This little lemon tree seemed to be thriving until last summer when everything started to go downhill. The leaves started to appear burnt around the edges. It dropped almost all of its leaves in winter. I live in AZ and this year it got hot MUCH earlier than usual in late February so the poor thing went through two bloom cycles about a month and a half apart. The tree produced a TON of flowers and a handful developed into tiny lemons, yet when they got to about the size of a large bead, they turned black and fell off. I’d noticed the same thing last year with the fruit but didn’t have any issues with the leaves so I thought it may be a fungus and sprayed an antifungal with no effect. This year I fertilized in winter, and it looked like it may have been making a comeback with that first bloom cycle. I plucked most of the blooms so it could focus on recovering instead of making fruit, same for the second bloom cycle, but I just keep seeing these charred edges around the leaves, even new growth. I haven’t really changed anything in my watering habits. Am I overwatering? Please help!
by Thick_Might3584
2 Comments
Yo boi is getting a severe sunburn. Get it to a more shaded area. Also, don’t just apply amendments willy nilly. Even more so in a pot.
Purchase a soil kit and test. Apply based on results. You can find some online for under $60. Great if you have kids who are interested in the sciences as well.
To me that looks like really bad sunburn!!! Especially against a house and on brick in AZ, he’s getting a ton of heat and light. Consider moving him somewhere with more afternoon shade. If you don’t have such a place, you can buy a shade cloth. Also make sure you’re watering enough in the heat; potted trees need much more attention in this regard than in-ground trees.