QuestionQUESTION: I have a 4' Bearss lime tree and 3' improved Meyer lemon tree both growing in containers. No one remembered to give them food this Spring so I ended up feeding them in August when I got back from Iraq. They developed a ton of blooms and they were moved inside with a lot of them still opening. I think I over-watered them and now they're dropping all of the fruit they developed. And there's a clear sticky substance on the fruit. I stopped watering them, but I think it was too late. The lime still have healthy looking green leaves but they are dropping. And the lemon has a lot of yellow leaves and they are dropping. What can I do to save them? I have plant lights on them every day and I watered them a little today (after 10 days without) and gave them a little bit of citrus tree food. I'm more concerned about the sticky substance? What is it? And there is no sign of pests. I inspect them all the time.
ANSWER: Hi Sarah, Look closely at the stem of the plant. See if you see small oval brown structures on the stem. Or look on the undersides of the leaves for small green soft bodied insects. Aphids and scale give off a sugary sticky substance called "honey-dew" when they feed. You may also see some black mold growing on the leaves as well. This is called sooty mold. All of this is related to insect feeding. You will have to treat the bugs, otherwise they will kill your plant and move to other plants. I use 100 % Pure Neem Oil from Dyna Gro, it does not wash off and is organic. This will protect your plant from future problems. It is also a fungicide and miticide which can help other plants you may have problems with...
The lemon that is dropping leaves is either making room for fruit (still have green leaves on tips) or it needs more water or needs a bitter pot.
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QUESTION: I examined the trees thoroughly and neither of them have ANY sign of pests. Both have never had pests, and both have been sprayed thoroughly with organic insect sprays (clove oil, peppermint oil, etc,) each year before they are broght inside to protect them. It puts a shiny coating on them. This is the first year they've dropped so many of the new fruit.
There is only the shiny viscous liquid on the pieces of fruit.
I gave them some diluted citrus tree food last week and the dropping has been reduced significantly.
But I still need to know what the sticky substance is on the fruit. I can take a picture of it if you'd like.
Answer Hi Sarah, still sounds like you need some Neem oil, just because you can not see a pest does not mean it is not there. Allot of the flowers may fall off as not all will produce a fruit. You may also have some fungus in the flowers. Neem oil is also a fungicide and will help that problem else you will have to use a copper spray. kathy
