Meyer Lemon: Brown leaves - Sunburn? Over fertilisation? Toxicity?
BenHayward
Posts: 20
Hi everyone,
My Four Season Lemon tree has had its leaves slowly turning brown (see images below) before dropping them completely. I have no idea what I am doing wrong. It's been happening for the last 2 months. I live in the South East on the cost. It's been kept in a sun lounge all its life, but two days ago I decided to move it outside, as I'm told they much prefer it. It now gets direct sun all day.
The tree has recently been recovering from iron deficiency. I've been giving it Vitax Seaweed Plus Sequestered Iron (please see my earlier post, link below).
I am concerned because there are new leaves appearing everywhere, but (some) also seem to be turning brown.
I feed the plant with Vitax Citrus Summer feed, once a week (as directed) and am now also giving it the Seaweed/Iron once a week too.
I see no sign of pests or insects. I try to let the soil almost completely dry out on the surface before watering again. I can't see any obvious link to a particular deficiency or toxicity (except maybe boron or sodium, though the symptoms are not exactly that close). The plant is covered with new sprigs of leaf growth where old leaves have dropped off (lots of leaves have dropped, it looked a lot better than this).
What am I doing wrong, please? I really don't want my lemon to die!
Thank you very much in advance for your help!
Previous, recent post re. iron deficiency:
Posts
By the way, a lot of the very bright green leaves are new growth, but equally there are a good number which had previously suffered from iron deficiency. This is slowly being corrected, and those leaves are darkening up, but a few of the leaves which are darkening up are turning brown.
Also, don't know why I said Meyer.. it's Four Seasons!
Here's a coupe of better pictures from this morning:
I have 4 lemons, and other citrus, dont know the varieties, they dont like being inside, (ours overwinter frost free greenhouse) they dont like very hot direct sun, ours are put outside March, in the day, (back in the greenhouse at night) till probably May, then left out. Watered with rainwater if possible, specialist citrus feed (I use a liquid feed from speciliast nursry in Pulborough. I personally think its sun or wind scorch, where do you live I am also SE, 10 minutes from sea (nothing to do with the plants, just nosy!!!)
Oh, we also spray the leaves with rainwater, when the sun has gone past them.
Hi Nanny Beach,
Thank you for your reply.
I hope you are right, in that it's as simple as sun scorch! I'd be surprised if it's wind scorch as it's only been outside for two days
Yes I plan to leave it outside now. It developed this condition in the sun lounge. I was occasionally spraying it with water, but I wonder if that made the burning more pronounced..?
I live in Eastbourne, so like you, just a few minutes from the sea!
Last edited: 20 June 2017 09:10:36
The damaged leaves will not recover. The good news is that there is a lot of new growth. I think you are doing the right things now but this statement causes me concern:
"I feed the plant with Vitax Citrus Summer feed, once a week (as directed) and am now also giving it the Seaweed/Iron once a week too."
I think you are giving it too much, one or the other but not both, per week.