What's wrong with my lemon/lime tree?

[Hinde]

Hi,

I bought a Meyer lemon and key lime braided tree a year ago and it had been doing great growing indoors. I started putting it outside after the last frost (I live in a 6B zone) and it stopped growing new leaves. At first I thought it was bad soil so I repotted it in well-draining soil and fertilized it but nothing changed. I know it had some kind of bug while it was inside - I think it was spider mites but I haven't seen that since taking it outside. Could it be that I shocked it by putting it in direct sunlight right away? It's been a few months now outside and still no growth. I've attached some pictures. Please let me know what's wrong and how I can fix it.

 

[Chuck]

Hi,

I bought a Meyer lemon and key lime braided tree a year ago and it had been doing great growing indoors. I started putting it outside after the last frost (I live in a 6B zone) and it stopped growing new leaves. At first I thought it was bad soil so I repotted it in well-draining soil and fertilized it but nothing changed. I know it had some kind of bug while it was inside - I think it was spider mites but I haven't seen that since taking it outside. Could it be that I shocked it by putting it in direct sunlight right away? It's been a few months now outside and still no growth. I've attached some pictures. Please let me know what's wrong and how I can fix it.

In reality, you have 2 trees growing in the same small container. Repot into a much larger container and DO NOT plant as deep. Keep the root flare exposed. It appears that the plant is infested with citrus mites. Spray with fresh Neem Oil every 5 days for 3 weeks and use any left overs as a soil drench. It also appears that the trees are being affected, probably by a micro-nutrient deficiency. What are you fertilizing with? In addition to fertilizer use a product called Chelated Iron or Liquid Iron as per directions.

 

[Hinde]

Thank you! I repotted it into a much bigger pot like you said and sprayed it down with Neem oil. The soil is a 50/50 blend of potting mix and mushroom compost and I use Burpee organic all purpose 5-5-5 fertilizer with added blood meal for nitrogen. I also added a bit of rooting hormone on the roots. I'll buy some chelated iron and add that too. Is the root flare exposed enough?

Can you tell me what made you suspect the citrus mites and micro nutrient deficiencies? I'd like to learn how to figure this out for myself next time.

 

[Chuck]

Thank you! I repotted it into a much bigger pot like you said and sprayed it down with Neem oil. The soil is a 50/50 blend of potting mix and mushroom compost and I use Burpee organic all purpose 5-5-5 fertilizer with added blood meal for nitrogen. I also added a bit of rooting hormone on the roots. I'll buy some chelated iron and add that too. Is the root flare exposed enough?

Can you tell me what made you suspect the citrus mites and micro nutrient deficiencies? I'd like to learn how to figure this out for myself next time.

Root flare looks good. Citrus mites and all mites damage leaves. In some cases it looks sort of like a fine white dust but it is where the mite has been sucking. Other times it appears that the leaf surface is mottled, as in picture # 5. Also, when a leaf margin is partially damaged and curled as in picture #1. Nitrogen depletion shows a solid yellow leaf in most cases. In most cases a micro-nutrient deficiency is shown by a yellowing leaf with the leaf veins still green. This is called interveinal chlorosis and the plant is USUALLY lacking in either magnesium, manganese or iron. In early stages, such as in this case, the leaves are a mottled yellow green but in a fairly short period of time the veins stay green but the rest of the leaf turns yellow. On citrus it is always wise to apply Chelated Iron about 3 times per year. The very best way to assure the plant has all of the needed micro-nutrients is to apply either Greensand or Azomite at time of transplanting and then once per year.