On 2009-10-06 13:40:15 +0100, "David WE Roberts" said:


"Martin Brown" wrote in message
...
K wrote:
Martin Brown writes
keith kent wrote:
Hello ,i have a Calamondin and a Lemon tree.
I continue to struggle to get nice green leafs , i have been feeding
with a winter and summer citrus feed in rain water.
I have tested with a TDS meter the strength of the summer feed 150 ppm
and it seems very weak to me as i would think they are heavy
feeders.Standard plant feed are approx 1000 ppm or more .
What is the best feed to use ?

Dunno what the best feed to use is, but mine get whichever of orchid
feed or their proper citrus feed is going at the time they need it in
rainwater. I only water them again when the compost looks dry.

Orchid feed is less strength than standard feed isn't it? Dos that mean
that citrus aren't in fact heavy feeders?

Both of mine are crystalline semi solids with similar NPK ratios but
slightly different mix of trace elements. I use them pretty much
interchangeably. How much you dilute it makes the difference.

Citrus leaves will yellow and certainly sulk if they don't get enough
food - but overwatering is a more common problem. I think by most
definitions they are fairly heavy feeders and acid loving so hard water
will cause them problems getting enough iron.

My lemon seems to tolerate quite a bit of water however it is in a
large pot outside and so unlikely to get waterlogged.

I have been feeding it this year less frequently than recommended but
with a stronger solution and it seems to like it more than being
neglected.
snipDave R

Don't feed over winter is the general rule and let them drain really
well between waterings, almost to the point of drying out, both winter
and summer. If in a pot, make sure it's raised so that they can drain
well, as yours does, obvioiusly. Our Meyer's lemon is in the ground in
a small, unheated greenhouse, came through last winter and gets only a
splash of water now and again if the hose is being dragged round there.
Apparently, there's a lot of managenese in the water from the
borehole, so whether this affects the lemon tree well or not, I have no
idea but I'm sure someone will.
--
Sacha