Advice about lemon tree.
kirstenmilner
Posts: 2
Hi, this is my first post, so bear with me !
I have been given a lovely lemon tree in a pot for my birthday, but though I’m very knowledgeable about houseplants, I am a total virgin about lemon trees. The donor did point out, that some of the leaves were curling, but I said I’d look it up.
I have been given a lovely lemon tree in a pot for my birthday, but though I’m very knowledgeable about houseplants, I am a total virgin about lemon trees. The donor did point out, that some of the leaves were curling, but I said I’d look it up.
I’m now scared out of my wits reading up on all the different reasons for leaf curl and all the pests they are susceptible to. Too much or too little water, drafts, too much sun, conflicting minimum temperatures tolerated, feeding, in or out and where to keep in winter ! I won’t sleep tonight !!!!
looking at it, it both has dropping tip curl and rolling curl, it has brown soft areas on some leaves, buds are falling off as soon as look at it, soil feels dry so I have given it a bit of water, but how much is enough ? I don’t know when it was last watered or fed, and as it’s from B&Q heaven only knows !
it is sitting in my new north east facing conservatory, gets partial sun from sunrise till about lunchtime, it’s certainly bright enough.
looking at it, it both has dropping tip curl and rolling curl, it has brown soft areas on some leaves, buds are falling off as soon as look at it, soil feels dry so I have given it a bit of water, but how much is enough ? I don’t know when it was last watered or fed, and as it’s from B&Q heaven only knows !
it is sitting in my new north east facing conservatory, gets partial sun from sunrise till about lunchtime, it’s certainly bright enough.
I’m scared and confused, some say minimum temp 13°, Italian web site for this tree, Corrabura, says -7°!
Help !
Sorry, but I can’t work out how to turn the pictures round !
Help !
Sorry, but I can’t work out how to turn the pictures round !
0
Posts
I am not an expert on citrus but they are a hungry lot! My first impression is the pot. A wee bit small. It may need repotting into a big tub with the proper compost for citrus.
The first thing your plant needs is a good long drink. Stand the whole thing in a bucket of rain water if possible, and leave overnight. The next day take it out of the bucket and let it drain for a couple of hours. It is possible to buy Citrus plant compost from garden centres. I would then repot it into a bigger pot, at least 2inches wider than the pot it is in. Give it another drink to settle it into its new pot then put it outside in a sheltered spot, wait until the incoming cold spell has finished.
Do not be surprised if some of the leaves fall off, it has been forced into growth with flowers and I can see a few nucleus lemons forming which could well also fall off.
Let your plant take its time to adjust to its new growing situation, that will give you time to learn how to care for it long term. You should only need to bring it indoors in really cold weather.
Good luck.
Ours are in a frost free green house,which is bubble wrapped for double glazing. Cold nights another layer goes over them. There's a small tubular heater. However,they can go down to 10c for short periods, below that,they will loose their leaves,had this happen in the 'beast from the east" when it was -12c for several days and nights. They did regain their leaves the following spring. Your room sounds perfect for this time of year. (We have oranges in the north facing conservatory,they are much more tender) I soak in a bucket of rain water for 30 minutes then drain, now being done because it's mild. In winter they get the odd spray, leaves, flowers fruit with rainwater. Summer and winter feed. End of may,they will be outside. They suffer,spider mites,scale insect, occasionally you might find a tiny caterpillar in a. curled up leaf,YouCan pick off. They hate dry heat. Ours are in citrus compost.