I have a question. I have a potted Meyers Lemon Tree that is relatively young, I think. I've had it two months. It stands about 2 feet high and about the same across. It is covered with flowers, looks very happy and healthy, has a great sunny window facing south west. It seems very happy with the exception of dropping its little lemon babies. I would guestimate it's dropped about 5 or 6 of them. All that's on there is one little lemon right on the tip top of it that seems to be determined to hang on. Why would it be dropping fruit?
Plants: 2 | From: Hillsboro, Virginia | Registered: Jan 2005
| Seeded: 162.83.93.193
posted
Thanks for your responses. Trouble is, it's pollinating because it's making lemons. They are about 1/3 of an inch long and then they just drop off. Very sad. It seems to be pollinating pretty well actually. I blow on it regularly and it's near a vent that blows on it alot too. So that being said, any other suggestions as to why the fruit is falling off?
Plants: 2 | From: Hillsboro, Virginia | Registered: Jan 2005
| Seeded: 162.83.93.193
posted
I did some more research and discovered that fruit drop on Meyer lemons as well other citrus is a very common problem. One person in another garden forum said there's nothing you can do about it, but another suggested something I had also thought of, and that was to fertilize with a high potash fertilizer. I use a liquid fertilizer on the plants I start indoors. It's a low nitrogen, high potassium, high potash fertilizer called Omega 1-5-5
* * * * Terry
May the force be with you Plants: 1370 | From: Copper Hill, Virginia | Registered: Apr 2004
| Seeded: 4.248.224.161
posted
One of the reasons citrus drop their fruit is inconsistent soil moisture. The roots are surface feeders and as such, as the moisture levels fall in the topsoil area the tree stresses out. For a potted plant a wide pot is best to allow the trees roots to extend out at normal depths. A healthy root system will spread at least as far as the drip line. Is your pot suitably broad? Similarly, if allowed to dry out and then it gets a good drink a similar shock can cause fruit drop. Outside, a good covering of mulch and a regular deep watering is the key. Being in a pot the problem may well be the same. Keep the watering regular,(but not excessive). Can you mulch it? If it is, as you suggest, a young tree, don't be too worried about it for the first year or so. Allow it to put its energy into the developing root system and it will have a better chance of holding the fruit next season. It's arguable that citrus is best left a few years before allowing it to carry fruit to maturity.
Plants: 1184 | From: East Coast | Registered: Sep 2004
| Seeded: 146.27.122.18
Please help!!! I just recently bought a Meyers lemon tree in Texas. The weather here right now is quite unpredictable - being one day sunny and cool, then the next day chilly and rainny, etc. I placed the lemon tree indoor, next to an entrance to my backyard. There isn't so much light where the tree is placed, but I bought it outdoor whenever there's sun outside for the first few days, after bought it home from the store.
Today, after taking care of it for about a few days, I noticed there are great many tiny, little black "insects" that cover the entire tree!!! This is my first time taking care of the tree and I have no idea what these "insects" are. I'm afraid my tree is getting sick.
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