Strange citrus tree leaves

Aamir

Sprout
Joined
May 1, 2021
Messages
3
Reaction score
4
Points
3
Hi everyone!
I have a Citrus Myrtifolia, also known as Chinotto for about 1 month. I kept it indoor, because it was cold outside, and the leaves started to fall beacuse of the air was too dry. When the weather started to be warmer, i moved it outside, in a sunny place.
I water it only when the top of the soil is dry. It has at least 8 hrs of sun, i fertilize it with a liquid fertilizer (it says to fertilize it weekly, but i do it only every second watering, i'm afraid not to burn it). It started to bloom, it has some mini-oranges, BUT...
I've noticed two days ago that some of it's leaves start to take a brownish-rust color. I don't know why, and this annoys me! It has no visible pests on it.
I thought that it may be beacuse of the temperatures- in the day, there are between 15℃ and 20℃, and in the night not under 5-6℃. I don't think it's too cold for it.

I don't know what's wrong with it. I've lost a lemon tree last year, and i don't want this one to die too; i love citrus tree soo much, but it seems they don't like me the same ;)
Please help me... there's a picture below:
 

Attachments

  • IMAG2650.jpg
    IMAG2650.jpg
    81.3 KB · Views: 198

flowerbug

Garden Master
Joined
Oct 15, 2017
Messages
16,908
Reaction score
26,450
Points
427
Location
mid-Michigan, USoA
...
I don't know what's wrong with it. I've lost a lemon tree last year, and i don't want this one to die too; i love citrus tree soo much, but it seems they don't like me the same ;)
Please help me... there's a picture below:

can you tell us about where you are located (and the elevation)?

how large is the container?

do you have hard water and have you been spraying the leaves when your water? i can't quite tell, but the leaves look like there is some residue on them. or have you been using other sprays on it?

what kind of fertilizer are you using? is it specifically for citrus trees? are you following the directions exactly? as long as it is actively growing some fertilizer is ok, but too much can be an issue. if you are using it full strength every other week why not use it at half strength or less every week? i'd back off on how strong you are applying it.


did you lose the previous tree to mites? yes, check for spider mites as @so lucky suggested.

i'm also wondering if it got sprayed by someone, do you have lawn care people spraying for weeds or pest control spraying for bugs there?

losing some leaves from an indoor citrus would not be unusual IMO because they can't get enough light. when you moved it outside did you gradually acclimate it or go directly out into the brightest light? to me that can be an issue and you can lose some leaves until the plant adjusts to the new location and conditions. it may have gotten colder at night than you suspect.

these are things i can think of, not sure what is going on there. i hope it recovers ok. :)
 
Last edited:

Aamir

Sprout
Joined
May 1, 2021
Messages
3
Reaction score
4
Points
3
can you tell us about where you are located (and the elevation)?

how large is the container?

do you have hard water and have you been spraying the leaves when you water? i can't quite tell, but the leaves look like there is some residue on them. or have you been using other sprays on it?

what kind of fertilizer are you using? is it specifically for citrus trees? are you following the directions exactly? as long as it is actively growing some fertilizer is ok, but too much can be an issue. if you are using it full strength every other week why not use it at half strength or less every week? i'd back off on how strong you are applying it.


did you lose the previous tree to mites? yes, check for spider mites as @so lucky suggested.

i'm also wondering if it got sprayed by someone, do you have lawn care people spraying for weeds or pest control spraying for bugs there?

losing some leaves from an indoor citrus would not be unusual IMO because they can't get enough light. when you moved it outside did you gradually acclimate it or go directly out into the brightest light? to me that can be an issue and you can lose some leaves until the plant adjusts to the new location and conditions. it may have gotten colder at night than you suspect.

these are things i can think of, not sure what is going on there. i hope it recovers ok. :)
I live in Romania, Eastern Europe.
Yes, i misted it with fertilizer about 3 days ago, and i mist it with water every time i water it, should this be a problem?

The other citrus i had died because of some kind of mites, it was full of them, but i tought they were part of it's branches :( and after it died i read on the internet that those are mites, not it's bark :)

The fertilizer i use is special for citrus trees. I do have hard water, but i've never thought that it's a problem. The fertilizer it's called "NPK 9-6-6", and it has N, P, and K, and other microelements. Should i clean the leaves?
 

flowerbug

Garden Master
Joined
Oct 15, 2017
Messages
16,908
Reaction score
26,450
Points
427
Location
mid-Michigan, USoA
I live in Romania, Eastern Europe.
Yes, i misted it with fertilizer about 3 days ago, and i mist it with water every time i water it, should this be a problem?

The other citrus i had died because of some kind of mites, it was full of them, but i tought they were part of it's branches :( and after it died i read on the internet that those are mites, not it's bark :)

The fertilizer i use is special for citrus trees. I do have hard water, but i've never thought that it's a problem. The fertilizer it's called "NPK 9-6-6", and it has N, P, and K, and other microelements. Should i clean the leaves?

are there directions on the fertilizer saying it can be used as a folar spray?

hard water will leave a residue when sprayed on plants and over time it does affect the pH of the soil. the rains should rinse them off eventually.

i'd still check the plant for mites.
 

Aamir

Sprout
Joined
May 1, 2021
Messages
3
Reaction score
4
Points
3
are there directions on the fertilizer saying it can be used as a folar spray?

hard water will leave a residue when sprayed on plants and over time it does affect the pH of the soil. the rains should rinse them off eventually.

i'd still check the plant for mites.
The fertilizer says it can be used as folar. I'll check for mites, and eventually, after Easter, i will buy sth to mist it for mites, just to be sure. Thanks!
 

flowerbug

Garden Master
Joined
Oct 15, 2017
Messages
16,908
Reaction score
26,450
Points
427
Location
mid-Michigan, USoA
The fertilizer says it can be used as folar. I'll check for mites, and eventually, after Easter, i will buy sth to mist it for mites, just to be sure. Thanks!

i'm not sure what "sth" means.

before spraying a plant for something first make sure it is a problem by seeing if the mites are there.
 

Zeedman

Garden Master
Joined
Dec 10, 2016
Messages
3,922
Reaction score
12,085
Points
307
Location
East-central Wisconsin
The other citrus i had died because of some kind of mites, it was full of them, but i tought they were part of it's branches :( and after it died i read on the internet that those are mites, not it's bark :)
(added emphasis mine)

That sounds more like citrus scale than mites.
Citrus scale
 
Top