My citrus tree has lost all its leaves and I only have the truck and very dry branches. Should I cut the dead branches and hope for the best?
Scratch the bark with your fingernail. There's still life in the tree if it's green underneath. Remove only those parts that are obviously dead. (i.e. brown and shrivelled and has a different 'feel'.) If it is a grafted tree and the part above the graft is dead, you've lost the citrus variety as only the rootstock remains. Minimize watering, keep it warm, and hope for the best.
The more important question is why has this tree lost all of its leaves. Are you new to growing containerized citrus trees? It is very common for new growers to lose their trees in the begining. I lost the first 4 trees when I started growing containerized citrus. If you could tell this forum the manner in which this tree was grown, then the forum members should be able to help you correct the problem so that this situation does not happen in the future. What variety of citrus is your tree? How large is the tree and what size container do you have it in? How long have you been growing this tree? What is the makeup of the growing medium? What is your watering practice for this tree? Where is the tree located? These types of questions need to be given so that we have an idea what is wrong with your tree. The cause of your tree's problem is commonly caused by the same 3 or 4 culture problems 98 percent of the time. Take care, and thanks for asking your question on this forum. - Millet
I've lost 2 contained lemon trees and then i stopped trying. What I figured the main problem was, was 1)overwatering and 2) not enough sunlight (it was indoors at a sunny window). They are tough to keep thriving, I've found. Good luck!
Erica, overwatering is very EASILY taken care of by just using the proper growing medium. Second, if your tree was "growing indoors at a sunny window," then I can assure you that your tree had plenty of light. Citrus uses sunlight to produce photosynthates (the trees food source). Citrus belong to the group of C3 plants, and has a photosynthetic rate that saturates at relatively LOW light intensities of 600 to 700 PAR which is ONLY about 30 percent of full sunlight. You can grow wonderful citrus, in your location, if you use a GOOD draining growing medium that at the same time provides an EXCELLENT amount of aeration, and follow a few correct but simple cultural methods to grow your trees. It is not hard. How about trying again? If you have any questions, there are members on this forum that can, and would be happy to assist you. Take care. - Millet
Erica There are a number lemons to the lemon family. Meyers being the most common. If you could Identify the tree and if it is planted in a container or outside I maybe able to help I also see you are from Abbotsford, is this Abbotsford WI. I'll keep checking in . Otherwise good luck..
