Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Advice on Citrus plants

Linda deVriesLinda deVries Posts: 4
in Problem solving

My Citrus plants, limes, lemons and kumquat have done pretty well for several years, lots of fruit, but now  they are poorly with yellow leaves and the lime has curled its leaves the same way a Rhododendron will if it's dry. Monty Don advises to use John Innes potting soil, but in Holland we don't have it. The advice on the correct soil is so conflicting: one book advises acid soil and another chalky soil. Which is it? Also Citrus should benefit from iron-chelate?? Can I add some rusty nails to a bucket of water and give my plants this rust-water?

Posts

  • LoganLogan Posts: 2,532
    Do you let them dry out a bit between watering, or if they got too dry.Look for a compost that is soil based. Sometimes the older leaves will fall off because they are evergreen. Can you see if there is any insects on them look under the leaves. Use a citrus fertilizer two separate ones,one for winter one for summer. Can't think of anything else without a picimage
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,384

    They definitely need slightly acid compost Linda.  I mix two thirds multi-purpose with one third ericaceous.

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • Linda deVriesLinda deVries Posts: 4

    My Citrus are in large pots and are in the heated greenhouse at the moment but when the weather improves they go out.  The Lime is rather heavy, but I try lifting it to see if it needs watering. Also in the bottom of the pots I placed Styrofoam chunks for better drainage. My smallholding is on heavy clay and I mix molehill-soil in with the potting soil for most plants, but I understand from your answers I shouldn't for the Citrus? Thanks so much already for your tips.

     

  • Linda deVriesLinda deVries Posts: 4

    Sorry, I forgot: they do not have scaly mites, I had that problem too but have found a good remedy, non chemical SBPI. Works wonders! Also on my peaches in the greenhouse.

Sign In or Register to comment.