Q. We went and talked to nursery folks a couple times about this tree.
First we got the water cycle correct, then iron was suggested which we did as directed. Then a soil amendment was suggested. Online I read possibly the tree
suffers from a magnesium issue. I thought these photos would give a better
picture. We did as directed and the tree is not
responding in fact it is getting worse. I am wondering if it is because of
where it was planted which is a confined root growing area. Any insight would
be appreciated.
A. By looking at the leaves I have to assume this is a
Meyer Lemon (which is, by the way not technically a lemon but an unknown hybrid
found in a Chinese back yard by USDA researcher D. Meyer in the early 20th
century).
Your pictures are all pretty good with the exception of not showing a critical view of the trunk where it is just out of the soil. Just for future reference always look at and show this interface of the trunk and soil. W/o that view I have to only guess that the rootstock/trunk union is well out of the soil and we can eliminate that issue. And, a shot of the soil might show how the plant is getting watered. I have to assume drippers and I would guess they are in the same locations as when the plant was planted.
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| Readers lemon tree with yellowing leaves |
Your pictures are all pretty good with the exception of not showing a critical view of the trunk where it is just out of the soil. Just for future reference always look at and show this interface of the trunk and soil. W/o that view I have to only guess that the rootstock/trunk union is well out of the soil and we can eliminate that issue. And, a shot of the soil might show how the plant is getting watered. I have to assume drippers and I would guess they are in the same locations as when the plant was planted.
The leaves show two distinctive symptoms that often occur
in concert: 1. There is some salt burn and 2. The common symptom that comes
with salt issues is the magnesium deficiency. Just FYI Iron deficiency only occurs on
the new leaves.
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| Closer look at readers yellowing leaves |
For the salinity (salt) issue we usually look first at
the watering and with watering comes knowing if the water can even be applied
uniformly all around the edge of the canopy, sometimes called the 'drip line'.
Citrus are botanically a shrub with shallow and wide spreading roots that are tough to grow to maturity with drippers unless they are closely spaced in a wide band around the canopy's edge. There is one picture showing the plant is right next to a step wall with no water being applied in that zone of the root system.
I would not worry too much about adding any supplements and see if you
can begin to manage a watering system of application that would give a long
deep soaking water application out near the drip line. The 'soaker' hoses could
be laid out on the ground out near the drip line and let it run for hours and
hours to try and leach out the excess salts that may have accumulated over time
with the drip system. Drip systems are fine but, due to their limited water
output salts can begin to accumulate thus impacting citrus' sensitivity to
salts.
Citrus are botanically a shrub with shallow and wide spreading roots that are tough to grow to maturity with drippers unless they are closely spaced in a wide band around the canopy's edge. There is one picture showing the plant is right next to a step wall with no water being applied in that zone of the root system.
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| Clear look at the yellowing or chlorosis problem on readers citrus |
Give it a long deep watering about once every few weeks
from now on all during the growing season (May through October) to supplement the regular water to leach out
the salts that inevitably are deposited with the limited volume of drip systems
. .This leaching watering is also the great time to add fertilizer and get it
into the soil evenly all around the active roots near the drip line.
-Terry Mikel
I have a dwarf Myers lemon and this is it's 3'd year of growth and second season of producing. The first crop last year was 11 lemons which reached full maturity. The second crop which had a tremendous flush of blossoms (over 500) and after the "june drop" I know have approx 35 lemons in various stages of developement. I have noticed that my leaves are turning yellow. The container is 18 dia and has a water saucer below to hold water. The tree is next to a Key Lime and a Veneous Orange tree, both in identical planters. I fertilize with Miracle Grow Citrus pellets and water it consistently. Both the Key Lime (has approx 100 key limes developing) and orange tree (not producing yet) have beautiful lush green leaves and my poor lemon tree looks like it's struggling. It's planted with the roots right below the soil line and the trunk above. I do not think it's a water issue (we are on well water and mother nature)and the fertilizer I am using has Magnesium and iron. Any idea what my problem might be. It has new growth but the new leaves are showing the veins pretty prominately and are not nearly as green as the other citrus trees.
ReplyDeletethanks for you help.
Send me some pictures at Extremehort@aol.com
DeleteAnother possibility is yellowing due to high light intensity. This is more of a "bronzing" color and discolors the entire leaf. Iron is pretty distinctive as it happens on newer leaves or is progressively more yellow on newer leaves and typically in the early stages the veins remain more green while the spaces between the veins are yellow or a lighter green in early stages. Just because you add iron or have iron in a fertilizer does not mean it will work. Iron chelate fertilizers are your best choice to use for iron fertilizers. In particular, iron in the form of EDDHA chelate is the best. As a regular course of action I would get some iron EDDHA chelate fertilizer and add it into your fertilizer program once a year as a precaution. It is hard to find everywhere in Las Vegas. Plant World nursery does carry it in one pound cannisters. The other places have not carried it in the past. If it is this bronzing/yellow discoloration then there is not much you can do the leaves already discolored. But move the plant out of an area with high light intensity all day long.
