QuestionQUESTION: I live in Bradenton Florida, and about 3 months ago bought a small (2 ft high) Meyer Lemon tree from Kmart. I planted it outside in a mostly sunny location, and apply Miracle Grow about once a month, and since it has been very dry here, I have watered it every few days. It was growing well with new blossoms and young fruit developing, but in the past month (Feb-April) I have noticed that the edges and tips of about 75% of the leaves have turned yellow. This yellow color does not go far from the edges, but a few of the older leaves may be approximately 30 to 40% yellow. Most leaves only have the yellow on the very outer edges. I have given it Epson salt, and ph lowering food, thinking the soil might be too acid. What do you think my problem is?
ANSWER: Hi Cary, My nursery is in Sarasota, www.crowleynursery.net. I have a feeling that your Miracle Grow is causing the problem. Cheaper fertilizers have lots of salt and fill ins that burn your plants. I have had many come to the nursery and say that product killed their plants. You want to only use a slow release. During blooming they will loose allot of inner leaves to make room for blossoms and fruit and then the leaves will come back. kathy
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QUESTION: Thanks Kathy,
Actually, after very carefully looking at my leaf problem since I wrote last, I discovered that most of the yellowing happens on the tips of the leaves, and eventually moves down toward the center on the very oldest leaves. Does that change your answer concerning Miricle Grow? I have also used Iron and a regular slow release Citrus fertilizer in conjunction with the Miricle Grow. I have other citrus trees (oranges) that do not show this problem with Miricle Grow - just the Meyers Lemon.
Thanks,
Cary
Answer Hi Cary...found this info for you as you can experiment and find your own truth...kathy
This article will shock many of us who swear their red-ripe tomatoes and victory gardens. But Miracle-Gro is not a good fertilizer for potted plants. The salts that they use as a carrier is harmful, does not leach properly and leave many harmful toxic minerals behind. You can observe plants that have gone downhill by Miracle-Gro's use by the pots, and sometimes even plants of affected material. A yellowish-brown residue sticks to pot sides, foliage and sometimes on benches and floors near plants overdosed on Miracle-Gro. This residue is a harmful toxic salt, when scrapped off and added to soils of neighboring plants could instantly kill them.
These salts are also observed when making a solution of Miracle-Gro. When dissolving a small amount of powdered Miracle-Gro in a bucket of tap water, one sees the many undissolved salts present at the bottom. These salts are just the start of what to expect when watering your plants with Miracle-Gro. The overall effect is a plant that will eventually die and be blamed for death by some disease or insect, when the culprit is Miracle-Gro!
Since this portion of the page has been written, I get about a dozen e-mails a week saying that so many of their plant problems have disappeared and that not using Miracle Grow has solved a lot of other problems they assumed were bugs, diseases or watering disorders. Set a few plants aside and test it for yourself. Maybe you should try these plants again without the use of Miracle Grow.
