between leaves and roots. Leaves use light to start the process of making food. The leaves will tell the roots that it needs all the ingredients of the photosynthesis "recipe" to finish making food. So in normal ideal outdoor conditions, the roots provide and send up water+nutrients needed to complete the food being made in the leaves. Imagine that to citrus roots 55F and lower is considered to be like frostbite to the roots. The roots cannot do anything when the soil is cooler than 55F. It cannot absorb water, it cannot function at all and so it basically sleeps to conserve its energy. However if the leaves are having a blast above the soil and getting a sunny Hawaii vacation thanks to strong indoor lighting, it will try to make food. The leaves cannot stop itself from reacting to light. When light hits the leaves and warms the leaves enough for it to function, the leaves will react to light no matter what and must start photosynthesis. But if the roots are too cold, it cannot send up the missing ingredients because it will be in hibernation. Eventually the leaves will lose moisture since it is in active mode. While the leaves are active and losing moisture, the roots are inactive and cannot send water up to hydrate the active leaves. Like running a marathon without any sustenance. The tree will sacrifice it's own leaves if it cannot provide itself the water or nutrients that is needed to continue with the process. Sorry if my post was long. I feel that it can be simple to understand if I try to compare it to thing we already understand. So to answer your question Mike, when the tree is getting plenty of sunlight that means leaf activity goes up and therefore root activity must also go up in order to keep the balance in their relationship. In order to make the root function as much as the leaves, temperatures of the soil surrounding the roots must increase. If root temperatures (and therefore root activity) cannot be increased because heating is too expensive, then the activity levels of both root and leaves must be in balance. Either the root or leaves will have to follow the other. If root activity cannot go up to parallel the leaves then inevitably is it up to the leaves to follow the roots footsteps and also be very inactive. That means reducing light levels to reduce leaf activity for the sake of matching the cold/inactive roots. I think of the leaves and roots as two parts of one living creature. It cannot live without one or their other. Both parts must follow each other because they are two halves of a whole. One is the pie crust and the other the pie filling. You cannot have a pie with a very thick crust but 2 teaspoons of filling and vice versa! It just wouldn't make any sense. You would have a very disfigured and unappetizing pie! They must both contribute the same amount to create a balanced and delicious food! I can get creative when I need to when it comes to explaining things so if this still wasn't easy to understand at all, feel free to let me know. I hope this helped anyone confused about the whole roots and leaves matter...See Moreandy99mich
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoandy99mich
7 years ago
andy99mich thanked woodnativeandy99mich
7 years agoandy99mich
7 years agoandy99mich
7 years ago
tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
7 years agoandy99mich
7 years ago
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