My tree doesn't look very good, yellow leaves, curled leaves, no fruit. I planted it 2 years ago. It gets full sun. I've fertilized it twice with MiracleGrow Fruit and Citris spikes. I live in San Diego, Ca. I don't see bugs on the tree except ants. Are the ants causing the curled leaves?
No, the ants are not causing the tree's leaf problems, although, ants on a citrus tree almost always means the tree has some sort of sucking insect, such as scale, aphids or mealy bugs. The actual reason your leaves are curling is because they are infested with citrus leaf miner, causing the little trails you see. You will find the leaf miner inside the leaf at the end of the trail. Also you are WAY UNDER fertilizing the tree. A two year old citrus tree should have been fertilized 6 times the first year, and 5 times the second year. - Millet
Hi Tedandreas, It looks like herbicide drift. Do I see yellow leaves on the plant next to your tree? http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/patiocitrus/care.html http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/patiocitrus/care.html http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/patiocitrus/care.html http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/patiocitrus/care.html Other possiblilities could be spider mites or overfertilization. Spider mite leaf damage. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/EDISImagePage?imageID=612698892&dlNumber=HS122&tag=FIGURE 22&credits= Newt
Being very familiar with leaf miner damage, I do not think the damage shown is from miners. To me, it appears to be direct damage from something like salt or fertilizer, maybe something off the roof. I do see some yellowing of leaves, but they do appear to be older leaves. Older leaves are the first to show N deficiency, but I would not recommend that you apply fertilizer at this time of year. Wait until late winter, Feb or Mar., and apply a citrus fertilizer with trace minerals. If Mg is not in the minerals, dissolve a tbs of Epsom Salt in some warm water and dilute to 1-2 gal --then pour around the tree. Apply fertilizer 5 times over the growing season. Skeet
This site shows nitrogen deficiency along with many other possibilities. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/HS/HS14100.pdf I just went back and read the original post and for some reason didn't catch the 'ants' on the tree. Do look for scales or aphids, especially if none of the other possibilities don't fit. Newt
Taking a closer look at your leaves, I agree with Skeet, that the damage is not from Citrus Leaf Miners. I don't think it is from a deficiency, but rather from some sort of outside trauma - Millet
Could be thrips or aphids too... I thought on the underside in one photo it looked like aphids.... but the pics are not detailed enough... does look like it needs Mg and nitrogen... could also use iron possibly.... Cat
To be certain of any mineral deficiencies a soil test should be done. You can have one done at your local extension service. http://ucanr.org/ce.cfm Newt
I took a more detailed photo and yes I do see something under most of the leaves. Also the ants are really attracted to these areas. Can you tell me what this is and how to treat it?
Looks like mealy bug. Scroll down at last link for descriptive info. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/EDISImageP...&dlNumber=XC002&tag=IMAGE CH:0538098&credits= http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/EDISImageP...&dlNumber=XC002&tag=IMAGE CH:0538083&credits= http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/XC002 Do look closely to make sure it's not citrus flatid planthopper which they are sometimes confused with. Do click on pictures and be sure to scroll down to 'Detection' which tells you how to id them. http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/orn/shrubs/citrus_flatid_planthopper.htm Newt
No mine doesn't look like any of these. I pulled another leave that had little white flies on it. Most of them flew away but you can still see two here. Also notice the little black circles that they must have made. Do whiteflies make the fuzzy stuff?
If you only have a tree or two, you can get rid of them with a vacuum cleaner. Also feed your tree a solution of 1 teaspoon of magnesium sulfate (Epson salts) by dissolving the magnesium sulfate in warm to hot water and when it cools down a little pour it into the container. A citrus tree with a good calcium/magnesium balance will retard white flies. You can also use yellow colored cards covered with a sticky substance. Place several near the tree. White flies are attracted to yellow, and will stick to the card. - Millet
