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Heatwave. Lemon Tree.

mandystarrmandystarr Posts: 19
in Problem solving
Hi folks, 
We are currently going into day 4 of a severe heatwave. My lemon tree is in a terracotta pot, south facing and was thriving before this increase of abnormal hot temperatures. Now it seems to be struggling with the leaves looking stressed and dropping. 

Once I noticed that it was stressed, I setup a bed sheet to protect it from the hot direct sun during this heatwave. 

Is it dying? Is there anything I can do to save it or is this a lost cause? 

We are located on the west coast of Canada in British Columbia Climate Zone 9a. 

Thank you for your time. 
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Posts

  • Lena_vs_DeerLena_vs_Deer Posts: 203
    All leaves may drop soon (at least half), but the tree itself will be fine. You may need to check soil daily, but foliage drop is nothing to be worried about as far as my experience goes. There will be a lot of new growth once heat fades , but half of that may fall down on the ground too . Worry not. It will be fine. 

    The only reason to panic with these is when branches turn brown :) as long as they stay green they will regrow! 

    I take mine in an out of house based on season, they drop leaves every move ))
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    What is your temperature in Celsius?
  • mandystarrmandystarr Posts: 19
    @Nanny Beach it was 40 degrees Celsius but it had a rating that it felt like 45. That is very hot and unusual for my region. 
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    I'm in the south east UK, just 10 minutes from the sea. It's the mildest, part of the UK.   Last year treated ourself to a portable proper air conditioning unit. We have quite a lot of citrus and find they don't like full sun here,the highest temperature I can recall is 30c so they are in semi shade. Could you do that,and spray the leaves with water. I know they prefer rain,but imagine that you don't have any
  • mandystarrmandystarr Posts: 19
    edited June 2021
    Nanny Beach said:
    I'm in the south east UK, just 10 minutes from the sea. It's the mildest, part of the UK.   Last year treated ourself to a portable proper air conditioning unit. We have quite a lot of citrus and find they don't like full sun here,the highest temperature I can recall is 30c so they are in semi shade. Could you do that,and spray the leaves with water. I know they prefer rain,but imagine that you don't have any
    I could move it to a different location. Thank you that suggestion! My assumption is that even though it was fine in it’s current location, the increase of abnormal hot temperatures is too much exposure to keep it where it is. 

    We collect rain water and use this to water and mist it (especially of dry hot days). 

    I’m near the ocean too. I live on a small island on the west coast of Canada. We generally are some humidity but not so much lately. Not even a breeze. Just hot intense sun 😣
  • mandystarrmandystarr Posts: 19
    Lena_vs_Deer said:
    All leaves may drop soon (at least half), but the tree itself will be fine. You may need to check soil daily, but foliage drop is nothing to be worried about as far as my experience goes. There will be a lot of new growth once heat fades , but half of that may fall down on the ground too . Worry not. It will be fine. 

    The only reason to panic with these is when branches turn brown :) as long as they stay green they will regrow! 

    I take mine in an out of house based on season, they drop leaves every move ))
    Thank you for the response. 

    More leaves and new blossoms are falling off. It seems that it’s a matter of time that all the leaves will fall off. 😞

  • luis_prluis_pr Posts: 123
    edited June 2021
    Here in Texas, my potted lemon tree survives daily temperatures from

    37°C to 47°C from July-September most summers. In the hot summer months, I place the pot where it gets shade starting around mid afternoon and increase the amount of water accordingly. Terracotta pots tend to lose moisture easily so my lemon tree is in a plastic pot (with pot rollers year around) instead.




  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    Luis, I thought this year's temperature was unusual, not then, I think a lot of the problems are to do with humidity,as I said the citrus don't even like full mid day sun in the UK,at our temp,yet the grow happily in groves in much hotter countries,I imagine no one pops out and gives them a nice shower with rain water. Interesting you said about plastic pots, because  Monty and all the other experts says plastic gets too hot
  • ElferElfer Posts: 329
    It looks like a young tree, when was it planted, what media did you use for planting?

    When planting something in similar size pot I usually leave a gap of 2 inches between top of soil and pot rim. I then use that as a yardstick for watering regime which is watering it till the water level reaches the rim then allow for the water to get absorbed by the soil and then repeat one more time. Looking at your pic the edge of the soil seems dry which may indicate that it wasn't watered thoroughly so it might be a good idea to check your watering regime & timing as it will need more water in hotter weather. If you suspect that it might be the case then it might be beneficial to give the whole pot a quick bath. The leaves seem ok though so I might be wrong!

    Plastic pots do get hot in direct sun.
  • luis_prluis_pr Posts: 123
    edited June 2021
    Yes they get hot but that is why I move them to get part sun. Has not complained in the last 10+ years. The tree will be semi dormant and not trying to bloom or produce fruit until the temperatures recede.
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