I am just west of Stockton, CA.

just try to keep insects under control

My bearss lime has cupped leaves like that and has had them all the years I've had it. Looks fine to me.

I got a new lemon seedling coming up now that makes me three trees

and I'm located just south of the Ohio river

Hey all,

Thank you for your input. It seems like I was just worrying too much lol probably because I’m a beginner, and that I want everything to be as healthy and happy as possible. So anyway, my little tree is doing great! I gave it a misting the other day when I watered it and most of the leaves flattened out. Does anyone else mist their tree?

I'm a beginner as well but worrying too much don't help sometimes you have to let things open to build incest resistance

I'm just starting planting lemons from seed

Was going to make a crack about 'incest' resistance, but thought I better not.

ineect resistant is good thing when developd and that can help in fighting off citrus canker

Wilting/drooping leaves are a sign of water or nutrient problems. The citrus looks very healthy so it is likely not getting enough water when leaves droop. When the leaves cup the plant is trying to conserve water and reduce moisture loss. 2-3 times per week in a clay pot is probably not enough. I see one leaf with sunburn but that is typical. I water every day or every other day. My plants are in a row so they shade each other.

Laura, I'm glad you made that comment. My tahiti lime also has always had cupped leaves, altho the odd thing is that not ALL the leaves are cupped. Which is why I thought I had a watering issue.

Eventually I pulled it out of the pot and discovered root rot.

Now it's doing better... and still has cupped leaves.

It is good to mist/spray the leaves - keeps them clean and insects benefit, as well. Do be mindful of the potential for fungal issues, tho.

keeping insects away will prevent some fungal diseases and some citrus viruses

Cupped leaves means a young plant doesn't have enough root structure and is trying to slow down transpiration by reducing photosynthesis. It is cupping to block photosynthesis. More or less water can't compensate for underdeveloped or damaged roots. If the plant CANT slow photosynthesis down then next step would we to drop leaves. Hibiscus909 you could give it more shade to slow down transpiration. You could put it under a patio umbrella. If you have root rot you should consider a new pot or a new mix. I live in 5B and using a clay pot with standard potting soil with a 60% maximum water content I have to water every single day in the summer. Root rot may indicate your pot is not draining well or your using a potting mix with a wetting agent that is holding too much moisture. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VHLZ4SJC8Y

Lemon lime wrote.....>Cupped leaves means a young plant doesn't have enough root structure and is trying to slow down transpiration by reducing photosynthesis.....<.

Ryan's tree is a very healthy tree. Some leaf curvature is common, especially at time of year. Leaf curvature can of course is a symptom of a tree in drought. Looking at Ryan's tree, it does not show any symptoms what so ever of a tree out of balance between the scion and the root system. Many citrus cultivars commonly and naturally show curvature even during the winter months. With Ryan's tree I don't see any problems, none at all.

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Silica: My last comment was addressed to Hibiscus909 who brought the same issue up about cupping. Being able to read the leaves is a very important aspect of growing citrus. It allows you to make subtle changes before they become serious problems.

Ryan: Drought stress is the most common cause of leaf curl in citrus, but is also the easiest to remedy. If leaves begin to curl inward while retaining their green coloration and the soil around your tree feels dry to the touch, you’re not watering enough.

Ryan: Water before leaves show wilting, and when roots have reached about 50% dryness. Even if the top of the soil is dry, check the moisture level in the soil surrounding the roots before watering. A wilted tree that perks up within 24 hours after watering indicates the roots got too dry. Adjust the watering schedule accordingly. A tree with yellow or cupped leaves, or leaves that don't look perky after watering can indicate excessive watering and soggy roots. Give your tree water less often.

Ryan: What ever potting mix you use it is important to understand the Maximum Water Content the mix can hold. I use a potting soil that holds a maximum humidity of 60%. That means I can deep water and the plant will balance itself for 60% maximum moisture content. It does not take much to cycle between 60% and 40-50% where you need to re-water.

My potted citrus have full size oranges developing so I can't screw around with water. The plant would drop citrus quickly if I let the soil dry out. I am watering and shading enough that the plants are putting out new growth. When watered my potting soil is a dark chocolate color from being moist. When the soil turns a milk chocolate color I normally water or check with a meter. No cupping except for tiny new leaves which are blocking photosynthesis because they are too young. Older leaves are reasonably relaxed. I really baby these things. If I feel the sun is too strong or too windy up goes the Sunbrella for shade. I grow in zone 5b so I have to deal with everything from freezing hail to 100F in the summer. See how moisture is evaporating from the clay pot. See the sunburn on the pineapple leaf in the bottom left of photograph. That is from the sand which reflects a lot of heat and sun. I grow indoors 6 months of the year. That is why some of the older leaves are oversized and some are not a perfect shape from the heat of the artificial light. No leaf drop, no fruit drop, no yellow leaves, using sphagnum peat moss potting soil and watering and misting every day. I use 90F tap water. In the winter I use reverse osmosis.

