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Grapefruit Tree - 1 year old - Brown leaves

7 years ago

Hi!
I'm new here (but reading a while now) and I'm pretty new to citrus, but already addicted! I live in Belgium (zone 8b).
I have 4 grapefruit trees I grew from seed almost a year ago, they stay indoors at the window with the most sun exposure.
2 of my grapefruit trees look very healthy, but the other two or getting brown patches on their leaves (the old leaves) and I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I treat all 4 the same.
Please help me and tell me what I can do? Thanks!

Featured Answer

poncirusguy6b452xx

7 years ago

Seedlings have a high fatality rate so keep them all. If they all live you can give some away later.

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Comments (12)

Vladimir (Zone 5b Massachusetts)
7 years ago
I believe it is damage due to salts, perhaps from fertilizer. Flush with water three times. Make sure you are adding the correct amount of fertilizer. Has the water been treated with a water softener?
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jelina_dk
Original Author
7 years ago
I really don't use much fertilizer, and only started applying it previous month and the leaves were alreay getting brown before I started fertilizing. And yes I used softened water because I read that when you have hard tap water it is not very good for the plants because it makes the soil too alkaline.
I have searched the internet and it could be caused by low humidity (which is possible because they are near a radiator).
And one of my peper seedlings had a tiny worm in the soil and another citrus tree (given by a friend) has mealybug. Can it be caused by one of those? And what should I do?
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Ok..First of all, the curse of the lemon meyer!! But have no fear, you can prevail! Immediately, I mean immediately, I would get that plant out of the soil ASAP.... That soil your using, has been the DEATH of all mine when I first began. It holds way too much water, a perched water table which citrus HATE in our growing regions, no matter what the product claims, and it holds way to much residue fertilizer salts that can turn leaf tips brown. Your roots should look a healthy white. Take a peak while you are add it, if not, it is killing your tree fast. Therefore the branches dying..Root rot kills the branches, but first the leaves drop, usually green and or yellow..The leafs drop green if under watered and root damaged has taken hold.. Is there a way you can STRAIN out all the peat moss in that soilless mix you bought? Please let me know..I will give you a great idea? Do you have quick access to good nursery mix? You live in Ohio? You need to keep your tree on the dry side with such a lack of sunlight, and make sure it absolutely needs watering before you do it again.. Let us leave it at here, until you change the soil..Nothing else is going to help it, until you first take this step. That soilless mix is junk! Sorry..:-( Let me know when you have done the first step, and or if you want too.. I will then guide you from there..You NEED to put that plant in a FAST draining soilless mix, that dries out rather rapidly. One that is porous and provides great gas exchange after each watering. One that allows the salts to flush out at each watering. One that allows you to feed at every watering. One that provides oxygen and does not suffocate the roots..Does not take too long to dry out, or compact:-) There might still be hope. How much sun does it get? How are the temps? What size, kind of pot is it in? How long has it been taking the soil mix to dry out? What kind of water do you provide it with? Do you use vinager? What kind of analysis, or how high is the ph of your water? What are your cultural habits in detail.. Mike
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poncirusguy6b452xx
7 years ago
Collect rainwater from your downspout or street gutter but don't use soft water. There will be to much salt in it. It will kill your plant
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jelina_dk
Original Author
7 years ago
Oh ok, thanks.
The only problem is I don't really have access to rainwater, I live at a small appartment..
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Vladimir (Zone 5b Massachusetts)
7 years ago
Do not use water that has been treated by a water softener system because it will kill your tree. The softened water is causing the damage to your tree.
jelina_dk
Original Author
7 years ago
And normal tap water, is it ok? Or can I do something to make it good for my plants?
My trees will not die if I stop using softened water, right?
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Vladimir (Zone 5b Massachusetts)
7 years ago
Tapwater that has not been treated by a water softener is OK. Your tree should not die if you stop using softened water. Remember to flush with untreated water as I described above.
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uncle molewacker z9b Danville CA (E.SF Bay)
7 years ago
Irrigation water that has been softened via a salt - is just that, a salty water. Salt water will desiccate and kill the thing quickly.
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jelina_dk
Original Author
7 years ago
Thank you all for the answers!
I flushed the trees today with untreated water, and I'll stop using softened water. I did this because I read it was to alkaline for those trees, what can I do to make the soil more acidic when using alkaline water?
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Vladimir (Zone 5b Massachusetts)
7 years ago
Get a cheap pH testing kit - the kind used to test the pH of swimming
pool or aquarium water. If your tap water is above pH 6.5, add enough vinegar
to adjust it to about pH 5.5 to 6.5. You will only have to add give or take 1 Tb/gal.
jelina_dk
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks! I'll do it as soon as possible! I really love my trees and I really don't want them to die, so I hope this will help :)
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