QuestionQUESTION: I have 2 Meyer lemon bushes in containers. I purchased them in August of 2009. One was purchased with 6 lemons on it. It still has 5 but dropped all but 5 leaves - no new leaves or blossoms have grown on it in all this time.
The second bush dropped all it's leaves but grew new ones and has blossomed. The blossoms dropped off and now the leaves are dropping again too. I only water about every 10 days to 2 weeks when the dirt is dry. I fertilize with 20-20-20 everytime I water them. The nursery where I bought them suggested this as well as plant hormones and spraying the leaves with a fungicide.
There doesn't seem to be any new growth on either of them.
I live in northern Illinois. I have them in my sun porch which faces south and west. I have a plant light on them when it's overcast. They have never been outside since I bougth them but I will put them out when it's warm in the spring.
Am I going to lose them? What can I do for them?
ANSWER: Hi Shirley, Ok, first of all whenever you purchase a young Citrus tree from a nursery, they will always have fruit already on them, this is just a ploy to make you think that you are way ahead of the game, and will have fruit right out of the starting gate, but this is in fact a stress factor for the young tree; it needs to be free of fruit for its first year (at least) and allowed to put all its energy into proper development, strong roots, main stem, etc. The reason for the stress (leaf drop...) can be one of many, including root bound (especially if it is still in the original nursery container....) extreme temperature fluctuation, spider mites (if it is growing indoors in a dry atmosphere...) or too much water (albeit I don't think this is it, due to what you have told me...#. Check the remaining leaves for small red dots and spider webbing, and change out the container, if it is still in the original one, or at least the planting medium, and place an inch of gravel in the bottom before adding the soil #for drainage..). Make certain it is getting plenty of Sunlight and don't be spraying fungicide on it right now, this is only a problem during the Summer, when it is outside. The fungicide could be stressing it also. Let me know about any mites, if they are there we will address it. In any event, you won't lose the tree, it will send out new growth, but History will repeat itself if the cause isn't found. Nick
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thank you so much for your reply. I transplanted it into a bigger pot using tree/shrub mix when I got it. I asked about cutting the fruit off but the nursery told me that I could leave them on.
I don't see any spider mites or webs but I will keep an eye out for them.
I just cut off the fruit. Half of the branches on both plants are starting to turn brown on the ends.
There are a couple blossoms on one of them. Should I take those off this year too?
Thanks again. Shirley
Answer....leave it be for now, taking the fruit off was imperative, but now it needs to rejuvenate itself, and this will take time; if it is still viable, there will be green showing when you scrape the bark, this is the Cambium layer, and it is the indicator of life, keep checking it periodically. Don't water it too much in its present condition, put it in a Sunny window, keep it sprayed and only water when it is dry half way down. Don't give it any more soluble fertilization (as you were with the 20-20-20) and no more fungal protection, this may have shocked it and caused the loss of leaves.Now its just a waiting game for new buds to develop, keep me apprised and good luck! Nick
