problems with Semi-dwarf Meyer Lemon trees

Help for Our Lemon Tree

~ McArtor ~ Leave a comment

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Our lemon tree is covered with fragrant white blossoms and tiny lemons.

In October, we brought the tree indoors to our west facing kitchen slider window, but it needed more light.  The leaves began to turn yellow.  We did not want a repeat of last year’s winter of bare branches so we added light, fertilizer, drainage, humidity and mobility.  Some tiny lemons are holding on and the leaves are getting greener.  Our interventions are working so far.

A grow light hangs above the tree shining light for 12 hours a day. Now our kitchen has a Florida glow to warm the cold mornings and evenings. Lemon trees are sun loving. The best indoor place for a lemon tree is a south facing window that lets in sunlight all day unlike our window that lets in only afternoon sunlight.    The tree is set on a pile of river rocks inside a wheel based stand to allow drainage, humidity and easy turning.  It is rolled around so all the leaves get natural sunlight, too.  We feed our tree Jack’s Classic Citrus FeEd (recommended by gardeners at Sun Nursery) during its weekly watering.  Lemon trees do not like soggy roots.

Our family study the plant daily.  We all look for tiny lemons and wish for a winter watching lemons grow.

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Garden Info Center Helps My Semi-Dwarf Meyer Lemon Tree

~ McArtor ~ 1 Comment

Thanks to the Garden Information Center at the University of Maryland!

I emailed them my questions and in less than a week they replied with some solutions for my winter weary lemon tree.

My question:
I have a dwarf Meyer Lemon Tree. It produced over 15 lemons this fall. We brought the plant indoors and recently we noticed that the leaves started to turn yellow. Prior to that, some of the green leaves looked puckered and munched on. Do you know what causes this?

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The Garden Information Center’s answer :

The yellowing may be due to low light levels, nutrient deficiencies, and possible insect problems. During the winter the plant is dealing with low light levels and not actively growing. It is going through a rest period and older leaves may yellow and fall. You should also check for spider mites and scale insects(sucking insects) .

You should also check the root system and make sure the plant is not pot bound. You may see surface roots or roots coming from the bottom of the container hole. Repot with new potting mixture or top dress the mixture with fresh potting soil.

Do not feed the plant until the lighting improves in the late winter-spring (usually sometime in March). Provide at least four hours a day of direct sunlight. Place outdoors in bright light during the summer. Give an actively growing citrus a high potash, tomato type fertilizer every two weeks. Shorten overlong shoots of citruses by two thirds in early spring.

Looks like I need to let it rest in a sunny spot, spray it with Captain Jack organic insecticide, top dress it with more potting soil and feed it at the end of winter.
Thanks University of Maryland Agriculture Extension!