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kelly633

Someone please save my lemon tree!

kelly633
9 years ago

I bought a little $4 "lemon tree" at a random grocery store about a year ago.. It was ok for a while, kind of struggled at first, but then grew a little bigger had a about 3 lemons total on it. I moved across state and it had to be an indoor container plant. Moved again and it was outside where it lost all of it leaves which I've read is normal when you change their lighting.. Its grown some new leaves but now the leaves are turning brown and i don't know what to do to help it.. i'm not a gardener.. i'm a "random buy plants at the store" kind of girl. I'm also new to forums so don't judge my nescience..any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Comments (18)

  • greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
    9 years ago

    Give us some details :-)

    What kind of pot, what kind of potting mix, how much light, how often watered, and how fertilized.

    Josh

  • kelly633
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    more pictures of the damage.. Also, some of the new leaves have started curling :(

  • kelly633
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Lets see.. Plastic container, random potting soil from a garden nursery. It stays outside from late evening-till mid afternoon.. It gets to 100+ outside so I felt like that was too hot and the new leaves kept wilting.. I move it indoors in a sunny spot for about 8 hours.. (mid afternoon--late evening) I soak it when it looks dry.. once every 4-5 days and I mist some during the day. I've fertilized once since I bought it.. about a week ago ( which is what I suspect is the problem) with a organic fertilizer spike.. thanks

  • Deeby
    9 years ago

    Lemons like cactus mix for soil. Citrus food. Good drainage. I wouldn't move it indoors, I'd just shade it. An umbrella works. Someone may say to move it indoors. Just saying I don't.

  • calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
    9 years ago

    Your pictures do not show any new growth. Container grown citrus should be fed about a tablespoon of citrus labled food once a month. Citrus do like full sun in most cases, but I think you should find a spot that does not get the sun from the west until you see some signs of growth. Moving it around I do not think is good idea. Water enough at a time that you see about 20% of the water exit the drain holes. Al

  • kelly633
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    It has new growth at the top.. i didn't take a picture of it. i was really just interested in figuring out what the brown parts were and how to fix it.. Also, i have two options.. full 100+ temp sun or inside.. and umbrella sounds fun.. i'm sure my neighbors will love it!! haha! :)

  • Deeby
    9 years ago

    Anything for our lemon trees ! : )

  • calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
    9 years ago

    There is nothing you can do about old leaves, damaged or not. Your focus should be on your new growth and keeping it healthy. Why not give us a picture of the whole tree, including the new growth? Al

  • greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
    9 years ago

    Dig out as much of that Citrus spike as possible! Those are truly awful and, indeed, I have seen significant fertilizer burn when folks use them. So dig it out and flush that mix.

    Secondly, as Al said, find a good spot for the tree and don't move it around. Provide shade during the hottest part of the day - even just shading the container to keep the roots cooler will dramatically reduce wilting.

    Lastly, those dead spots on the leaves mean that there are dead root-tips....whether from too much fertilizer, too much water, too little water, or too high a temperature.

    Josh

  • kelly633
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Thank you all very much! I appreciate it!

  • oxboy555
    9 years ago

    There aren't many potted plants - not even cactus - that can stand 100+ degree afternoon sun. Pots just get too hot unless you mulch and do the pot-in-pot method.

  • kelly633
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Thanks! and its probably self explanatory and I'm going to feel stupid for asking, however I am completely new to gardening.. what's the pot-in-pot method?

  • kelly633
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    I'm sorry. I didn't see your request to see the whole tree.. Hope this helps

  • Suzi AKA DesertDance So CA Zone 9b
    9 years ago

    It looks pretty good in that photo, but everyone is correct. The pot in 100+ degree weather in full sun will fry the poor things roots.

    Can you sink the pot in ground, and turn it now and then so the roots don't go out the drainage holes? Looks in that photo, like you have some ground in which to sink the pot. In ground, the roots will stay cool, and the lemon will love the sunshine.

    Suzi

  • kelly633
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    I'm a dorm director at a college.. it's not my ground

  • Suzi AKA DesertDance So CA Zone 9b
    9 years ago

    So you need to provide shade, or get permission to sink your pot. I'd try for permission.

    Suzi

  • kelly633
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Thanks Suzi! I've asked.. They said absolutely not.. ( I don't know why.. its not like their landscaping is all that magical) They have already ruined one of my pots by weed eating it.. I'm afraid if I upset them anymore they will spray all of my plants with a weed killer..

  • Suzi AKA DesertDance So CA Zone 9b
    9 years ago

    So you need to provide shade, or get permission to sink your pot. I'd try for permission.

    Suzi