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Lemon tree

CherylRCherylR Posts: 4
in Fruit & veg
Hi,
I have a small lemon tree which I re potted in the summer, it was doing really well and I had 5 lemons which I used and were really juicy. I brought it indoors for the winter and now it has sticky cobwebs and white mould on it although it is still flowering and growing fruit. 
How should I treat this? did I do wrong bringing it in? I have now bought a copper spray and plant jackets, which I have read on the internet is good, so should I spray then cover and then put it back outside? I really don't want to lose its as it was a gift.
Any advice should be much appreciate.

Posts

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    It has to be kept frost free, and fleece will not do it.  They do not like being next to radiators or in cold draughts.  The coolest room in your house, near a window , but not next to a radiator would be best.

     Have you a photo of the cobwebs and mould?  They are prone to spider mite and scale insect.
  • CherylRCherylR Posts: 4
    I had it in the kitchen/diner so no radiator, I don't have a photo, at the moment, but it looks like the ones on the internet and that sounds about right, it looks like powdery white stuff. I am going to build a framed cloche if it survives this winter. 
  • CeresCeres Posts: 2,698
    The webs and sticky substance are probably spider mite. The "powdery white stuff" could be one of the fluffier aphids, or it could be that the sticky excretions of the spider mites are fostering mould growth. Ditch the copper spray and deal with the root cause.
    If the tree is very small then you could deal with this by wiping the leaves and stems and keeping an eye on the plant to make sure that the infestation doesn't return. It's always a good idea to regularly check on plants growing indoors because problems can creep up slowly and only become noticable when the plant is looking dire.
    Above all, don't panic. We all get these problems from time to time......you only have to turn your back for five minutes to find that a treasured plant has succumbed to what looks like a Biblical plague but a little time and effort can put things right and usually without the necessity of something from a chemical factory.





  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,736
    Wonder what product that spray is as most copper sprays have been withdrawn in the UK for the amateur market 
    https://www.rhs.org.uk/prevention-protection/withdrawn-chemicals
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
  • CherylRCherylR Posts: 4
    ooh, I've sprayed it now and cut off the really infected tips.  Its called Copper Fungicide Rtu Natural and says that it is organic. If I put it in the shed/garage will it be too cold? I have a jacket on it now. 
  • RedwingRedwing Posts: 1,511
    Lemon trees don't like heated houses. Probably it is this environment which has caused the problems you describe. Look for scale insect infestation, which is an aphid, too.  I have three lemon trees and keep them in a cold greenhouse from October to March; no heat and they will stand some frost. I don't know where you live but mine like my south facing cold greenhouse in Sussex in the winter. From March to October they are outside
    Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
  • CherylRCherylR Posts: 4
    That’s very interesting Redwing. I live in Essex and have a west facing garden which has the sun all day during the summer. This is my first lemon tree. 
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