I’m looking for advice on this lemon tree (ignore its current placement, I’ve pulled it out to take pics). I bought it majorly reduced at the garden centre and want to nurse it back to life. What should I do? I’ve planted it in ericaceous compost but haven’t fed it or anything yet as I wanted to get advice first. I’ve pruned slightly. Advice and help please 🍋
What a beautiful lemon tree!
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Citrus trees typically need full direct sunlight and warm temperatures to thrive, but, I don’t know the variety you have. It may need a grow light, full spectrum, or one that can change frequency to lighting for fruiting trees. I would ask the nursery what’s wrong with the plant. I’m a little nervous of reviving rescue plants because I’ve brought home some i put too much effort and money into reviving. The nursery staff might be able to guide you and save some of your efforts. Plus, they can point to citrus fertilizer and recommend the frequency of application.
2 likesI agree, ask staff if it has been treated for any pests and watch for them. From the photographs I think it looks starving.
0 likesI would use citrus fertilizer. It has stuff in it that citrus plants like. I would also consider doing a harder pruning. Pruning is done in the spring before the growing season. I would cut out any Deadwood and then prune to a nice shape. You can cut out any wonky branches or branches that you feel are too low. Give it as much sun as you can, keep it moist but not soggy with deep watering once or twice a week. Never let it sit in a bowl of water for long, regular fertilizing during the growing season. Well draining soil and avoid extreme conditions like too hot too cold, and drafts. Sing to it with its preferred music genre and talk nice to it!
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If the colors are coming through, it looks like a bit of overwatering happened at the nursery, because if the slight yellowing on the leaf edges. If you planted it in ericacious compost i wouldn't worry about feeding it until spring, since that has nutrients in. Is that yellow leaf with the spots the only one? I would remove them, just incase it could be fungal, and keep and eye out for anymore. It could just be an older leaf, and not fungal or pest damage. I use the Fox Farm citrus fertilizer, it works really well. And I start it after our last frost here. Yellowing can be a nutrient deficiency in citrus too, but since you repotted, if it was from that it should correct.
3 likesNot impossible, but definitely challenging. Keep it in as bright of light as you can. Raise it up so it's not sitting in puddles. And if you put it outside it should come inside in the winter. We just spent a couple weeks in Oxfordshire and the temperatures barely got above 70 and it was often cloudy. I think you would definitely need supplemental lighting. Warmer temperatures would be beneficial but seventy (that's Fahrenheit) is not bad
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