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Lemon Tree has yellow leaves

tmpinyuritmpinyuri Posts: 2
edited October 2022 in Problem solving
Hi, my lemon tree that I have had since may has had its leaves gradually turn yellow, see photo attached. I have been feeding regularly using a citrus feed (npk 3-2-4) Please can you advise how I can rectify this.

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    @Nanny Beach grows lots of citrus … hopefully she’ll see this post and be able to advise you. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    Hello Dove received your email. To be honest we've never had this problem. I will tell you our regime. Let me know yours, feeding,watering,where it's kept how old and I will try and help
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Specialist citrus feeds are high in phosphates and potassium which help with flowering and fruiting and general plant health.  They are usually fed to the plant between October and March.   

    For the main (northern hemisphere) growing season between April and October it's important to give citrus plants a feed that is higher in nitrogen which is good for leaf health and helps them stay green so they can photosynthesise energy from the sun.

    If you've been watering them with tap water it may also be chlorotic which means short of iron and magnesium which get locked up by alkalinity in soils, composts or water.  You can get specialist liquid feeds for ercicaceous plants that will correct this.

    For future health, a water butt to collect rain water for your citrus plant will be a boon.  

    This is what I do for my 3 citrus plants and they're all doing well.
    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
  • tmpinyuritmpinyuri Posts: 2
    Many thanks Nanny Beech and Obelixx
     
    I live in Brighton and keep citrus on my west facing patio in the summer. I was watering when pots were dry and also feeding at the same time, I will purchase an ercicaceous. Liquid feed and a ph testing kit
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    I haven't done anything, only asked questions! We use granular feed,yes specific summer/winter. Yes as Obelisk says rainwater, proper citrus compost or soil based. Ours go out in summer,get dunked in a bucket watered,left in soak 15 minutes. How long have you had the plant?
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    It's called chlorosis.  But that just a description not a cause.

    Usually it is lack of iron.  This occurs most often if you plant an acid loving plant (lemon) in limey soil.  Look at that first.  It;s unlikely to be tap water; mine survive that happily.

    It could be lack of other essential minerals.  That will be a more difficult search.

    It might be moving new leaves into strong sun too quickly.

    It might be not enough nitrogen fertiliser.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    It's missing something which has caused the leaves to become chlorotic.
    If it were mine, I'd first give the compost a good flush with rainwater so as to wash out any unused salts from fertilizers, then I'd feed it with seaweed extract.
    That contains all of the micronutrients your plant may need, including magnesium, iron etc etc
    Monty Don only uses seaweed extract on all of his citrus, and just about all plants will benefit from it.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
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