Lime Tree Distress...Please help Diagnose.

17 years ago

I have attached some pictures (link below) of the three different issues that I am having with my lime tree...black leaves, black bugs and spider webs. Can anyone please diagnose and recommend a treatment method to get my trees looking healthy again?

P.S. Click on the pictures to enlarge them.

Thank you very much for your time.

Here is a link that might be useful: http://limetree1.weebly.com/

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Comments (4)

jean001
17 years ago
Where do you live?

Spider webs -- if that's what they are -- aren't a problem.
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
17 years ago
The image appears to be that of the black citrus aphid. The black coating on the leaves is called black sooty mold, and often accompanies an infestation of aphids or other sucking insects. Once you do something about the aphids, the black sooty mold will cease to grow and will flake off, eventually.

Can't say for certain about the webbing, but it certainly could be that of a very bad infestation of spider mites.

This is a very advanced stage of infestation of pests. Without seeing the plant, as a whole, I couldn't even say if it was possible to save it, or not. Is this a container plant? How large is it?

The only Fleming Island I know of, Jean, is in Florida...near Jacksonville.
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flemingisland1
Original Author
17 years ago
Yes...Fleming Island, FL...we are about 25 miles south of Jacksonville.

My tree is in container (about 10-12 gal pot) and the tree itself is roughly 4 feet tall with the base of the tree measuring approx. 10-11" in diameter.

I sure hope there is promise for saving my tree...I have had it for about 4 or 5 years.

Thank you guys very much for your help!
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
17 years ago
You can get rid of a boat load of aphids and spider mites by the careful spraying of plain water to blast them away. Not so strong that you could cause plant damage, but enough to get rid of the critters. Spider mites tend to congregate on the underside of foliage, so pay some attention to that location. Use your fingers, too, to help squish.

Then, you might try an application of insecticidal soap, mixed according to label directions. Again, direct the spray to all parts of the plant.

I've found that spider mites can be controlled by applications of alcohol and water (in a 1:4 ratio). Save that remedy for when you bring your plant inside or out of the direct sunlight. Same goes for the soap, too.

I should say that spider mites can be very difficult to get rid of entirely. Aphids, not so much. But you will have to do a much better job at observing your plant from now on, so that you can continue treatments. Pest populations like that don't occur overnight.