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Please help! My poor lemon tree seems to be suffering....

SouthfacergirlSouthfacergirl Posts: 8
in Problem solving
Hi, Can anyone give me advice please on how to help my potted lemon tree? We moved home very recently and over-wintered it in the greenhouse (in my last garden it was always in a warm, sheltered spot in the garden - all year round). It developed black soot on it's leaves which we treated with a shop bought solution, but since bringing it out from the greenhouse into the garden (south-facing) it's started to look very sorry for itself. I was intending to replenish it's soil and give it a good feed with citrus liquid feed but not sure if perhaps it might need a little pruning? I have noticed a few buds appearing which suggests maybe it's not all going bad!
Would really appreciate ANY advice please.

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I would leave any further pruning for a while but go a head and give it a good drink and then feed it only when you know the roots, stems and foliage are fully hydrated.   Once it recovers and puts on more foliage you can then see which stems are thriving and which are not and then prune out the weakest till you get a good shape.  Keep it watered and fed all summer.

    I have 3 citrus plants I over winter in the polytunnel and have only brought them out a couple of weeks ago to go to their summer position against the south facing wall of the house so maybe yours  has been brought out a wee bit early.   

    The black sticky stuff will have most likely been sooty mould which forms on the sweet, sticky secretions of aphids and other pests .  You can wash it off with a damp cloth and maybe a weak soapy solution.   Keep an eye out for any further aphids and squish them as soon as they appear or wait for the ladybirds, hoverflies and birds to hoover them up.  Keeping the compost moist but not sodden will deter any aphid farming ants from gathering more aphids to grow on your lemon.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • SouthfacergirlSouthfacergirl Posts: 8
    Thank you! So if I replenish some of the soil and hydrate it then feed it hopefully it will recover. I will try that method and hope for the best.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Just try hydrating it first as the compost looks very dry.   I only replenish the compost in mine when they are potted on but I do a top dressing every spring of ericaceous compost mixed with blood, fish and bone or pelleted chicken manure as they want plenty of nitrogen now for healthy foliage. 

    Come autumn I switch to a feed higher in potassium and phosphorus as they encourage plant health plus flowers and fruit.   That can be a dry, slow release granular feed or a liquid feed depending on what's available.  Supplies were a bit disrupted during the pandemic and no doubt will be again thanks to Russian activities.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • SouthfacergirlSouthfacergirl Posts: 8
    Thanks again Obelixx, I will be tending to the lemon this afternoon and use the blood, fish & bone feed.
  • RedwingRedwing Posts: 1,511
    edited May 2022
    Mine looked like that one year and since then in the spring I feed them weekly with Tomorite or citrus feed from about mid-March to mid-June, then every few weeks after that until the end of the growing season (if I remember).  They're much happier since I adopted that regime.
    Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
  • SouthfacergirlSouthfacergirl Posts: 8
    Thanks for sharing your regime with me Redwing. I have given it a feed with the fish, blood and bone feed (as Obelixx advised) and will be keeping a close eye on (hopefully) it's recovery, then try the weekly feed as you suggest.
    We all love our plants and want to give them the best care, it's so kind of you to take the time to advise me - thanks again!
  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 6,774
    The sooty mould could be the result of scale insects.  I have to treat mine regularly.  Otherwise I agree with the advice already given. Mine are still in their polycarbonate cage, till the end of the month in spite of them being on a S facing patio. I open it during the day but close at night time. 


    AB Still learning

  • SouthfacergirlSouthfacergirl Posts: 8
    Thank you Allotment Boy for sharing your knowledge, greatly appreciated! I'm keeping a very close eye on any improvements to the Lemon - fingers crossed the feed I have given it will help.
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