Plants have their own way of drawing attention to poor care or diseases. Crippled leaves, discoloration and small fruits are typical signs that the lemon tree is not doing well. Yellow leaves on citrus plants are a serious problem. The constant loss of foliage weakens the plants and can lead to the death of the Mediterranean plants.
Discolored foliage
Yellow discolored leaves on the lemon tree
Various causes can be at the root when the leathery leaves of the citrus tree discolour and fall out more frequently during the main growing season. A weak formation of flowers and small fruits should also not be taken lightly by passionate lovers of the Mediterranean plants.
Only those who recognize the cause in good time and eliminate the reason can protect the perennial plant from further damage. If the discoloration is due to a care mistake, lemon trees need time to react to the right measures. It can take up to 3 weeks before the plants show how effective the measures taken were.
The following points can cause discoloration of the leaves:
- too dark a place
- nutrient deficiency
- waterlogging
- pests
Citrus plants are evergreen plants that only take a forced break in the cold season. The anomalies of the warmth-loving plants can also occur in the winter quarters.
water supply
The optimal supply of water
An increasing, flat discoloration of the foliage can be attributed to waterlogging. When it comes to watering, the lemon tree is very demanding. The evergreen plants are used to getting by with drought for a short time. Wet feet affect the Mediterranean exotics and lead to a loss of foliage. Standing water at the bottom of the bucket can promote the infestation of ascomycetes. These pathogens cause the root rot that gardeners fear. The use of fungicides in this case is ineffective.
Keep the following tips in mind when supplying water:
- water as needed
- Soil must be able to dry out
- Use water with a moderate lime content
One of the most important preventive measures is a functioning drainage system. In potted plants, this layer consists of porous material that is laid out on the bottom of the container. Excess water in pots and saucers should be emptied regularly. If you are brave enough to plant the lemon trees in the bed, you should mix the substrate with small pebbles or expanded clay. In this way, the soil is permanently loosened and does not stick together, even when it is very dry.
If yellowing occurs over a large area, it is advisable to act quickly. If no root rot has occurred in an advanced stage, the lemon tree can be saved.
- cut off the water supply immediately
- Transfer plants to fresh, dry substrate
The plants should only be watered with a greatly reduced amount of water for 2 to 3 weeks. When the leaves return to their original color, the danger is averted. Incidentally, prolonged dryness can also cause discoloration. Another symptom: the young leaves curl up and wither. You can use the tip of your index finger to check whether the plant needs water. When the top layer of substrate feels completely dry, the optimal time has come.
nutrient deficiency
The lemon tree is one of the weakly consuming plants. However, the Mediterranean plant only gets along to a limited extent with a completely lean soil. Especially older plants in the bucket, whose substrate has not been changed for a long time, suffer from a lack of nutrients. Chlorosis is a form of iron deficiency, which is impressively shown by a yellowish discoloration of the leaf veins. Small buds and stunted shoots are other signs of a lack of nutrients.
- Use ferrous fertilizer
- use in the main growing season
- Repot potted plants annually or change the substrate
Is fertilized according to the package instructions. Excessive intake of iron-rich nutrients can have the opposite effect on the lemon tree. The plant does not recover, the roots of the exotic are not able to process the high concentration of fertilizer. In the winter months, the plant does not need any nutrients. This is often due to another cause when the plant changes color and loses its foliage.
In addition to chlorosis, there are other characteristic signs of nutrient deficiencies. A cloudy coloring of the leaves is an indication of a zinc or magnesium deficiency. It is advisable to fertilize the lemon tree in a varied manner. The most important treatment measure for an undersupply of nutrients.
- transplant the plant into humus-rich soil
- start feeding fertilizer immediately
pests
Identify pests in time
In rare cases, an infestation with harmful insects “only” causes the lemon tree to turn yellow. It is usually gray or black spots on the leaves that are caused by a visit from lice and mites. If the plant surface is sticky, you should still take a closer look at the citrus plant. Most of the pests that suck cell juice prefer to colonize the underside of the leaves and the shoots.
- water with nettle broth
- Wipe affected plant parts
- increase humidity
Setting up special pheromone traps has proven useful for indoor plants. The sticky surface of these prepared products can lead to a severe decimation of the pests. In contrast to the other causes responsible for the discoloration of lemon tree leaves, damaged insects pose a danger to neighboring plants. If you can set it up in terms of space, the affected plants should be quarantined. Fallen or removed leaves belong in the garbage, not in the compost in the garden.
location
The wrong location
The lemon tree is a sun-loving plant. The Mediterranean perennial feels at home in the bright conservatory. The plant also thrives on the sunny balcony and in the light-flooded rock garden. A lack of light can produce noticeable features on the leaves.
- avoid semi-shady locations
- dark places are unsuitable for the citrus plant
- avoid the proximity to shady plant neighbors
As with a pest infestation, the outward signs of a lack of light rarely show up only in the form of yellow spots and leaf loss. Treat the plant to a sunny location and check whether other factors can be responsible for the abnormalities.
preventive measures
A well-known proverb says: Prevention is more effective than treating the cause. This statement applies exactly to the citrus tree. The cultivation of the Mediterranean plant is not complicated, but a few important care requirements must be met.
- choose the right location
- only water in small amounts
- the plant tolerates small amounts of lime
- provide fertilizer from March to August
- increase the humidity
- examine the citrus tree for pests
These points are easy to implement and sustainably promote the health of the citrus tree.