New, you can give them a light dose of fertilizer now..Since you'll be using organic, it shouldn't matter much..
But truthfully, and I'm really organic when it comes to insecticides, etc, I'd go w/either citrus or azalia food. Just sprinkle into soil, and water.
I have never used the 3 organics you mentioned on citrus so I really don't know how they work and don't want to try talking you out of it, but citrus and azalia foods have the necessary NPK your citrus require. Toni

Thanks, Toni. I have some miracid -- I suppose that would work?

Yes, Miracid will work, New..Citrus need acidic soil, therefore the Miracid will do the trick.

Citrus usually drop leaves when there is a big change in humidity. It would be a good idea to run a humidifier or leave out big bowls of water. I run one 3-4 days a week in a room, and havent had any mold trouble. I also run a 2-bulb compact flourescent lamp on the table the citrus live on, rotating them closer to the light sometimes, and it seems to be a decent supplemental light. Good luck!

Also, you might want to do a search for cold roots- IIRC, about 50 degrees is when citrus roots quit uptaking water, so if the plants are getting a lot of sun on the leaves, and the roots are dormant, youll have leaf drop from stress. Some folks use christmas tree lights wrapped around the pots for a few degrees of warmpth.

I am in zone 9 California.
For the last 3 years I don't fertilize during the winter months as per adviced by some nice people here but this time I will do so because although my citrus taste the lower 40 degrees night temperature I noticed that they still put out new buds during the winter months. It is an ongoing process. So about a month ago I noticed some chlorosis (yellowing) in some of my citrus so I gave them the miracid fert. Their leaves are now beginning to green and appear to be happy.
My conclution now is that I will keep fertilizing even during the winter months.
This is just an experement. I'd stop if there is some ditremental effect.

Ben, I don't understand your comment..ARe you telling him/her to feed or not to feed? That is the question? LOL
Seriously though, I don't understand.
You must rememeber you are in CA and he/she is in Wa..there is a difference..I think you can get away w/all yr feeding whereas, we who live in cold climates cannot..
But since the days are lengthening, (thank God) and it's getting warmer, a small dose won't harm a plant of any type. Toni

I am in the PNW,Washington State. And I feed my citrus (4) times a year.I feed in Feb.,May,Aug,Nov. And I feed with "Whitney Farms Citrus & Vine & Avacodo food" it is all natural. Plus I also fertilize with Miracid monthly and my trees fruit heavily! It's a better way to feed your citrus if you feed a complete food than mix & matching.There are some good citrus foods out on the market.***Suzanne

Suzanne, thanks. I'll keep an eye out for the Whitney farms citrus & etc. Several local nurseries carry Whitney farms, though I am not sure about that particular variety. Probably they can order for me. I'll feed lightly with miracid now, since the lime is putting out new growth.

You are right that trying to feed with components instead of a complete fertilizer is tough. I tried it last season and that may have contributed to the lemon losing its leaves in the fall. With the individual components the plants ended up being high in P & K and very low in N by the end of the summer. I ammended with blood meal to fix that, but guess I'll spread all the amendments in the garden this spring and go back to a full-spectrum food.

Toni:
I am just stating a fact. I used to tell people not to feed on Winter months because I learned from this forum that. I was a follower until now.
I am changing my practice.
I will from now on keep on feeding my citrus even during the winter months and even if the night tempts are low because for the simple reason that my citrus are still giving new shoots during winter. Noone must follow my practice because this is just an experement.
A word of caution: just as I stated I live in a subtropical climate and no severe winter here. Toni you can not follow my method because you have severe winter there.
If I remember right a long time ago you and Millet had an arguement regarding fertilizing during the winter months and one of your reasons was Benny does not fertilize also.
Well it is going to change now.
The beauty of growing citrus is that you are the captain of your ship. You can do anything you want to. You can change things and you can experement things.
That's what I am doing now.
Benny

Suzanne,
Based on your posting, I just ordered a box of the Whitney fertilizer you use. I know you wrote that you use it 4 times per year; how much do you use each time? I have my citrus in containers here in Maryland, till spring when they'll go outside. I currently water w/a very dilute concentration (1/4 tsp per gallon) of Miracid every time I water. Thanks, Stephanie :)

Ben, I think experimenting is a great idea..for instance, after learning spraying plants with Fish Emulsion to prevent bugs, I've gone ahead and did this and nary an insect.
When Millet and I disagreed, I'm sure I had said more than Ben doesn't fertilize..in other words you weren't the main issue, so please don't think I used you as a scapegoat. I'm sure more was stated by Millet for me to bring up your name.

