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Citrus Ask The Yard Doctor California Gardening

Meyer Lemon Tree (Zone 10A): Over-watered or under fed?

last year

Hello everyone,

I’d appreciate any advice folks can give me here. I’ve lived in Northern California for over a year, and I’m trying to learn the ins and outs of citrus care.

Originally, I was watering every 2 weeks, and the last time that I fertilized was in April with maybe 1/4 cup of Ironite Plus 12-10-10. (It could be that this is not the correct fertilizer for the tree, and that I'm not feeding it enough.)

The tree itself is very fertile. There are probably 100+ ripe lemons inside of the tree, and plenty of new growth on the tree. However, you’ll see that almost all of the leaves are beginning to change. There are some leaves with yellowing spots, some areas with totally yellow leaves, and other areas with leaves that have yellowing/brown tips.

I want to make sure that I’m not doing any more harm to the tree, so I would love some advice on fertilizer choice, and what this tree is trying to tell me.

Here is a link to some photos: https://imgur.com/a/1yz5EEO

Thank you very much!

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Comments (5)

CA Kate z9
last year
Is your tree in a pot or in the ground? I use a fertilizer specifically for citrus; it is a liquid and is 4.3 - 2.0 - 5.3 . I use it on in-ground plants 3 times a year; and about every month for trees in pots. My plants all get watered in the summer 3 times a week... and they need it; and 1 time a week in the winter. I suppliment as needed because of our heat.
serge94501
last year
Hi Kate - what brand of fertilizer is that? I use Dyna-Gro FOL-100 Foliage-Pro Liquid Plant Food 9-3-6 but have only used it for container citrus.
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My grape vine is one of my healthiest plants - and it is the most ignored, except when I have to pull it up onto a trellis or something else to keep it from creeping along the ground under the apple tree. It gets no special watering and no special feeding - it came with the house, but only started making grapes last year, after we had had the house for three years. I've left it growing because I do not think I could grow anything else where it is, except for maybe cherry tomatoes, which I used to have growing mingled with the grape vine. I have some of the same problems as you with new citrus trees, and sometimes I think that I merely got a bad specimen. I had a bad (i.e. weak) Meyer lemon tree that eventually died after a couple of years, and I have replaced it with one that is thriving in the same place. As a backup, I planted a Eureka lemon tree, and it is not doing well, but I'm getting Meyer lemons almost all year now anyway. Lars
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Hi, Thanks for your reply! To clarify, the "tree" (better described as a stick with a couple of leaves and a few marble sized fruits) is still in the pot outside. It is uncovered because we are currently having night-time temperatures in the low 40's. I have lived here for about 4 seasons and it hasn't been the same two years in a row. In general it is WET and dark during the winter and dry during the summer though of course the northwest is known for it's wet climate. So far it has snowed just once each winter (3 out of 4) and there can be about a week's worth of mid 20's weather though I would say in general there is usually a couple of months hovering in the mid 30's. Did I mention it's wet? I mean the soil eventually becomes super-saturated. So right now the little "tree" is in it's own micro-bog though I imagine it's dormant. The little fruits are turning yellow (in a bad way). One thing I could do is transplant it into a smaller pot with some commercial potting soil (somewhere I saw it suggested to use maybe 30% cedar bark also?) and bring it inside (or at least put it as out of the rain as possible). Might well be a huge shock though and maybe I'd be better off waiting 'till spring. Anyhow it sounds like bringing it inside each year would be the better plan as far as having a relatively steady supply of lemons. Is that what you do? thanks bob
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Hi, great to see the Meyer is on the way back! I am in NorCal and have had this happen to me (oranges, lemons, and limes) last August (when it hit 102F a few days in a row). I (over)fed them and failed to keep the soil wet. If the Meyer is showing any signs of dehydration even through you are watering / and / or Unless you have definitive proof (soil analysis) of nutrient deficient soil, I'd not add any fertilizer until you get 3-4" of new branch growth. Heavy blooming is a classic stage of recovery from drought and shock. It is much too easy to over-fertilize. A dose of fertilizer raises the salt level of the soil and can quickly dehydrate the plant if you do not keep the ground wet. Just like your lawn, you cannot let it dry out after dosing it with fertilizer. Burned / damaged roots cannot absorb nutrients and by adding more fertilizer you will just more roots. I have a Sanguinelli Orange that looked far worse from two years of steady dosing of organic fertilizer... i stopped the feeding last August, flushed the soil, and transplanted 2 months ago it to fresh soil (without adding anything). Lo and behold it is just starting to push loads of buds. I have a Valencia that suffered through multiple transplants and aggressive feedings. It has about a dozen leaves and is (finally) starting to show nubs of new growth, but looking dehydrated even though its been watered. i think it will pull it and replace the soil this week. Good luck!
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When I made the mix I added about 1 tbsp of Lime per gallon. I will do a soil PH test tomorrow. I use tap water, will check its PH as well. I took a closer look and found some small long light-colored bugs that move pretty fast. Maybe thrips? I think I found a few mites as well. Will try to take a picture tomorrow. So would a simple soap/neem oil spray take care of these bugs?
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cmcgin202
Original Author
last year
Hey @CA Kate z9, the tree is in the ground. We don't get much rain here, but I was fearful that I somehow over watered the lemon tree and depleted it of nutrients.
CA Kate z9
last year
I buy liquid from Urban Farms - from Texas; they have all sorts and I really do like them. In April I have always put down a long-lasting/dissolving coated fertilizer. They are usually around 6-3-3.

serge94501, I would inagine that the "doing" is what's important, and not so much the numbers. But, I do read that citrus are heavy feeders.

Our Master Gardens recomment a feeding in February/early March, again in April/early May, and then again in July. Where you live it may be different.

cmcgin, My irrigation system comes on by itself and I don't bother it. Your tree seems to be fine and has lots of fruit, so your two-week watering must be enough. ( I assume your fruit pulp iis juicy when used. That's the big indicator. )
Debra Eve
last year
Do a search for "uc master gardener helpline" plus the name of your county. You'll find instructions on how to contact them for a diagnosis.

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