Problem Solving issues with our Meyer Lemon Tree // Bog Life

[@annlarsen9401]

Good luck, you've given it every opportunity to thrive. Keep us posted!

[@davewhitaker6922]

You should give it a sandy loam for the roots with the fertiliser or compost on top the root rot will keep going with the soil you put it in then room maybe too dry and don't give it any direct heat it cause leaf drop which you have don't feed it if its like that or it will definitely kill the roots as it can't get rid of the water and can't get oxygen to bind onto the food so the plant can take it up

[@SamMTL514]

At this stage, your issue is not light. You only have handful of leaves. Main issue from what I see is roots. Your pot too is big and holding too much water. Try smaller terra cotta pot. It will allow the soil to dry faster. 2nd issue, I never use potting soil for my citrus trees. Potting soil hold too much moisture. I use cactus palm mix. Or at least add additional perlite and sand to your potting mix. 3rd, this going to hurt, you must remove all the fruits and allow the energy to produce new leafs.

[@BogLife]

I agree with the roots being an issue. The pot has standing water so we are emptying it and watching the soil moisture, keeping everything misted everyday. Although a new development was it has scale, so we’re treating that now.

[@gerardoalas30]

I do have same problem with mine I’ll try follow ur advice

[@danielthornton6903]

I bought my own Meyer Lemon tree last summer and it is currently in my house as it is now winter. Meyer Lemon trees do naturally lose some leaves over winter as mine has done though the leaf loss was made worse after I had sprayed soap all over it to solve an Aphid problem. A few days after I had sprayed the tree with soap I sprayed the whole tree again with just plain water as I thought that the soap was causing leaf loss. This slowed the rate that the tree was losing leaves but I also suspect that the soil in the plant pot was too moist. I have slowed the watering right down to half a small indoor plant watering can (about 350ml of water) mixed with a small amount of liquid plant food a week and this seems to have now completely stopped the leaf drop. In this video the tree's root ball doesn't look great and may have suffered from over watering as this causes root rot. Also I would recommend putting gravel in the bottom of the plant pot before adding the soil when planting as this aids the drainage.

[@flash6081]

I think your soil needs alot more sand and loom rocky mix .

[@BogLife]

I appreciate it. I will be doing it on the next one. This one unfortunately did not make it.

[@louis-charlesbedard7772]

You have a Scale infection.... You can se them on the branch, small bump are scale, it's part of the problems

[@debeekyamko9879]

Sir Any update on this lemon tree?

[@llllllllllilillii]

Hi, did it work? I'm on my 5th meyer lemon tree. It's started to drop leaves I just bought it. I'm going crazy.

[@BogLife]

No it did not. But following the comments I think probably creating a sandier soil and putting something in the bottom like stones to allow for better drainage would be best! It got root rot and died.

[@slicktmi]

My recommendation don't buy Meyer lemon trees they are the most finicky i don't know why they get recommended as a first tree or even a indoor tree they are very difficult. I would recommend a calamondin they are the least finicky rarely drop any leaves no matter what you put it through! A bearss lime is also a great choice just keep an eye out for scales also my recommendation is mist every night at lights out and when you water it throw it in the shower and water that way. Doing so will prevent 90%of pests over winter

[@NotAsTraceable]

Why didn't you just take it outside and repot it?

[@melaniehouston6633]

8 - 10 hours minimum of artificial light. Use cactus soil and let it dry out in the top 2” of soil before watering again. Feed with an organic citrus tree mix during the growing season. Cut all those lemons off if you have not already done so. 1st year fruit should always be cut off. Fungus gnats are a sign of too much moisture. Early Spring cut off all the branches below the graft in the root stock, any crossing or dead branches.

[@jimtullier5709]

Hi. The very first thing I saw that I dont like was the choice of flower pot you use. I bought some exactly like yours from Walmart last spring mostly because they advertised they are "Made in the USA" I grow quite a few citrus as well as some fruit trees in containers and, although I dont use them for my citrus, I did quite a few chestnuts, blackberries and raspberries in those pots until they could be planted inground. Those were the only style pots that the soil would begin to go anerobic because the soil was never allowed to properly get a little drying time, hence the toxic smell and lack of vigorous roots. I knew that as soon as I saw you dump the water into the trash bag. The design seems fine but it allows water in the tray to wick up the pot and citrus hate consistant wet roots. Wet roots means root rot. Change the pot design used and your luck will change. Hope you sort it out because between the Meyer lemons, and the different limes I have in containers inside, the smell of hundreds of blooms cant be described.

[@BogLife]

I appreciate it, but this was a failure and you are right Root rot set in and killed the tree. I haven’t tried to do it again, but maybe this next year we will give it a try. Thank you for the advice!

[@jimtullier5709]

You need to learm how to do cuttings/ Once your new tree has enough growth, give it a try. I've done 12 Meyers, some Valencia oranges, some thornless key lime, some figs and others. That way, if things go south, you have backups ready to take their place with no time lost. Sorry that you lost the tree but consider what I said about the pot. I dont use mine for more than a month or so now before repotting to more conventional pots. Good luck to you!@@BogLife

[@BogLife]

@@jimtullier5709 you learn from your mistakes, and I’m learning so much with all the mistakes I make.

[@jimtullier5709]

@@BogLife I agree and we all make them. One of the worst was being afraid to learn about propagation. I'm in zone 6b and this morning I picked a few fresh Meyer lemons and figs. It takes some planning but itsd easily done. Not to say all my cuttings succeed, but enough do to keep me interested in trying more species.

[@BogLife]

@@jimtullier5709 are you using stems or starting seeds fresh

[@John-PaulMartin]

Hi, Your tree looks a lot like mine! I noticed several things you may want to pay attention to. I noticed you did not clean and disinfect the pot. If bacterial and bug eggs are in the crust and left on dirt, you reinfected the new soil. Speaking of the soil, do not use fertilizer potting soil. There is way too much fertilizer. Remember the crust on the top of soil before yo7 exchanged soil. That crust is SALT! And plant do not like it very much. Your lemons are really nice despite the leaf drop. I use Neem Oil for my citrus trees ( plural). ayou can purchase already mixed in a spray bottle or concentrate yo7 can mix yourself. I have a problem with those fuzzy plant sucking scales. The first thing I do after bringing them outside is to wash off the winter dust and spray the bottoms and tops of the leaves and the stems. They go after the young and such the life out of the leaves and new stems. You should have used a portion of good old sand to help with drainage. I like the grow light just make sure it turns on and off by it self. A cool night time also helps. I have lemons from all over the world, limes, oranges from all over and I just sprouted ten “red seedless grapefruit seeds”… I must have a green thumb to pull that off! I also use the citrus fertilizer you use. However, it has a unique smell I wait to use outside!

[@danacarbone9405]

im not an expert but I would say your new soil is also way to dense , Im dealing with the same issue, the water needs to drain through it quickly

[@margielulu1366]

I think I just buy some lemons at the international farmers market . Way cheaper than Spending 40$ in fertilizer and insects killers.🤷🏾‍♀️

[@BogLife]

Especially since I failed and if I want to try again double it!

[@NotAsTraceable]

I'm learning that about gardening in general.

[@bennymolinas]

Citrus plants need 6+ hours of light outdoors and 16+ indoor LED lights without proper light the plant getting it will not thrive at all. There is nothing wrong with your soil by the way.

[@drillsergeant623]

The problem is clear as day. Wtf are all those lemons doing on that little tree. You’re purposely killing it.