Help with dwarf lemon (forum)

Staceyp starts with ...
I have two dwarf lemons have had them for approx 18months. As you can most likely see I don't know what I am doing and the leaves in my first plant appear to be yellowing and have some white patches. There is one lemon on the really unhealthy plant not fully yellow yet and two on the healthier looking which are not yellowing at all. There are not many leaves on either plant. The nursery advised me not to repot for at least 2 years and have been using brunnings eclipse citrus feed as per instructions. I have pruned a bit after looking at some websites for advice in the winter but they are not looking healthy and am in need of some expert advice as would love healthy plants!
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1
Picture: 2
Picture: 3
Picture: 4

Time: 5th October 2013 2:04pm

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Original Post was last edited: 5th October 2013 2:07pm

About the Author Stacey
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Diego says...
The white patches just look like something's been chewing the surface of the leaf - I wouldn't worry about it. But I think eighteen months in little pots is way too long for citrus - you might need to pot up in some larger container with really good potting soil. They will eventually become more yellow and starve in the existing pots. You can always add nutrients but they will probably turn out to be the wrong ones for what the plants need or the nutrients will be too concentrated for them to process and you will just hasten their end.

Time: 5th October 2013 3:08pm

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About the Author Diego
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Stacey says...
Is there a better time to re pot them to cause less disruption or just the sooner the better?

Time: 6th October 2013 7:25pm

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JakfruitEttiquette says...
I think those are cutting grown Myer lemons, so maybe dont re pot for 2 years means they have just been produced, and dont have a big root system.
Citrus are heavy feeders, but young plants can be damaged by high fertilizer concentrations, so you need to be careful with the instructions on fert pkts, as they are too general. Your plants seem to have a bit of tip burn,
( pic 1 has a half dead leaf at top, plus possibly the white spots )
which is either salty water or too much fertilizer.( basically same problem ).
I couldnt find Brunnings Eclipse on net,
but in general less fert more frequently is better than heaps at once.
Also where are the pots living ?, may need a bit of warmth to establish well. I would stop fertilizing until it gets warmer, maybe change brands to a lower NPK, and if possible a fertilizer with some humates and or seaweed to improve the pot mix. Also your plants show some nutrient deficiency problems ( the stripey leaves in pic 2+3 ). Humates and seaweed may help to balance this out, rather than keep fertilizing to try to correct the problem.


Time: 7th October 2013 6:26am

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Original Post was last edited: 7th October 2013 6:49am
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Brain says...
i see from one of the pics, you have a tag of 'lotslemon'. I have one myself and they are quite a challenging plant to grow well. I would agree with the previous posters to a) report in a slightly larger pot with top grade potting mix and b) go easy on the fertiliser until you see a flush of new growth.



Time: 8th October 2013 11:28am

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About the Author Brain
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MaryT says...
Stacey, the sooner the better. I would also take the fruit off.

Time: 8th October 2013 7:24pm

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Stacey says...
Thank you for the feedback , I will get them repotted at the weekend and purchase some seaweed and humate fertilizer as well. I may have found what is eating the leaf some sort of aphid I think. I have added a photo hoping someone may have some good tips for getting rid of those too?
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Time: 9th October 2013 6:16pm

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Diego says...
They are wooly aphids Stacey. They are sap-suckers rather than leaf chewers. Just squash them or spray lightly with insect killer. You won't have many to deal with on those little plants but they will increase if you don't kill them now.

Time: 9th October 2013 8:09pm

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About the Author Diego
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Stacey says...
Thanks for that consider them squashed!

Time: 10th October 2013 4:23pm

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Diego says...
Or you could just dazzle them to death with your nail polish :)

Time: 11th October 2013 1:45pm

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About the Author Diego
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Stacey says...
Haha Diego- I tried that one they were tough cookies!

Time: 11th October 2013 5:22pm

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About the Author Stacey
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