Q. You helped me before with my Meyer Lemon, so I hope
you have an answer for this one.
My tree is in a huge pot. It is about 4 years old.
Last
Spring, it had massive flowers (yum) and a lot of little green buds followed.
Then every single one of those buds turned black and dropped off. Not one remained.
Spring, it had massive flowers (yum) and a lot of little green buds followed.
Then every single one of those buds turned black and dropped off. Not one remained.
I want to figure out why and change what I am doing so
this never happens again.
this never happens again.
The
plant is fertilized with granular fertilizer 2x a year — early spring and late
summer. It gets moisture and hasn’t dried out.
However the leaves could look more beautifully green.
plant is fertilized with granular fertilizer 2x a year — early spring and late
summer. It gets moisture and hasn’t dried out.
However the leaves could look more beautifully green.
Sometimes, some of them curl and are not quite bright
green.
green.
I do not
know if the two issues are related, but I sure hope you have a suggestion.
know if the two issues are related, but I sure hope you have a suggestion.
A. Sounds like you had post bloom fruit drop. Fruit drop
can also occur during summer months and just before harvest. The usual reasons
for post bloom fruit drop is usually some sort of stress.
can also occur during summer months and just before harvest. The usual reasons
for post bloom fruit drop is usually some sort of stress.
Four
years is getting up there for being in the same pot without repotting. You
might consider repotting and adding some new soil to the mix.
years is getting up there for being in the same pot without repotting. You
might consider repotting and adding some new soil to the mix.
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| Meyer lemon flowers |
I know
you said it had adequate water but if it went through just a few hours of
drought during or just after pollination, fruit drop may occur. If we have some
freezing weather during or just after flowering, that can cause the fruit to
abort too.We had some on January 6 and 8 in parts of the valley.
you said it had adequate water but if it went through just a few hours of
drought during or just after pollination, fruit drop may occur. If we have some
freezing weather during or just after flowering, that can cause the fruit to
abort too.We had some on January 6 and 8 in parts of the valley.
When
watering, make sure about 20% of the water that you apply runs out the bottom
of the container each time you water. This is important for flushing salts from
the soil.
watering, make sure about 20% of the water that you apply runs out the bottom
of the container each time you water. This is important for flushing salts from
the soil.
Another
possibility in containers is overheating them. If in direct sunlight and the
outside of the container gets too hot and transmits this heat to the soil, this
can cause stress and cause fruit drop.
possibility in containers is overheating them. If in direct sunlight and the
outside of the container gets too hot and transmits this heat to the soil, this
can cause stress and cause fruit drop.
Proper
fertilization is important. Over fertilizing fruit trees, excess nitrogen, can
cause fruit drop. And finally less commonly some insects such as scale or
mealybug infestations can cause fruit drop as well.
fertilization is important. Over fertilizing fruit trees, excess nitrogen, can
cause fruit drop. And finally less commonly some insects such as scale or
mealybug infestations can cause fruit drop as well.
What to
do? Make sure your container, the soil volume, is big enough to handle wide
swings in temperature and water. Monitor both closely. You might find a
houseplant moisture meter to be helpful.
do? Make sure your container, the soil volume, is big enough to handle wide
swings in temperature and water. Monitor both closely. You might find a
houseplant moisture meter to be helpful.
Keep the outside of a plant container out of
the hot sun. Double potting a container is
helpful to keep the soil temperature down. Watch for freezing
temperatures at bloom time and cover the plant.
the hot sun. Double potting a container is
helpful to keep the soil temperature down. Watch for freezing
temperatures at bloom time and cover the plant.
Water the
soil just before the heat of the day. Wet soil heats up more slowly than dry
soil. If we have any frost during bloom it will affect fruit production.
soil just before the heat of the day. Wet soil heats up more slowly than dry
soil. If we have any frost during bloom it will affect fruit production.
Fruit drop is disconcerting but inevitable. I wanted to respond to the issue of fertilization as a contributor. University recommendations are for fertilizer to be applied 3 times annually – on Valentines Day, Memorial Day, and Labor Day. In our arid, hot climates any citrus planted in containers may need more frequent fertilizing (at low rates) during the hot summer months when they are watered more frequently. An even N-P-K or at least low nitrogen will help the tree focus on flowering and fruiting and not on new flushes of green growth that may attract aphids, leafminer and thrips.