I posted a thread last week about my Murcott Tangerine having some scale problems: http://www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/forums/showthread.php?t=71825 My Meyer Lemon tree was, at the time, doing perfectly well. We'd had some issues with temperature causing leaves to fall off earlier in the fall, but she had sprouted roughly 20 new leaves and they had grown pretty well. They were still bright green, thin and a little droopy last week, but I did some googling and it seemed that they were just new. One of the two remaining lemons fell off this Sunday (nearly ripe). Then this week the new leaves started to curl up. More googling, suggests maybe it was dry. I water it maybe twice a week, letting it dry out in between waterings. I have one of those soil monitors that checks temperature, pH, wetness, etc. Every couple of weeks I give it some more acidic fertilizer, and up until this week it was generally fine -- now the new leaves are almost all shriveled up, dry to the touch. I think they would break if I put much pressure on them. They're still green, and I see no evidence of pests. THe older leaves are wilting. They used to be fine! Please help! I love my lemon tree (Liz). What could have happened? Can I fix it? Would it help if I upload photos?
The symptoms suggest the tree may have been exposed to cold temperatures, perhaps during shipment to your location. However it appears you've had your tree for sometime now, going by your previous thread. So that can be discounted. Is the tree situated next to a cold, drafty window or conversely next to a hot, drafty heat register? You could be right about the tree not receiving enough moisture. Is it possible the Christmas lights have added too much heat to the root zone such that the soil is dry deep down but moist up top? I suggest you pop the tree out of the pot to inspect the condition of the root system and the level of moisture surrounding it. In the meantime stop applying fertilizer and possibly reduce watering depending on what you find in your inspection. A few photos may be of help.
thanks again for your help, Junglekeeper. The plants are both in front of the window so they can get some sun. It's an older building, so it probably is a little drafty. They're also by the radiator, which may be part of the problem. Do they need to get direct sunlight? I can move them back about a metre or so from both the window and radiator, but they'll get a little less sun. Whatever works though, I'm desperate and hoping to not lose Liz! Tangela is just fine (I included a photo), incidentally. I removed the Christmas lights and some soil (the soil was damp, I figured maybe there was too much moisture retention -- I replaced it with some Perlite and gravel) and repotted Liz. She really looks terrible. Her last lemon fell off during the process -- the skin feels a bit thin. I attached 6 photos, please let me know if more would help. Thanks again for your advice and assistance!
The roots appear to be still in good condition. The soil is not overly dry or wet. I speculate that the combined heat from the heater, Christmas lights, and from the sun on a nice day is having a drying effect on the plant(s). The heater does appear to be far enough away from the plants though. From what I've read Christmas lights are usually wrapped around a container rather than placed inside. In any case I'm not sure you need them. Citrus roots become inactive at 13C but indoor temperatures are usually much higher, perhaps around 21C. It's okay to keep the roots warm but don't over do it. From my research, maximal root growth is achieved at 29-36C, with restricted growth below 18C or over 36C. If you think the heater may be contributing to the problem you might try placing some sort of solid sheeting in front of it as a shield so that the plants don't get a direct blast. You'll have to decide whether heat is the problem. I would allow the plants to get maximum light, if possible.
I'm afraid poor Liz might be dying -- all of her leaves have dried out and shrivelled up, and are falling off daily. It happened so fast, I'm not sure what exactly went wrong... If the roots are still healthy, is there any way I can salvage this plant? Is there anything I can do to encourage it to send out new leaves or branches and come back to life? Should I prune it at all? Thanks for any help.
I would not count the tree out; the roots are healthy and stems are green. Have a look in the thread How long does it take for a sick citrus tree to get better? | UBC Botanical Garden Forums and also the one that I reference in my first post there. They relate to trees that were damaged by cold during shipment. I believe you'll find your answers in those threads.
My lemon tree is losing all its leaves and the soil is pretty moist but I don't know what to do. I went to Walmart and got some potting so but of course it is moist dirt to. I don't want my lemon tree to die.
That's not very much to go on. Was the tree purchased recently and transported home in cold temperatures? Can you describe the process of the tree losing its leaves? Was it sudden? Did the leaves wilt, dry up, etc? What are the growing conditions (light, temperature) where the tree is situated? Pictures may be of help in diagnosing the situation.
I got it in July and t was doing great till I brought it inside for the winter. The dirt is very moist and won't dry so I'm thinking it is the WinDow it's by so I bought some new soil but haven't changed it out yet. Do you think that might help
Did you gradually acclimatize the plant before moving it indoors? What were the temperatures outdoors at the time the tree was brought in? How many healthy leaves are left at this point? The tree will not need much moisture if there has been significant leaf loss. There's an increased chance of root rot if the soil remains moist for a long period. I suggest you ease the root ball out of the container to inspect the condition of the roots. It's probably all right if the roots are still firm and the root tips are creamy white. If the soil is soggy or wet, you may want to replace it with a medium that is more porous. Ideally it should retain moisture but is quick to drain. That can be done by adding bark chips, perlite and/or calcined clay (e.g. Turface) to the typical indoor soil mixture which is usually a mix of peat moss, sand, and perlite. Withhold water until the medium has become a bit on the dry side. Does it ever get cold where the tree is located? If so, how cold?
