How do you fertilize it and does the pot have holes in the bottom?

It is interesting to note that this is the 3rd person who is asking for help with their Meyer lemon and has the same looking leaves as the other two.

To be honest, my Meyer lemon tree isn't doing so well either.... Maybe it's the variety itself.... It makes sense for all the problems to start coming now, more people have started bringing in their trees and others have had it in for a few weeks now... Some problems don't happen overnight.... For example, if a tree doesn't get sunlight for two days, it'll probably lose a leaf and be fine.... but if it doesn't have sunlight for 2 weeks than it starts dying...

Denise It would make more sence if you would tel us why we are get WLD. LOL

Denise, the reason your trees are not having Winter Leaf Drop (WLD) may be because you are keeping them cool and providing them with low light. The low light levels result in low activity of the leaves putting less of a burden on the roots whose activity is decreased below 50 F. In other words, you have found the right balance of light provided to the leaves and the temperature provided to the roots.

The most likely reason that trees grown by others in the Miracle Gro Potting mix die within a short time while your tree survived is improper watering.

However, Al Tapla would tell you that, by using Miracle Gro Potting mix, you are not letting your tree grow to its fullest genetic potential and that you should be growing it in the 5:1:1 or gritty mix instead. (I do not necessarily agree with him.)

I find it interesting that I’ve provided my Meyer with the same environment as last winter, but with better draining soil and diluted fertilizer and it’s dying this year, when it was super heathy last year.

I think Meyer lemons are difficult to grow. I’d bet the most frequently posted topic is help for a sick meyer lemon. All of my trees are treated the same and my Meyers always struggle when everything else thrive.

Amanda - the first things to consider are how well does the soil drain, how often do you water, is the soil soggy, are there enough drainage holes in the pot, etc???? I believe someone already mentioned fertilizer. Do you have a water softener?

The Meyer lemon is the most asked abot tree by a long shot

Wow thanks for all of the info!!

its in a self watering pot so maybe that’s part of the problem. It’s also in organic citrus/succulent soil potting mix I can’t remember who makes it. We do not have a water softener. I fertilized it in September (after Harvey when we moved) with organic citrus fertilizer. (I think it’s jobes). Thanks for all of the help!!

The self watering pot may very well be the problem and the soil may compound the problem. Definitely get rid of that pot. The brown edges on the leaves may be due to salt build up from water or fertilizer so you will need to flush the soil with lots of pure water.

5-1-1 is a good mix for sure, and trees do well in that mix. . I use a 5-2-1 mix, and the trees do well in that mix. I have trees in Miracle Grow Garden soil, some for over 10 years, and trees do well in that mix. .I believe one of the most important objectives during the winter months for container grown trees is to keep the balance (ratio) between the root system of the tree, against the incoming energy sources ( light and heat) and the reactions they have with the foliage,

Sorry, but what does 5-1-1 mean?

Thanks!

The 5-1-1 mix soil mix recipe:

• 5 parts pine bark mulch (remove ½” pieces through 1/2 inch screen)

(Some people use Repti Bark instead of mulch. They do not screen it.) Be sure to soak the bark overnight.

• 1 part sphagnum peat
• 1 part perlite (coarse, if you can get it)
• 1 Tb garden lime /gal 5-1-1 mix (measure the 5-1-1 mix)

· Osmocote plus (follow manufacturer’s instructions). This is optional.

· Moisten well and wait at 2 days before using, if possible.

When repotting into a different kind of soil mix, remove all of the old soil mix by dunking the root ball in and out of water. You may have to use a garden hose to gently force the old soil off. Or, use something like a screwdriver: stick it into the root ball and pull down to loosen the soil. Dunk and repeat.

Vladimir I guess I am just lucky because I have done practically everything that one is not suppose to do when growing citrus. I am crossing my fingers that the trees make it as they are until it is warm enough to put them back outside. Keeping the trees in my screened in porch this year was an experiment. If I had them in the garage, it would have been easier to put them out in the sun in the afternoons, whereas there is no sun at all off their current location.