Question
my lime tree has been outside all summer and i took it in for the winter. then all the leaves fell off on the stem and tips are turning black. why is this? i have not over watered the soil just kept it damp. i gave it a dead fish for firtalizer is this good or bad please help me!

Answer
Hi Chandler,

Citrus trees, including limes, require a great deal of direct sunlight all year round.

Yours is reacting to the sudden reduction of light intensity that occurred when you moved it indoors where the light is much less intense, even in front of a sunny window. The tree reacts by dropping its older leaves in order to produce new leaves that are better adapted to the reduced light.

In addition, in reduced light any plant will use less water and it is easy to inadvertently overwater if you don't make the appropriates adjustments in your watering routine.

Finally, no fertilizer is medicine and should only be used on healthy plants that are growing vigorously. The fish emulsion is not the cause of the problem, but it is not helping and could aggravate the problem.

Prune your lime back to keep it from getting too leggy. Keep it in front of your sunniest window. Allow the top couple of inches of soil to dry out in between waterings. Do not repot or fertilize it. Be patient as it will probably languish through the winter while it is indoors. If you can keep it alive through the winter, it should perk up again in the spring when it gets more light.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

Visit my website at  www.HorticulturalHelp.com

If you would like to e-mail me some photos, I may be able to provide some additional insights.

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]