Citrus Seedlings

[nateL]

Hey,

I'm growing some citron (Esrog) from seeds. I started noticing some of the leaves yellowing on the edges, I water them with a little over 1oz of water 2x a week and the room is set to 70f with a grow lights about 10in above them. Is this magnesium deficiency? I dont believe its root rot.
I used miracle grow citrus potting mix. These were planted in September.

Thanks in advance!

 

[oneeye]

If those were planted in Sept. they are failing for some reason. Very gently tip one out of the container and look at the roots. See what's going on if the roots are too dry and why they are not growing. I'm sure with watering 2x a week for 6 months all the plant nutrients have been flushed out of the soil.

You can supplement your plants by top-dressing the soil in the pots with some slow-release organic amendment. Or you can use some synthetic fertilizer diluted and raise the EC. But be careful it only takes a tiny bit with seedlings. If the roots are small and not growing you can change the soil mix with fresh. Good luck friend.

 

[Chuck]

Looks like a potassium deficiency to me. When leaf margins on citrus turn yellow and the interior of the leaf is green it is a sign of a lack of potassium. I would fertilize with a high middle number NPK but applied at 1/2 the rate of fertilizer instructions. Wait 1 month and fertilize again at full strength. Do the coffee cups they are planted in have drainage holes? If not make some and water from the bottom up.

 

[nateL]

If those were planted in Sept. they are failing for some reason. Very gently tip one out of the container and look at the roots. See what's going on if the roots are too dry and why they are not growing. I'm sure with watering 2x a week for 6 months all the plant nutrients have been flushed out of the soil.

You can supplement your plants by top-dressing the soil in the pots with some slow-release organic amendment. Or you can use some synthetic fertilizer diluted and raise the EC. But be careful it only takes a tiny bit with seedlings. If the roots are small and not growing you can change the soil mix with fresh. Good luck friend.

roots look good to me. I did repot them with fresh soil from a 4in port to a 6in pot. Ill try using some Down To Earth 3-3-3 mix on the top of the soil and see if it helps
Around how long should I wait after adding fertilizer to see results?

Also I made a mistake in my original post. They were planted mid November.

 

[nateL]

Looks like a potassium deficiency to me. When leaf margins on citrus turn yellow and the interior of the leaf is green it is a sign of a lack of potassium. I would fertilize with a high middle number NPK but applied at 1/2 the rate of fertilizer instructions. Wait 1 month and fertilize again at full strength. Do the coffee cups they are planted in have drainage holes? If not make some and water from the bottom up.

would my down to earth 3-3-3 seedling mix work for this? I added about a table spoon of the fertilizer to some of the pots earlier this week. Should I try testing my water ph levels?

The pots do have a series of small drainage holes on the bottom. I also have the pots on top of some pebbles with water to help with indoor humidity.

Around how long should I wait after adding fertilizer to see results?
I made a mistake in my original post. They were planted in Mid November.

 

[nateL]

Would this be a good high nPk fertilizer form seedlings? @Chuck

 

[Chuck]

would my down to earth 3-3-3 seedling mix work for this? I added about a table spoon of the fertilizer to some of the pots earlier this week. Should I try testing my water ph levels?

The pots do have a series of small drainage holes on the bottom. I also have the pots on top of some pebbles with water to help with indoor humidity.

Around how long should I wait after adding fertilizer to see results?
I made a mistake in my original post. They were planted in Mid November.

3-3-3 is an excellent fertilizer. You should use it about every 2 weeks. It will not go into solution but it will dissolve. I would dissolve enough to saturate your plants one time thoroughly. Use this instead of the 0-11-0 for 30 days and keep a close watch for changes in the plant. You should start to see results in about 7-10 days. And yes, know your Ph. This knowledge can affect what you might need to amend the soil with. Also, the Ph of the water is important. Is it tap water, well water or rain water?

 

[nateL]

@

3-3-3 is an excellent fertilizer. You should use it about every 2 weeks. It will not go into solution but it will dissolve. I would dissolve enough to saturate your plants one time thoroughly. Use this instead of the 0-11-0 for 30 days and keep a close watch for changes in the plant. You should start to see results in about 7-10 days. And yes, know your Ph. This knowledge can affect what you might need to amend the soil with. Also, the Ph of the water is important. Is it tap water, well water or rain water?

@Chuck
I'm using mainly spring water from water bottles. I do believe my ph is a little high right now. A ph test kit is arriving tom night so I'll have an accurate reading of my bottle spring water and tap water.
Is there any specific ration to dissolve the 3-3-3 into water?
This is my first time trying to grow a tree so I'm picking up on the nuances as I go. Bought a few books also to help but its hard to reference from books to my little seedlings.

 

[nateL]

I have a digital PH, light and moisture meter from amazon. The soil moisture levels are good but looks like my PH is a little high

 

[Chuck]

@

@Chuck
I'm using mainly spring water from water bottles. I do believe my ph is a little high right now. A ph test kit is arriving tom night so I'll have an accurate reading of my bottle spring water and tap water.
Is there any specific ration to dissolve the 3-3-3 into water?
This is my first time trying to grow a tree so I'm picking up on the nuances as I go. Bought a few books also to help but its hard to reference from books to my little seedlings.

The reason to dissolve the fertilizer is to speed up the process of getting fertilizer to all of the roots in an even fashion. If you just scatter the fertilizer on the soil surface it takes time for a little of the fertilizer to reach the roots and you are not guaranteed that ALL of the roots can reach the fertilizer. Citrus likes a slightly acidic growing medium. When you get your Ph numbers we'll discuss how to raise or lower the Ph. Check the Ph on the soil, the water and the fertilizer.

 

[nateL]

The reason to dissolve the fertilizer is to speed up the process of getting fertilizer to all of the roots in an even fashion. If you just scatter the fertilizer on the soil surface it takes time for a little of the fertilizer to reach the roots and you are not guaranteed that ALL of the roots can reach the fertilizer. Citrus likes a slightly acidic growing medium. When you get your Ph numbers we'll discuss how to raise or lower the Ph. Check the Ph on the soil, the water and the fertilizer.

ok, Ill get back with the numbers. what should be my fertilizer to water ratio?

 

[Chuck]

Instructions for DTE 3-3-3 says 1-2 tablespoons per hole. Since you will be fertilizing again in 30 days I would mix 1 1/2 TBS for each plant X's the amount of water each container holds. If they are 12 oz cups and you have 10 plants then I would mix 10 TBS of fertilizer into a gallon jug of water, shake it until dissolved and then slowly pour it onto the plants until the container is completely saturated. Just make sure that the container drains well. There will be some left over so just use it on some other plant you may have.

 

[nateL]

@Chuck I just mixed a gallon of tap water and dde at 1 gallon to 10TBS ratio and watered my seedlings. After watering I used my digital ph meter and it looks high. Not sure if this is the most accurate tester though. My guess is that I should prob either start catching rain water or used distilled white vinegar to lower my PH levels. What do you think?

 

[nateL]

I believe I watered until it was saturated. soil moisture meter is reading 30%-40%
The pots have drainage holes on the bottom which the roots start to poke out from here and there.

 

[cpp gardener]

If the potassium is low, you need a fertilizer with a high third # rather than middle.
N (nitrogen) - P (phosphorus) - K (potassium)