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Help diagnosing what’s wrong with my navel orange tree!

I live in Jacksonville Florida and the tree is about 5 years old. I feel like I have been battling bugs and fungus the entire time I’ve had it. I’ve considered just leaving it alone for a year to see if the issues work themselves out? I’m not sure if that’s the right thing to do or not. I’m looking to see if anyone has any tips on helping my tree. Within the past few days it’s dropped a lot of leaves but has a ton of new growth on it. Thanks for any help!

Comments (7)

  • 5 years ago

    I also think it needs fertilizer. Please get some local advice on what to use exactly. The distorted/discolored leaves will never improve -- the plant will eventually drop them and grow new ones.

    Weak, underfed trees have a hard time fighting off pests, hence the problems with fungus and bugs.

    Discolored leaves can also be a sign of overwatering -- make sure your soil drains well around the roots and it's not waterlogged.

  • 5 years ago

    i cant tell if you fert your lawn ... but generally ..... an established tree does not usually need any more fert than what its roots under the lawn can provide ...


    that said.. production citrus is way out of my ballpark .... and i wouldnt be surprised if it needed constant juicing to perform to expectations... see what i did there.. lol ...


    find your COUNTY Ag or extension office... it would be beyond belief.. that they cant help you with citrus growing in FL ... dont you think ... they might recommend you start with a soil test.. as a starting point to a fertilizer regimen ...


    ken


    ps: i you previously had a bug issue.. and solved it ... you do not have to treat for said problem for the rest of the trees life ... and it is highly recommended that you only treat when you actually find something to treat ... lets hope here.. all your problems are nutrient related ...

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    Can't tell about the entire tree, as you photos only show the new growth. Looking at the leaves in the photo, they are showing a manganese deficiency.

    Manganese deficiency only shows up on the new growth, and are normally only transient symptoms. The supply of available Manganese in the soil is quite small. The tree's roots temporarily are unable to extract enough Manganese to supply the large rapidly growing new flush of growth. However, the tree normally corrects the deficiency by it self, and the leaves green-up nicely.

  • 5 years ago

    Citrus is the only thing that I fertilize and yep, as others have noted, this is what mine look like when I forget.

  • 5 years ago

    Thank you everyone for the response! I did actually get a soil test a year or so ago and it looked fine. I just applied fertilizer today so I’m crossing my fingers that it starts to get healthy.

    I do have a lawn company that fertilizes the lawn. When I fertilize the tree I usually just get under the mulch I have around it ( mulch doesn’t touch the trunk).

    I’ll have to monitor the new growth to see about the possible Manganese deficiency.

  • 5 years ago

    Both citrus and turfgrass like nitrogen. But citrus also needs trace elements (e.g. the manganese noted above.) Easiest thing to do is just buy fertilizer specifically blended for citrus.