I think ppl should feed if growth on plants resume througout the year, but for ppl in cold/grey climates it's best to stop feeding until one sees new growth..If a tree is sending out greenery, then small doses of food won't hurt..NOw that March is here, and the days are longer, it'd be a good idea to start feeding plants that haven't been fed all winter. The citrus in my gh have put out a lot of green, so it's telling me, 'feed me, feed me.' Toni

Stephanie...I dig a 3 to 4 inch trench around the dripline of my citrus. As all of them are in containers in my greenhouse,and I go by the dosage on the back of the box. sprinkle all evenly around in your trench and cover it with soil and water throughly.I buy my Whitney Farms Citrus & Avacado & Vine food from McLendons.But it is sold in most of the gardening sections of most supply stores. Yes, mam..I do feed year around and my trees are big and very healthy,they are either in fruit or flowers.And literally loaded when they fruit. I also Miracid them monthly.And I give them spray baths of water weekly for their leaves. Which also ups the humidity in there also. For me this works and it works well.I do have to say one thing though,Meyer Lemon tree's are tempermental and I truely think that it's in their gene make -up to shed their leaves apon occasion.This is the only citrus that I have that does this out of (9) different citrus varietys.GO FIGURE? ***Suzanne

Suzannesks:
Thanks for the input. Now I know I am on the right tract.
Benny

Stephanie, I forgot to add, I feed February,April,August,November.And you'll feed by the size of your tree's.Read the back of the box.Remember..though,that you will feed less than you would because you have containerized tree's.This way you are feeding every (3) months.Citrus are big feeders. Benny....you also know that feeding is of utmost importance! Actually when you think of it,my last feeding is in November...just about the time that they go into a somewhat dormancy peroid.Even though ,they don't go completely dormant because they are kept at an even 50 to 60 degree's all winter.And most of my citrus are in fruit through the wintertime.I'm still picking Bearess limes and also Lisbon lemons, and my Honey Murcott Tangerine has 17 tangerines on it...that are just now starting to turn color. So these guys need food:)***Suzanne

I am beginning to think differently now.
Before I am outright don't feed on Winter now I 'think' (my personal opinion) is that citrus still growing and manufacture food thus new buds, flowering etc... even on Winter time here in my region. Although many (all)nights we have low 40's temperature but in daytime we have on the low 70's. Now I think citrus close down eveything when the tempt in the soil goes down to 64 degrees but during daytime when the soil tempt goes up over 64 degrees then their machinery starts again and manufacture food for their leaves.
So in retrospect they are still growing part of the time during Winter months. As evidenced, I have new buds, new flowers, and new fruits throughout the year on most of my citrus. So in my region there is no such thing as early variety or late variety. I have costantly have fruits of different sizes in my tree.
But again I amdoing something different again.
I read in this forum that only 2% of the flowers turn into fruit and 98% of the flowers drops off. Not so in my citrus.
Most of them are laden with fruits and as a result the fruits are small when they mature. I don't like it.
I have been trimming my fruits lately and cutting them off and leave at the most 2 per couple per twig. I want big fruits this time and not those little ones that is not apetizing to eat. In due respect to Dr. Manners mine is just an exception to the rule.
This is my conclution.
Correct me if I am wrong.

Benny...we all experiment until we get it right for ourselves right? Different enviroments,and climates.It's whatever works the best for us true? And the proof is in the citrus thats produced and also the condition of your tree's right? So don't kick yourself if you change the care you give your trees.Your tree's are absolutely to die for! You must have been doing something right.But I on the other hand I have to work alittle bit harder at it since I'm living and growing in a much cooler climate. And this works great for me.I have to provide an artificial enviroment for 6 months out of the year...so I watch temps and feed to keep the warmth and nutrition in the tree's.I too snip some of the blooms to produce larger fruit.It seems that my tree's never really rest,they cycle either blooming or fruiting.So in order for them to be healthy and produce well and good size to the fruit...I have to feed:) Right now my Cara cara & my Rio red grapefruit is in full on bloom:) they love to be fed***Suzanne

