As you can tell, this lime tree is struggling. What’s wrong with it? It looks like magnesium deficiency but over winter I’ve changed the soil to a potting mix for citrus, I’ve added epsom salts and I’ve fertilised with a slow-release pellet for citrus/fruit trees (in addition to general blood and bone). And yet seems like it’s slowing dying despite everything I’ve done. Even the new growth looks jaundice and bleached! I’m aware of the gall wasps but 1) im scared to do anything to exacerbate the issue and 2) that’s not the issue here I don’t think. Apart from what I’ve done, what else can I try?? It was bought by my mother in law at a local nursery as a gift so I’d like to get it thriving.
by Grape_Ubermensch
7 Comments
It looks really dry in a too small pot. It would also be getting extra heat off those dark bricks and pavers, which won’t be helping.
I’d try seaweed soaks and consider potting up to the next size, eventually getting to a half wine barrel size. Also keep the top mulched, clear of the trunk by at least 5cm.
Think of fruit trees in pots like a demanding toddler, completely dependent on you for food and water. They can be exceptionally productive but they do need more attention as they cannot extend roots to find resources elsewhere.
Good luck 🍋🟩
first thing i would try:
– move plant into area with minimal 8 hours direct sunlight
– id fertilise with black marvel citrus for rapid nutrient uptake now
– lime trees are heavy feeders, i feed mine seasol monthly and typically osmocoate citrus pellets top up every three months.
– Lime trees require constant watering, it must not be inconsistent, like heaps one day and less the next because leaves tend to drop and fruit can also drop. For this I just used a auto timer.
I get 14kg a year from my 1 tree and they are pretty large and so nice.
https://preview.redd.it/577japo8qdyf1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7c8c05c17543753d186846b0987dbf47896a2506
Unfortunately this year now 5 weeks I have been battling the bronze stink bugs (first time ever) and they just keep coming back so i’m guessing a neighbor somewhere up the street is also infected and untreated. For that I now use an old vacuum which i have found the best method. I stopped counting after I reached 400 bugs. but now I’m winning as the last 2 days I haven’t spotted the stink bugs. Unfortunately while my tree was being attacked its suffered nutrient deficiency, so I have used black marvel liquid and pellet fertiliser and the yellow spots and leaves are going away and the tree is normalizing itself again.
Note: i’m not a gardener i’m just playing it by ear.
Lots of water + fertiliser
Did you plant it deeper than its original pot? That fork in the branches is usually a lot further up the tree.
Looks like npk imbalance to me
Looks like you quite literally salted the earth. While Epsom salts van be a remedy in certain situations, in others and with overuse that can severely hurt your plants.. the dropping of all leaves and the yellowing can be an indicator of that.
Looks like something is eating all of the new growth and without leaves the tree cannot photosynthesise and heal itself. It be white oiling it every week, putting it in a bigger pot, dosing weekly with powerfeed and making sure it gets full sun.
Where are you ? What city ?