ReplyDeleteI have a Meyer lemon thats in a huge container and i've had it about 3years it was given to me as a present it had scales the second year i had it and i cleaned them off hoping to keep them contained but now it has yellowing around the leave edges and i feed it with miracle grow once this year don't know how often to but don't know what to do with the yellowing edges of the leaves and it hasn't blossomed this year ethier and i'm not computer literate enough to send picture its about 2ft tall in the container and just don't know what to do. I had one before and for the longest time in my greenhouse and it finally died and was told i needed to keep it outside so i have this on my porch in a container as i had my last in the greenhouse can you help i hope
DeleteScale insects on citrus is usually controlled with some sort of oil application either during the winter months or spring and fall. As the name suggests, scale insects cover themselves with this hard outer shell while they're feeding on plant juices. They come out of the shell to mate and lay eggs. The eggs hatch, these younguns find their own place to start sucking plant juices and surround themselves with this hard scale. So the only time to really get them is when they come out of that scale to mate and lay eggs. Problem is we don't know when this is. So we apply dormant oils or summer oils such as Volck Supreme during the winter, spring and fall months. We normally avoid the hot summer months when we apply summer oils or you can get leaf drop and plant damage. The oil acts like a blanket on these insects when they are not protected by the scale and suffocate them. Regarding the yellowing I would look at the previous posting about iron EDDHA and apply that. Otherwise during the growing season and when there is no fruit present that could get stained, apply a liquid iron to the foliage and use a wetting agent such as Ivory liquid or a commercial wetting agent.
ReplyDeleteIt is too hot there - nothing more. You are getting a huge reflection of heat from the walls - if you have an infrared thermometer it is probably going to read very high. There isn't too much wind circulation either by the looks of it. Plus, those roots are in contact with all sorts of nasty things the construction people bury close to the house when they build it. If you aren't watering deeply but infrequently, your roots are also too close to the surface. This happens a lot when drip systems are used but the perimeter isn't extended as the roots grow outward. Watering every week, once, overnight is better for trees of any kind in the desert - it creates a situation where they will keep sending their roots farther down into the soil and it will create a more drought proof tree as well as a healthier tree. I keep all citrus under 70% shade in the summer. Everything needs to be mulched with straw or hay - the sun is baking everything to death.
ReplyDeleteI have 4 or 5 year old meyers lemon, in Indiana. Given to me as a gift last summer. put on many blooms this summer and set fruit. i pinched off all but one lemon per limb. That's probably more than they can support. Planted in a large fabric container. leaves started yellowing about three months ago during middle of summer. Fruit is increasing in size 9near golf ball size) but tree looks like it on it's last leg. A few leaves have competely died 9 three or 4) and fallen off. Had to bring them all inside two weeks ago when outside temp's dropped below 40 degrees. Have a Satsuma Orange (too young to bear on one side and a kumquat on the othe side loadred with, pencil side fruit. All three on the same fertilizer (mostly organic), watering schedule. Orange and kumquat appeasr in excellent health. Now that they are inside they have a large south facing window with supplimental HID. Have them on a cart so when temp is above 40 degrees I move them back outside for a little fresh air. I'm really worried about the lemon.
ReplyDeleteI live in Florida, I bought a Meyer tree from home depot,I noticed this year the leaves are yellow,do I need,to fertilize it.I have some 10-10-10 At home,now I started to water it everyday.what do I do.
ReplyDeleteCheck with your county extension office. The soils in Florida are highly variable but my guess is a watering and drainage problem or mineral fertilizer problem. Look at these publication on nutrient deficiencies in citrus and other problems.
Deletehttps://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ch142
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs141
You should NEVER have to water citrus daily. That could cause root rots and kill it.
I have a 2 year old Meyer lemon and the leaves have turned very yellow. First ws told to pull off all the buds. So I did...It now has produce a ton of fruit but looks very stressed. Should I remove all the fruit to help it out? I am southern CA where is it very warm and dry. I water it once every two weeks as I was told?
ReplyDeleteThanks, Paula
Paula. Watering once every two weeks sounds like not often enough. Citrus will develop yellow leaves if the soil is not kept moist. Use a soil moisture meter for houseplants to gauge when to water again. Water when the meter is half way between wet and dry. Dont follow a strict schedule. I dont know your temperatures but soil moisture meters are better than a schedule. Thats my guess on it.
DeleteIs there some way to grow leaves back on my dwarft potted Meyer lemon tree in Feb. I t looks like it's dying back? Indoor for winter, in 125 cfl bulb for 12 hrs. A day ? Please help my lemon trees to make it 2 more mo till spring to set them to real sun? I only get artificial life light ! Some say it's safe to start feeding in Feb. others say summer to fall ? Please help my Meyer lemon potted to stop die back, limbs aren't but 6& 8 inches & will die if die back keeps up???
ReplyDeleteNice light. Low heat so it makes it safe to use near plants without burning. Make sure the CFL is around 2700k this time of year for flowering. Make sure you tree does not have one of the citrus scale insects. These will cause leaf drop and stickiness..honeydew...If you have it then use lightweight dormant oils for scale control. otherwise leaf drop can be caused my watering problems...too often or not often enough. Use a soil moisture meter to help guesstimate when to water. You can also lift the container to judge its weight or use the pencil technique. Make sure the container drains. Leaves grow from bud. Buds are stimulated to grow when they sense sunlight and the terminal bud...the bud on the end of the branch...is gone. Either it dies or is removed. This removal helps to initiate new growth from buds exposed to sunlight. Some will try go grow strongly verical. I would remove these when they are seen. Leave growth that is at an angle, not straight up or straight down.
DeleteI plant 1 in our yard, and indeed it's not easy
ReplyDelete