The decorative lemon tree brings Mediterranean flair to the balcony or terrace. In addition to the fruits, the large, lush green leaves also have a high ornamental value. If the leaves on the lemon tree curl up, this can have various causes. Mostly it is a matter of care mistakes, but spider mites or scale insects can also cause problems for the plant. Approaches to correct care and control of pests are explained below.
Lemon tree leaves curl up
If the leaves on the lemon tree curl up, this is often due to the wrong care. The Mediterranean plants give the impression that they are frugal and do not need much water. It is important here to find the right middle ground and not to water too much, but also not too little. There is no rule of thumb for correct watering. However, you can see from various signs that the plant needs water. If you meant too well with the watering, you can take various measures so that the tree can recover quickly. The right time when you bring the tree in in the fall and when you bring it back outside in the spring also plays an important role in care.
dryness
Citrus plants react to prolonged drought in the hot summer months by curling up their leaves. They try to store the remaining moisture longer because they evaporate less with rolled leaves. If the dry period continues, the leaves are shed. Action is required to avoid this. It is best to proceed as follows:
- If possible, remove the plant from the bucket
- Immerse the entire root ball in water until no more air bubbles rise
- Put the plant back in the bucket.
In order for the plant to recover, you should repeat this process for several days in a row. If you cannot take your citrus tree out of the bucket, you should place it in the bucket with the water and make sure that the top layer of soil is also covered with water. After a few days, allow half of the soil to dry before watering again. Calcareous water is also suitable for watering. Citrus limon needs more water the warmer and drier it gets.
tip: You can use finger testing to determine whether the lemon tree needs water. Use your finger to dig as deep into the ground as possible. If the soil in the middle of the pot is dry, you need to water it. You can make the test easier with a moisture meter equipped with a long probe.
humidity
If your lemon tree is too damp, the leaves will also curl up. Too much moisture can have several causes. Either you watered too much or the plant got too much rain.
The roots die off and rot. If the substrate smells musty and moor-like, it can often be too late for your lemon tree. What to do if it's too wet? You can prevent damage to the plant by taking various measures:
- carefully remove the sapling from the tub and remove any wet soil
- allow the root ball to dry completely
- remove any damaged roots
- plant citrus limon in new, dry, well-drained soil in the container
With the moisture meter you can check whether your plant needs water again.
notice: In winter, you should keep your lemon tree in a cool and bright room at a temperature of 5 to 10 degrees Celsius. He sheds his leaves in a dark and warm room. Due to the low temperature and the lack of solar radiation, almost no water evaporates at all. It is sufficient if you only water once or twice throughout the winter.
waterlogging
Citrus plants cannot tolerate waterlogging. The result is curled leaves. Even before planting in the tub, you can ensure that there is no waterlogging. With a drainage in the bucket, excess water can drain off easily. For drainage, you can place shards of pottery over the drainage holes of the bucket and cover with plant fleece. So no soil can be washed out of the bucket together with the excess water.
frost damage
Citrus trees often roll up their leaves during frost. Dark spots on the leaves also indicate that the lemon tree has suffered from frost. This is dead tissue. If the plant has already been damaged, you can tell by a bronze discoloration of the leaves. If the branches are badly damaged, they can also turn dark. The damaged branches must be cut back into the healthy wood. Seal the interfaces with a wound sealant. You cannot always save your lemon tree after frost damage. You should take the right measures beforehand:
- wrap in fleece in autumn before the first night frosts
- as close as possible to the house or under a roof
- Bring in the lemon tree in good time when heavier night frosts are announced
- slowly get used to it in the spring and don't immediately put it in the blazing sun
- do not put them back in their usual outdoor location until after the ice saints in May
pests
The lemon tree can also curl up its leaves if it is infested with spider mites or scale insects. You can often recognize an infestation with pests when many ants run over the trunk of the tree. The ants feed on the honeydew produced by various lice. Since the pests mostly attack the plant in winter, the right winter location is important.
tip: With the right fertilization, you can make your lemon tree more resistant to pest infestation. You should only fertilize in the growth period from April to August. The fertilizer should be rich in trace elements. You should only fertilize if you also water, as the plant can then absorb the fertilizer better.
scale insects
Scale insects attach themselves to the leaves of the citrus limon and then suck them out. As a result, the leaves of the lemon tree curl up. Later they fall off. The brown scale insects are visible to the naked eye. They leave a sticky layer on the leaves. In the event of a scale insect infestation, these solutions are helpful:
- wash the scale insects with soapy water and a soft cloth
- spray the plant with soapy water for several days;
- shower the entire plant
- spray the plant with a 30:70 mixture of canola oil and water.
When spraying with the rapeseed oil solution, make sure the leaves are completely covered with the film. The scale insects can suffocate under the oil film. In order to combat newly hatched scale insects, you should repeat the process several times in a row.
spider mite infestation
Spider mites usually appear when the winter quarters for your lemon tree are too warm and the humidity is too low. These pests prefer to settle on the underside of the leaves and suck out the leaves, which then curl up. The plant should therefore be cool. You should check Citrus limon regularly for pest infestations to prevent major damage. You can recognize an infestation with spider mites by the fine, gray or white webs over the leaves. You can prevent it by:
- place bowls filled with water in the wintering room
- use a humidifier
- spray the plant with low-lime water.
Spider mite infestation
If your lemon tree is already infested, you can spray your tree with water using a spray bottle several times a week. You should make sure that you don't
moisture reaches the roots and no waterlogging forms. If the infestation is more severe, you can also use a natural pest control agent that is also suitable for orchards. In addition to spider mites, Naturen Bio pest-free for fruit and vegetables also combats aphids, scale insects, mealybugs and mealybugs.