Young Yuzu - Leaf Curl/Cupping Problem

6 years ago

Hey everyone!

I've seen a lot of good discussion around citrus, but only a few threads on yuzu, so I was hoping that someone here could point me in the right direction.

A bit of background - I got this young Yuzu tree in early September last year and it was doing well through the winter. However, the leaves started curling a few months ago and I suspected that it was due to overwatering. I stopped watering the tree for a few weeks, but it didn't seem to be improving, so I took it out of the pot and discovered that the soil around the tree was still extremely damp. I rinsed off all the old soil (which seemed to be more compact than what's typical for citrus mix) that the tree came in and repotted the plant with a fresh batch of citrus potting mix and hoped that the plant would recover.

I didn't water the plant for a month thinking that the root system would need to recover and that the tree would eventually come back. However, it still looks like it did three months ago. Two weeks ago, I've began watering again (once a week) and put in a moisture meter to help monitor the moisture levels in the soil, but it still doesn't seem to be improving.

Where I'm at now

I'm confused if it's actually dehydrated or if it's potentially a pest problem. The watering over the past two weeks didn't seem to really help or hurt the tree. There are also a lot of bugs on the leaves, but the tree doesn't seem to be getting any worse or any better. Recently, I read somewhere that it could be aphids, so I got out some neem oil, and sprayed the tree, but it's too early to tell if it's working or not. I'm also surprised that the tree is flowering, but doesn't seem to get any better and I'm considering pinching them off (and was planning to do so anyway since it's a young tree and I'd like it to focus on growth).

Honestly, I'm pretty confused about what's happening and would appreciate any other thoughts for you more experienced folks out there! Thanks!

Pictures Below:

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Comments (5)

poncirusguy6b452xx
6 years ago
I want to know too.
norwoodn
6 years ago
You need bug spray. There are many “natural” products sold at your local big box stores.

spinosad works well with Thrips.

Diatomaceous Earth and powdered products like it, work well with soft-body pests, as long as it stays dry.

different sprays work for aphids and spider mites. You need to consistently spray, even as a preventative.

break out your jewelers loupe and look for bugs.

aphids are small and white,red,amber, or brown.

thrips are tiny and skinny long, And distort new leaf growths.

spidermites produce webs everywhere and can be any color.

good luck.
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Jan
6 years ago
Hi Brendan actually my yuzu is doing that too but it’s very healthy. When I bought the tree it was curled just like yours although the leaves were a much darker Green and it’s not dropping leaves. it is having new growth right now and when I repotted it the roots were very healthy. Maybe it was a past pest damage? but you said that you saw bugs.

also when you say bugs maybe a closeup picture of said bugs would help? If it were aphids they are visible with the naked eye and they tend to pucker leaves from what I know they don’t curl upwards like that.

When you repotted it were the roots healthy looking were they brittle or were they strong healthy roots and also what soil did you repot into?
Brendan
Original Author
6 years ago
Hey @Jan -- I used G&B Organics Potting Mix for the repot. When I did it, the roots seemed pretty healthy and there wasn't any rot from what I could tell.

I attached closeups of the dead bugs on the leaves. I've check my leaves again over the past couple of days and don't really see anything with the naked eye, which is why I'm pretty puzzled about what might be going on.

There is a very small amount of new growth (nothing like the growth spurt when I had first gotten it) and it seems to be flowering extremely slowly. Not sure if I should also try fertilizer as well at this point.
norwoodn
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Plants need energy to protect themselves from pests. they need consistent fertility.

the healthier the plant, the less bugs.

i can see spidermite webs on the leaves. You don’t have to notice the pests for them to exist.

even I have problem with pests, mainly Thrips on certain crops of mine.