Software
Houzz Logo Print
kelli_fountain9

key lime tree problems

6 years ago

I have a young key line tree that has only produced 3 limes in three years. I know it’s a young tree but it doesn’t look healthy. I do feed it citrus fertilizer a few times a year.

Comments (18)

  • 6 years ago

    Kelli what do you fertilize with? Citrus are heavy feeders your tree definitely looks like it’s lacking in something By the looks of those dark veins and yellowing everywhere in between. Key limes are also notoriously abundant producers so something is going on with your tree. Hopefully someone with more experience on fertilizer and nutrient deficiencies chimes in. Do you Plant in ground or in pot?

    Kelli Fountain thanked Jan
  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    The tree is showing either a zinc deficiency or a manganese deficiency. Both deficiencies show similar symptoms of green veins WITH dark green borders along the sides of the vein. By looking at Kelli's picture I cannot determine the size of the leaves. If it is a manganese deficiency the leaves are normal in size for the cultivar, but if it is a zinc deficiency the leaves will be smaller than normal size. Applying a zinc supplement (zinc sulfate), or a manganese supplement (manganese sulfate or manganese nitrate) will quickly correct the deficiency. Both corrective supplements can be applied either by a foliar spray, or through the roots. With a Manganese deficiency, many times the tree will correct it on its own.

    Kelli Fountain thanked Silica
  • 6 years ago

    It’s planted in the ground and I just use general citrus tree shake fertilizer from Home Depot.

  • 6 years ago

    Citrus Leaf Miner

  • 6 years ago


    Citrus Leaf Miners

  • 6 years ago

    LLO where did you come up with your picture. Looking at the leaves of Kelli's tree in her first picture, I do not see any sign of leaf miner. tunnels.

  • 6 years ago

    her 2nd pic has tons of leaf miners.

  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    Her first picture didn't show any miner. The second picture was covered and third picture might have some but not clear enough. The photo I used was an image titled the Garden Guy Hawaii: Citrus Leaf-miner. It was a closer match than anything I could find on multiple citrus databases. I am sure with leaf miner damage there would all sorts of nutrient issues as the damage progresses.

  • 6 years ago


    I did not see that by clicking on her original picture that it would bring up additional pics.

  • 6 years ago

    use some type insecticidal soap to get rid of them

  • 6 years ago

    I have this going on. It's a young plant with no leaf miner. I fertilized and hope that helps. ?

  • 6 years ago

    insecticidal soap I will kill the leaf miner and the fertilizer will help it recover from the damage

  • 6 years ago

    I use both dry and liquid fertilizers. I think the dry ones only work as they get wet and dissolve. Your tree needs some liquid fertilizer now.


    Lemon, you have to click the "more" button at the bottom of the post to see more photos.

  • 6 years ago

    I don't belive insecticidal soap is effective for leaf miners, nor does it help in recovery


    If you are not using a citrus fertilizer that contains micros, you will not be able to correct a nutrient deficiency. You can apply micro nutrients as a separate product if it is not in your fertilizer.

  • 5 years ago

    It definitely has leaf miners -I’ve noticed since I last posted -I’ve been spraying weekly with Neem oil and also added liquid zinc but I haven’t seen any change.

  • 5 years ago

    Neem Oil will do absolutely nothing to leaf miners.

  • 5 years ago

    Once you see damage from Citrus leaf miners, it's too late.