One more thing.
Ps....I just went back today and asked if they used epsom salts, and they said never!!! Ok. then why do we have to if our fertilizers are suppose to be doing the same job as the ones they suggest we buy?
If there is a nursery man who grows citrus,and reads this, that would be nice if they shared with us..right?

I've wondered the same thing. I drive by citrus groves in Florida and the leaves are so dark they seem a quarter of the way between green and black. I cannot get my citrus that dark.

Hi Mike!
I use Dyna-Gro on all of my plants- Citrus, Gardenias, Jasmine, (even my Christmas cactus) etc., and everyone seems happy. I have also started using Epsom salts. Maybe the people you are talking to have no idea what is being used??? The plants are probably shipped to the nursery in the condition you are seeing, and (again) the employees have no clue???
Or- they use stuff that is industrial grade??? I've heard they use hormones in nursery plants to make them look good- although that's more for flowers, I think.
I would love to know the truth!

Wouldn't it be nice if we could get anyone who raises Citrus for their living, the ones that all the nurseries order their trees from, to volunteer their help here..?
OR their secret...:-). Maybe we will never find out and just keep guessing....lol

How about 4 Winds Nursery, or Acorn Springs, or any of the places that grow citrus from seedlings and that specialize in selling them. Places where the nurseries order them from. They might try selling us a product to use, but what are they really feeding their treses..?
It would be nice if they shared with us, since we are buying their products. Have you ever seen one of the trees from 4 Winds, they are so healthy!! Hats off to them for
a good quality product.

I bet they use compost in thier potting mixes...that would make all the difference, with all the organics involved. I've been reading about vermicomposting (starting a worm bin this week), and in the book I have it says that the worm castings do have some salts in them that won't be found in regular soils, along with all the "good nutrients" one would normally find in compost. I plan on scratching vermicompost into the soil of most of my houseplants next fall, as well as using it to amend my outdoor beds, so I guess we'll see if that makes any difference or not...

I think the nurseries send water, soil & leaf samples to diagnostic labs. Those labs tell them what nutrients they need to add & in what quantities for optimum health of the trees. Also most wholesale nurseries 'fertigate' meaning they give small doses of fertilizer in their water. So that every time they irrigate they are spoon feeding the trees just what they need. Another thing that would give them that nice flushy looking growth is being grown inside a greenhouse where the environment can be closely controlled.

I have a citrus grove in Florida . The trees are planted in bare naked sand - no compost or mulch . The trees are huge - 10 to 12 feet high , deep dark green with high production and moderate new growth .
I use the University of Florida feeding plan - four light feedings per year ( Feb. May , July and October - give or take ) with soil testing every two years .
I use Sunniland Citrus fertilizer made right here in Central Florida . I do not spray since I prefer slightly blemished fruit and leaves without pesticides .
The big secret is the Florida sun , Florida soil , plenty of rain ( which we are currently not having ! ) and regular fertilizing .
Doing too much is as harmful as not doing enough .
Search the U of Florida IFAS website for more info .
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu

Thankyou for all the ideas everyone. Seems to me some have great fertilizer programs for in ground Citrus, and some of us have great fertilizer programs for container Citrus plants. All mine are in containers, I wish in ground though,because I live in Mass. To bad the only Citrus grower we were able to get advice from was from gatormomx. I guess us hobbiest will just keep guessing whats good from experience. I will tell you though, Al seems to have it together on this one. Maybe not a Citrus grower, but at least he knows his plants nutrional needs well. His fertilizer idea he gave me seems toi do a good job, just not as good asI want. Maybe over time. I will continue to see a remarkable resemblance to the ones that I buy that look GREAT. Until a Citrus grower that specializes in selling their trees to nurseries in containers, hops on board and shares their secret, we can just do our best and what works for each of us..:-)
Thanks to all, but we are not finished with this yet!!:-)

Depends on the soil and water where the nursery is. Out west NO ONE uses Epsom salts. I think virtually all the commercial nurseries in CA use high acid, high nitrogen chemical fertilizer for citrus. They are interested in forcing the fastest vegetative growth they can get. Many growers use ammonia nitrate chemical fertilizer.
I'm sure it's different where there is acid soil. Ours is alkaline.
I'm organic and find even the suggestion of putting raw chemicals on my trees painful (well, maybe not painful but you get the idea) I use mostly raw mulch, and also some chipped material, and sometimes a compost blend that includes manure.

Hey Mike..I just wrote to a citrus seller in Fl, (owner of Briteleaf Citrus) asking what type of soil and fertilizer they use.
She said they buy a special Citrus soil in Fl containing Peat, Bark, and 'her words' other stuff..LOL
I use Peat, but can't find bark, other than large orchid bark, and don't want to order a bag of bark online..shipping would be expensive.
The fertlizer is a slow release type made by Harrells. I've never heard of it, nor do I know where to buy it. But I'm going to keep an eye out, see if someone sells it.
Briteleaf now sells Citrus fertilizer so I'm going to try their brand and see how it works..Toni

This may be of some help. You can read it all or scroll down to "cultural practices" and read the info. Copy and paste the link below. Good topic. topdog
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/citrus/nursery/L2305.htm

I had anemic looking citrus (key lime and blood orange). I started giving them miracid, a little algoflash and some epsom salts, as well as some fermented tea (from old tea bags). That seemed to make them a nice deep green!