Lemon lime those are some beautiful trees! What kind are they? I don’t know how you grow indoors you must baby them quite a bit everytime I bring mine indoors the pests attack mites scales you name it I got it! Lol

Thank you Jan. Indoors I spot sprayed with 70% alcohol in a 4 oz travel size spray bottle a couple times per week for mealy bugs. They always came back but it kept them in check for months. Supplemental LED lighting and canvas frames on floor angled and wrapped in Mylar to reflect more light. Outdoors use fine water mist to knock off both mealy bugs and mites.

ladybugs eat mealybugs and get it some praying mantis or cream of wheat cereal and put it around your tree trunk

ladybugs will eat mite

Thanks Howard.

I thought you would want a nontoxic way to control the problem and it better when u eat the fruit

Today's ambient temperature is a mere 83F but clay pots, sand, and asphalt are 97-100F. Mid 80's is optimal root activity. Time to water. These hand held infrared meters are about $15 on Amazon and they give you a lot of information about when to water.

your welcome

your welcome

because my pot is filled with clay soil when I water my lemon trees the clay never really dries out

@lemonlimeorange thank you for your input. I’m definitely going to snag one of those temperature readers

@howard love the enthusiasm but let’s be more selective about commenting

Another great use for that meter is measuring your lawn surface temperature. You can quickly identify areas that need more water and prevent the grass from burning. I measured some lawns today and there was a 40F difference between burnt patches and healthy green grass.

Lemon lime what a beautiful picture I just love your windows! The snow in the backdrop of your beautiful lush green citrus leaves love it. I will try alcohol spray for my mites next time Thanks for the tip.

there are bugs that eat mites

my clay soil that is in flowerpot where I'm growing my lemons seedlings and sence I'm I in zone 6b why didn't the temperatures in the lower 20's and upper teens damage my regular lemon tree seedlings

I think I might be changing my soil structure a little bit

Bearss leaf curl or cupping? Since we're on the topic? Mine finally was doing well and then this cupping started in early summer. Thought I was overwatering? Don't see any signs of pests. Someone have feedback for me?? Thanks a lot

Looks like a thirsty tree to me.

I agree with Ken

Does anyone else have trouble with ants in their plants? They moved into my now removed pumpkin patch and stated an aphid megafarm. Now I see them crawling on my tree, in the soil, and even inside a leaf via leaf miner trail! I’ve sprinkled ant powder but it doesn’t seem to work. Help?

try cream of wheat at the base of the trunk

I have ants and they chew off the fruits so that the trees flower again. They also chew of new shoots to force flowwering again. When the flowers open they drink the nectar and gard it from other polinatores. Kumquat fruits grow so slowly that the ants remove everyone. Lemons grow fast enough that 35 of 250 lemons out grew the chew off size and will grow to ripeness. Diatomaceous earth has no affect on ants.

I heard cream of wheat wheat at the base of the trunk works

Any comments on my potted lime tree? I can get a better photo tomorrow…it’s big for the pot but I’m afraid to plant in the sandy soil where I live. I’m afraid the salt will kill it. Been wondering why the leaves are all standing so tall on the branches, pointing skyward….

Your tree does not look all that bad, How long has it been since you last transplanted the tree? When a tree becomes root bound the trees growth is rapidly up. like tooth past squeezed out of the tube.

So good to know!! I’ve never repotted it…It started from key lime seed about 6 years ago or so. I’m sure it’s root bound now that you mention it….It had blooms in Feb…right before we had the rarest South Texas week long freeze…I took it in and it survived…but nothing came of the blooms…I noticed the soil was seeming kind of hydrophobic so I mixed in some organic fertilizer and I trimmed it back a little to try to encourage it…I’ve just been winging it but really don’t want it to get so root bound that it dies…Should I plant it in the ground? I’m afraid I can’t protect it inside if we start to have more freaky freezes way down here in Texas….

Silica-Thanks so much for answering!!

@HOWARD Martin. How does cream of wheat prevent ant invasion on tree? Thanks.

According to this article, using any grits won't kill ants and may actually attract more to come: https://www.actionpest.com/blog/post/pest-management-myths-busted

Rose, just read the "Martin citrus 33" thread and you will have your answer to the cream of wheat question. Howard has to be taken with a grain of salt.

My potted lime tree in daylight

Well, I bit the bullet and transferred my lime tree from pot to ground today…Hoping it will now flourish…

No one discussing soil pH. Single biggest factor to affect health of this tree. Nice job so far. Good looking tree! After some time in the ground
I’d do some serious pruning. Especially at the base.
Get a good pH soil tester and adjust accordingly with espoma organic soil acidifier. Ph should be around 6.0
Don’t be afraid to fertilize either.
Be a good citizen and keep on the look out for citrus greening(HLB).
Great resources online from Texas A&M and university of Florida. They have stuff to answer any possible question online
If you get too cold this winter just throw a blanket over the tree(or gently place a blanket)
Key Lime leafs tend to point up. Normal