On 01/03/2016 09:01, Chris Hogg wrote:
On Mon, 29 Feb 2016 09:03:04 +0000, Martin Brown
wrote:
On 28/02/2016 14:46, wrote:
We have a five-year old lemon tree in a pot which has always done well gainst a south facing wall. We bring it in in winter.
This winter we brought it in and put it in a place where I suspect
there wasn't enough light.
It had grown too large for its previous over-wintering site.
They go sort of dormant in winter so I'd have expected a few leaves to
drop off. Did you keep it too wet? Check for red spider, scale or mealy
bug since they can all cause trouble on a citrus plant indoors.
It has now lost half its leaves and does not look happy. I have moved it into a ligther spot.
I am wondering whether cutting it back would help or hinder.
Leave it be and give it a feed when it shows signs of coming back into
growth as the days lengthen. Mine is showing signs of new life with 2"
shoots now. The fresh young leafy shoots will hide any bare patches.
Mine is kept cool and dry for winter although with decent light. It does
suffer a bit from red spider when it is indoors and drops leaves.
A few years ago I visited a nursery that had an area in a polytunnel
set aside purely for citrus. It was a real horror story. It looked
like every pest known to man was assailing them. Whether they
attempted any pest control, I don't know, but ISTR seeing little
packets hanging on branches, implying biological control. Nor can I
IME Biological control only works on a huge scale under very carefully
controlled conditions. In a small greenhouse the predator prey
relationship bounces around too much an the predators inevitably starve
whilst the pests return after a fortnight of apparent absence. YMMV
remember the time of year; perhaps their appearance improved as the
season changed, but I came away with the very firm conviction that
citrus plants are very prone to pests and best avoided.
I wouldn't say they were very prone to pests but if there are any going
they will attract them. A sort of sacrificial pest trap if you like.
Mine have mealy bug and red spider. Both becoming a problem in the
winter since outside the birds pick the tree over. I do the mealy with a
brush dipped in meths but have never totally eliminated them on it.
I hit it with a knock down insecticide before bringing it in.
And there is a certain kudos in a DIY lemon. (Once the pesticides in the
original potting mixture have been exhausted)
It is a reasonably ornamental plant with glossy leaves and the white
flowers are wonderfully sweet scented.
--
Regards,
Martin Brown