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gailb5

Lemon tree - Help

6 years ago

I live in a hot country where the temperature currently stands at 35C on average. I have had this lemon tree for a few months so I'm still new to this gardening business.


The lemon tree never had dark green leaves but I am a bit concerned now that it's developing strange burn marks and leaves are increasingly becoming light green. The pics don't do it justice!


What do you think is the cause of this? is it an iron deficiency? a bad case of having watered it in the morning when it's hot? Overwatering? Underwatering?


Your expertise would be appreciated.



Comments (21)

  • 6 years ago

    Is your tree inside behind glass or outside in full sun. 95F is very hot. My trees burn some in those temperatures if they run low on water. Check your pot weight. If it is dry or has large areas of soil that aren't re-hydrating, the leaves may loose color. Can you post a side picture of the tree including the pot.

    Steve

  • 6 years ago

    I can not really say

  • 6 years ago

    can anyone help me figure out the type of lemon that the Seald Sweet sells that is thick tight skinned small and seedy with large lemon seeds

  • 6 years ago

    can anybody tell me what type of lemon this is

  • 6 years ago

    Hi Gailb5, those are unequivocally from sunburn. You can get this indoors or outdoors from sun; or inside from artificial light. If everyone clicks on the photographs you will get a better view. Looks like the citrus is outdoors on a terrace. Citrus nurseries grow citrus indoors in a greenhouse or outdoors under shade cloth. When you bring them home and put them under full sun it takes a while to adjust. More or less water or the time of day you water are not going to stop the sun from burning the leaves. The only way to prevent sunburn is to provide some shade. If someone goes to the beach and stays hydrated all day that doesn't prevent them from getting a sunburn. Your citrus can still burn if perfectly watered. If you notice the leaves with the marks all near the top where they are in direct sun.

    gailb5 thanked Lemon Lime Orange Zone 6a
  • 6 years ago

    The problem spots on gailb's tree might possibly be caused by the sun, but the spots really do not show the typical sunburn patterns, Sunburn spots normally do not have the clean and sharp boundaries as shown by the spots on the leaves in the picture . Also, the problem spots are not on the leaves at the top of the tree, but are on lower leaves. I don't know for sure the cause, but I do have strong doubt that they are sunburn.

    gailb5 thanked Silica
  • 6 years ago

    I have to agree with Silica. I think the problem is that many use sunburn to describe several leaf problems. Technically sunburn is photo-oxidation where the Sun's intensity is so high that the leaf's natural sunscreen cannot keep up with rate of production of nascent oxygen by chlorophyll. The extra oxygen oxidizes the leaf cells. The pattern is ill defined and usually does not affect the veins as rapidly. So the pattern looks similar to chlorosis.

    The second mechanism is different and closer what Steve was conveying. If there is not enough water then the leaves start struggling to keep themselves cool. Eventually, the portions of leaves get too hot and the cells die. In this case it will affect the veins too. This is often referred to as leaf scorch. I think this is more likely the culprit. One reason is of course is not enough water in soil. The second reason somehow roots are unable to draw the water efficiently. This can happen, for example, when there is not enough oxygen in soil.

    Sunburn in humans, BTW, is a different mechanism altogether.

    gailb5 thanked tropicofcancer (6b SW-PA)
  • 6 years ago

    I have had sunburn in nice round-ish patterns when water drops have been on the leaves in full sun. I try to NOT get water on the leaves if watering during the day.


    You just might need to fertilize more frequently with a fertilizer specifically made for citrus. Plants in pots need more fretilizer than plants in the ground. I fertilize once a month with a LIQUID fertilizer.

  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    CA Kate, science has found that the magnification of light through a drop of water causing burn is a fallacy. I does not happen.


    From Google: The notion that wet leaves on sunny days cause scorch in plants was disproved nearly ten years ago. But there is no doubt that watering in full sun is not water efficient – as much of it will evaporate before entering the soil.

  • 6 years ago

    my level on this is small but water in the morning before the sun gets to hot the water sinks in better

  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    You didn't water them right away with water from a hose that had been sitting in full sun, did you? You probably know to let the water run until it comes out cool and not scalding.

  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    Classic sunburn is normally in the leaf center and out from there, not just at the edge. I still don't think it is sunburn. Anyway,I don't want to keep beating a dead horse, so I'll leave it there.

  • 6 years ago

    https://www.logees.com/makingthemove


    See third photograph by Mokihana Raymond labeled "sunscald" and the accompanying paragraph . Looks identical to GailB5 photographs.


    Can happen with any plant. See photograph of bean leaf labeled Bean leaf sunscald 1. https://plantvillage.psu.edu/posts/4359-bean-what-is-going-on-with-my-bean-plants


  • 6 years ago

    Leaf scorch occurs in dry, hot or windy conditions and causes dry, brown leaf edges. The symptoms usually occur on the side of the plant that faces the sun or wind. During a drought, roots and veins cannot transport enough water for plant growth. So the leaf tissue farthest from the veins turns brown. Hot weather causes plants to shut down functions so that water cannot reach the leaves, and windy conditions dry out the leaves.

  • 6 years ago

    New Meyer Lemon tree. Was recently purchased by mail order. The only leaf on the entire plant affected and faces due South. Lower leaf. Has no shade. from other leaves.

  • 6 years ago

    even though I don't really know it could be plant viruses that attack citrus

  • 6 years ago

    or some type of insect damage

  • 6 years ago

    The leaves appear to be older leaves that the tree has used up and reabsorbed the nutrients back.

    Steve

  • 6 years ago

    Steve can you tell me if I'm doing things right I clipped the tip of my lemon seedlings to make them bushy and I'm using a liquid fertilizer made from grass clippings and I'm putting a little bit of epsom salts for magnesium at a teaspoon amount in a spray bottle in an aerosol sized droplets