Yuzu (citrus) Leave Yellowing and Dropping

4 years ago

Inland Southern California/zone 10A

I've had this yuzu tree for about two years. Potted with Al’s 511 soil mix. I fertilize it with citrus fertilizer monthly during growing season per package’s instruction. First year, all the flowers dropped. The second year, we finally have fruits. Then about a few months ago, this started to happen. The leaves were starting to turn yellow. I tried to reduce watering, increase watering, add fertilizer, and move it to more shade. Nothing worked. Eventually leaves started to look burnt like in the photos. Some of the younger branches were looking burnt too.

My last idea is to up pot it because maybe is root bound. I wanted to wait until the weather gets colder before I do so. Any suggestions for this sad tree? Is there any hope left?

Featured Answer

socalnolympia

4 years ago

last modified: 4 years ago

It's an issue of the soil. That tree would do much better if planted in the ground, giving the roots an opportunity to expand. Some iron nutrients wouldn't hurt either, looks like there may be a nutrient deficiency in the leaves. Yuzu should grow well for you in the climate where you are, although make sure it gets consistent watering during the hot dry summer half of the year.

You might want to remove some of the fruits. Those fruits take a lot of energy away from the tree, and that tree only looks big enough to handle maybe 4 fruits, especially since it is not doing well right now and is in a container.

Thank you for telling us where you are growing this, the location and climate zone information, that helps us give you an informed answer. Yuzu is definitely one of the much hardier more cold tolerant citrus varieties. I am growing one outside in Olympia, WA zone 8a without protection or any covering. It's a slow grower here though, with the very short summers and lack of warmth throughout the year. It survived buried under a foot of snow (though the temperatures did not drop too low).

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Comments (9)

iochroma
4 years ago
Another victim of Al’s 5-1-1

Put it in a regular peat-based mix and water more; do it now.

Yuzu can come back from near-death experiences.

Oh, and take off those fruit.
Mei thanked iochroma
Mei
Original Author
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
@iochroma thanks so much for responding! can you please explain why Al’s mix is a bad idea? is it because the lack of water retention? I’m guessing since you suggested peat mix.
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iochroma
4 years ago
Yes.
Mei
Original Author
4 years ago
Thanks @socalnolympia! Ive up potted it and removed all the fruits since. Definitely, will look into iron fertilizer.

Unfortunately, I dont have the space to plant it inground. The branches are still green but only time will tell. Hopefully, itll push out new leaves in Spring!
Meyermike(Zone 6a Ma.)
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
No.

The 5.1.1 mix does not cause issues unless you are watering incorrectly or you made the mix incorrectly.

Just about all of mine are planted in the 5.1.1 mix and thriving. I have some taller than me.

Instead of treating it with this or that, I would make sure the roots are doing their job and use a good all around fertilizer. Your tree should have NO nutrient issues if the roots are doing their job.

Try getting the watering down right and maybe your tree will not suffer loss. I think at one point you might of let the mix dry down way to long leading to the finer roots death and yellowing leaves.

Did you remove all the old soil and really fill in around the roots when you re planted it?
Mei thanked Meyermike(Zone 6a Ma.)
Mei
Original Author
4 years ago
@Meyermike(Zone 6a Ma.) I shook it several times to fill all the air pocket.

I think you may be right about root death because I was surprised that the root ball wasnt that extensive. it didnt quite fill the pot considering the size of the tree.
Meyermike(Zone 6a Ma.)
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
I have a feeling that way back when, you might not of really cleaned the root ball out of all the older mix and the roots never really broke away into the much better mix. It has happened to me and it is nothing to be sad about.

If it were my tree, I would take a very close look at the root ball and see what kind of mix is still in there. I can assure you it's not the 5.1.1 and if it is, somewhere along the line the watering was off.

And if it were my tree I would blame the damage to my tree due to poor nutrition due to root damage .I would not treat it with iron, but get to the root of the problem then fertilizer with a well rounded out type such as Foliage Pro.
seasiderooftop
4 years ago
Thank you @Mei for the question and @socalnolympia for the answer!

My dwarf lunario lemon had started yellowing and dropping leaves too. It had never occurred to me this could be caused by too many fruits.

After reading this thread I went and removed all but four lemons and gave it a good watering and two days later the leaves have stopped dropping and are getting back to their usual healthy green!