Lemon trees are Mediterranean beauties that have been increasingly found on balconies and in conservatories for several years. The care of the plants is not complicated, but certain requirements must be met. The shedding of blossoms and fruits is a mystery for passionate citrus gardeners. Various factors can be responsible for the loss. To fix the problem, you should get to the bottom of the cause.
Various causes
Natural selection
The evergreen lemon tree is a self-pollinator. Given the right conditions, it is not uncommon for citrus plants to bloom and produce buds all year round. Even young plants can come up with an abundance of flowers. However, this is not a guarantee of a bountiful harvest. At a young age or when the citrus tree is small, the plants lack the necessary strength to optimally supply all fruit sets. The result: the citrus tree throws off a large number of withered blossoms, so that the fruit does not ripen here.
You can observe this healthy selection especially on grafted plants. The roots are strong, but the grafted upper part is not yet able to bear enough fruit. Experienced lovers of exotic plants help a little here and remove the excess flowers in a targeted manner. There is no rule of thumb for this measure. Rather, it is a combination of gut feeling and experience.
weather
Weather-related influences
Older and larger lemon trees can also lose more leaves and fruit. In this case, it is advisable to subject the plant to a more detailed examination. Because these plants are normally able to develop and supply more fruit. A major factor that can cause a variety of problems with citrus plants is improper location.
- the lemon tree needs a sunny location
- Heat promotes growth
- shady places are unsuitable
The Mediterranean plants are very sun-hungry. The plants can only develop optimally and form flowers and fruits in a bright, warm place. Lack of light is noticeable quickly. The leaves take on a pale color and the growth of the evergreen lemon trees stagnates. If the plant loses its flowers and fruit splendor, you should check the location of your lemon tree. In addition to a planting location that is too dark, the weather can also influence the development of the plants.
- Draft affects the plants
- prolonged periods of cold can cause the leaves to fall off
- the lemon tree should be protected from rain
In the summer, the exotic rue plants have no objection to staying outdoors. Provided the conditions are right. If temperatures drop for an extended period of time and rain falls for weeks, consider relocating the plants to a sheltered spot.
Pour right
It is an open secret among avid enthusiasts of evergreen trees that proper watering can positively affect development and harvest. The citrus plants react accordingly sensitively if their needs are not properly met in this respect.
- prolonged drought leads to pale discoloration of the foliage
- curled or crippled leaves can indicate a lack of water
- young shoot tips wither away first if the drought lasts for a long time
Citrus plants can get by with a small amount of moisture, but the root ball must not dry out completely. Like all evergreen plants, these little trees also have to be watered in the cold season. In order to avoid losing parts of the plant, you should consider the following tips when caring for the distinctive little trees.
Here's how to do it:
- poured when the top layer of substrate has dried
- small amounts of lime in the water do not harm the lemon tree
- Spray the foliage with a water sprayer at irregular intervals
- allow excess irrigation water and rainwater to drain off
If the growth of your citrus plant stagnates, you can help with a short dry phase. In this case, it is recommended not to water the plant for about 7 days. Watch the lemon tree closely to avoid long-lasting damage.
Waterlogging can promote problems and diseases in the rue family. The humid environment around the roots promotes the infestation of ascomycetes. These cause root rot. A dangerous disease against which there are no countermeasures.
nutrient deficiency
nutrient deficiency as a cause
It is not uncommon for plants to thrive in a sunny location and with the right watering technique. When the first problems appear after about 2 or 3 years, the helplessness is great. In addition to water, heat and light, the citrus tree needs a certain dose of nutrients. The plants belong to the weakly consuming plants.
The minerals in a large bucket with a humus-rich substrate will last the lemon tree for several months. If these are used up, flowering and fruit formation suffer from the deficiency. Plant parts may be lost or dropped.
What you can do to counteract a nutrient deficiency:
- use a fertilizer specially made for citrus plants
- is fertilized from March to the end of August
- in the winter months the supply of nutrients is stopped
- Liquid fertilizer is administered via the irrigation water
- repot the plants every 2 to 3 years
The lack of nutrients is not only noticeable in the form of dropped flowers and fruits. The first signs are discoloration and stunted leaves. Effective first-aid measures consist of immediately transplanting the plants into fresh soil or adding liquid fertilizer to the substrate. Lemon trees must not be over-fertilized. Use the products strictly according to the instructions on the packaging or reduce the amount specified there. An oversupply of nutrients can burn the roots.
Wrong winter quarters
In the warm summer months, the lemon tree enjoys being on a sunny balcony or the bright terrace. As soon as the temperatures in autumn drop permanently into the single digits, the time has come to move. Even young plants can withstand temperatures of around 3° C unscathed.
However, if you want to enjoy your citrus tree for many years to come, you should not try it. The change from the full sun outdoors to a darker room stresses the trees. The age of the plants does not play a significant role. Various reasons can lead to the loss of leaves during the winter.
- dry room air
- the plant is exposed to drafts
- the root ball dries up
- pest infestation
- lack of light
As far as the size of the bucket allows, a place on a bright window sill is ideal for the citrus plants. Placed on a thick styrofoam plate, the plants are additionally protected from the cold from below. Avoid direct sunlight if possible. This stimulates the plants to increase their growth and dries out the substrate in the container more quickly. With a location on the south window, the maintenance effort of the distinctive plant beauties increases enormously. Under no circumstances should the plants be left to their own devices over a longer period of time.
In addition to a wrong location, pests can contribute to the shedding of flowers and fruits during the winter. While aphids appear almost exclusively in summer, spider mites attack houseplants in the cold season. The insects that suck cell juice prefer to colonize the underside of the leaf. With the increasing appetite of the spider-like insects, the foliage of the plants dies. The lemon tree is no longer able to optimally supply blossoms and fruits.