Lisbon Insect/Yellow Leaves problem

19 years ago

I have had a 4 ft Lisbon Lemon Tree indoors for the last month. It was doing fine once I picked it up, shortly after I noticed spider mites or little webs forming. About a few weeks later I noticed all sorts of little white coocoon like spots all over my tree. At the same time I noticed several of the leaves were yellowing.

I have been watering it on a weekly basis with enough water to drain out the bottom. It is in the original pot sitting inside a self watering pot so that the water will drain out.

I have tried the bug spray on the tree, but it doesn't seem to be doing much good. I have even taken off most of the coocoon like stuff from the tree.

When I do remove them, they leave a sticky gooey residue, any idea if these are spider mite eggs?

What can I do to get rid of the yellow leaves, it also is by a southern sliding glass window. So it receives plenty of light. When I was spraying the tree with the buy spray solution I made sure to spray it everywhere.

I hope that is enough information to go on.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Mike

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

jean001
19 years ago
Perhaps mealybugs?
kromagg
Original Author
19 years ago
Thank You for your help, but after doing some research and looking at a few pictures, I have figured out what is causing my leaves to yellow and drop.

It is scale and the white cotton like things on the tree were eggs from what I understand. I have removed them all, sprayed down the tree thouroghly with an insectacide and will continue to monitor it daily.

I have only had the tree about a month, so the outbreak was recently noticed. I did however take all of the eggs off with a small paintbrush, it worked really well and didn't leave behind a gooey substance.
Related Professionals
Forrest City Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Jacksonville Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Richmond Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Baltimore Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · McAllen Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · New Haven Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Merced Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Potsdam Landscape Contractors · Superior Landscape Contractors · Redding Landscape Contractors · York Landscape Contractors · Hagerstown Home Builders · Longview Home Builders · Enfield Home Builders · Mason City Home Builders
birdsnblooms
19 years ago
Mike, sounds like you have a couple insects on your citrus..since there's also webbing, (unless the webbing is from a common spider) you may have mites and either mealy or white scale.
The gooey substance is honeydew. The dew can attract ants..Honeydew is a secretion caused by scale.

Mike, if it were my tree, I'd rid the self-watering pot..some ppl dote on these containers..I worked for a plant nursery where many trees that were shipped to us came in those pots..more often than not, plants had some type of bug..the reason is, soil never really has time to drain properly..constantly wet soil ='s bugs, including fungus gnats.

Depending on the type of bugs you have, you'll have to keep an eye on your Lemon..and use more than one application..
Most ppl use rubbing alcohol, wipe off mealy/scale. This will work for a time, but you need to continue applications. I hope I'm wrong, but I've heard enough ppl complain when they dwelt w/insects.
I use Fish Emulsion to rid scale..Do you have any available? If so, use 1 capful of FE to a 16oz mister spray bottle..spray entire tree, under leaves, stems, etc.
Spraying w/plain water sometimes rids insects, including mites, but adding 2-4 drops of dish soap will help.
Mealy is one insect I've never won a battle with..they're the worse. Hope your lemon doesn't have this creature. Again, most ppl use rubbing alcohol and either a Q-tip/cotton ball and wipe away mealybug. 2-3 applications is needed.
Its leaves are yellowing because of pests..
Good luck, and keep us posted..Toni