"Pam Moore" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 6 Jul 2005 21:50:53 +0100, Jaques d'Alltrades
wrote:

The message
from "jw 111" contains these words:

Hi, we have a small orange tree about 16" (inches) high above the soil
level in a pot 8" high and 8" in diameter. it's about three years old.

it stands just inside some french widows in a south facing location.
recently many leaves have gone brown and dry at the tips for about 0.25
inches long on the leaf and then there is a part of the leaf next to
that
has turned yellow. the yellow part is also about 0.25 inches in length.

the pot is of the self-watering kind. that is it has a reservoir of
water
below a grill. above the grill is the soil. so the plant is watered by
the
water evaporating on to the soil above.

Not ideal. The roots will grow through and into the water, and citrus
trees don't like that. Why they do it is anyone's guess.

The best method seems to be to water it well and allow it almost to dry
out, then water it again.

i have put some soluable photogen feed into the water recently, but only
after the leaves started drying and turning yellow.

? Phostrogen? That won't evaporate with the water, it'll just remain in
the reservoir. I'd make sure there are worms in the soil and work a
handful of bonemeal or hoof and horn into the surface, letting the worms
gradually take it down.

does this sound simply like a short of feed problem please? or might it
be
something else.

Something else. Though what, I wouldn't like to say.

Why don't you repot it, in ericaceous compost, in a different pot, and
put it outside for the summer. Put it in semi-shade to start with
until it recovers. Rusty's advice is good.

Pam in Bristol

thanks to all. could you explain to a novice; does bonemeal or hoof and
horn have all the foods
necessary? why would these be better than phostogen?

many thanks john west