hi,i read a book fromn the uk from a nursery that specializes
in growing citrus and citrus in pots.It was geared more to the uk but i live in new zealand,which can be similar.They had
done reaseach with commercial growers in spain and asked them
what they considered where the needs of containerised citrus
trees.They said that the idea of slow release ferts and high
potash formulas for winter was wrong and that citrus had
different needs for summer and winter.They said a lot of people were getting fruit drop in the winter from too much
potash and that nitrogen was still as important for helping
the fruit to size up.
Here is there formula,which goes a bit against the 5-1-3 npk
that i hear here.I have been using their summer formula for
2 months and my trees have dark green leaves and flowers
all over the place.When the clocks change i will change to
the winter formula.They say not to water so often but feed the winter formula when you do.I have been watering once a
week through summer and feed every time.
Summer formula = n 20 p 15 k 15 + trace elements at high strength(magnesium,boron,copper,iron.maganese,molybodelhem!
zinc.
winter formula=n18 p18 k 18 + treace elements at high strength as above.
They concluded that citrus still feed in the winter and that
watering with slightly warm water helped keep the roots active and to keep the plant on the dry and cool side.
If they dont get fed through winter,they will be weaker by
the spring flush.They still needed nitrogen to help this,not
an abundance of potash which would cause flower and fruit drop.They also said it was the cold in winter that ripened the fruit,not the heat of summer.I have read testimonials of
people getting great success feeding their citrus in containers through the winter,particularly those who kept in
greenhouse,where the temp could be kept higher..They mentioned if the temp went below 8c they would tend to go dormant and not take up water or food and then tend to drop fruit and leaves..So,it seems to me,you need to water with warm
water and feed at the same time but maybe every two or three
weeks and you should get optimum growth through the winter.
One problem= its bloody freezing where you are!!!!!!!!
i will be using it here,where it can get down to 4c.I will
let you know how it goes through the winter,we are in autumn
in nz now.cheers and keep up the arguing!!!!!

laidback....there is no argueing here.The proof is in the citrus as to how they look and preform & the quality. Our statement is that "our" citrus do better being fed thru winter.It might not be someone elses statement,but it is mine and Bennys. Good research laidback! You Rock!!!***Suzanne

Laidback:
That's good. It just confirms my suspicion that citrus grows in Winter at milder climates.
I also use the 20-15-15 with trace elements because it is an acidic fertilizer and it so happens that that is the only one available at the fert store when I was looking to lower the pH of my soil.
Suzannesks:
"Your tree's are absolutely to die for!"
I like that very much. Thank you. And thanks for reinforcing my new belief.
Benny

Benny...you should give tours through your yard.It is magnificient! And we need your pictures for encouragement also. Keep them coming.****Suzanne

Suzanne,
Thanks so much for your two posts answering my question about your use of Citrus, Avocado & Vine fert. My only area of confusion referred to when you wrote:

"Stephanie, I forgot to add, I feed February,April,August,November.And you'll feed by the size of your tree's.Read the back of the box.Remember..though,that you will feed less than you would because you have containerized tree's.This way you are feeding every (3) months."

So do I go by the back of the box where it refers to the height of the tree or do I use less because they're in containers? I don't see any info on the box regarding containers (I'm assuming where the box says 1-3 they mean how many feet high the tree is.) Or did you mean that I would feed less because I'd be fertilizing 4xyear, not monthly? Sorry to be so thick headed! Thanks for all your help! Stephanie

stephanie...yes, I do feed (4) times a year.And on the back of the box they do not specify about container tree's. I go by the size of the tree first. They mean the height of your citrus tree.Then cut the amount in half. If your tree is 3 foot tall and it calls for 1C. You'll feed 1/2 Cup.And yes, I do repeat that I do feed (4) times a year. I water my citrus very well first,dig your trench,pour around your citrus food,and water real well again. And your good to go again for food for 3 months:) But I also mix up in a gallon jug of water 1/2 Tab. Miracid per tree monthly.***Suzanne

Thank you so much Suzanne,
That was exactly what I needed - you're terrific!
Regards, Stephanie

Yeah!!! Suzanne! I second.

I feed my trees all year as they are grown indoors where it is warm in the winter. I duplicate the growing conditions as best I can. If I did not feed through the winter my trees would basically starve since they are still growing. The fert I use is a slow release with trace elements,but the trace elements is in smaller than desired amounts so I supplement with S.T.E.M.
Andi