GardenBanter.co.uk - View Single Post

David E. Ross[_2_] · 29-06-2013, 05:55 AM posted to rec.gardens

On 6/28/13 8:07 PM, wrote:
Hello All,

I have a question regarding an orange plant that I have in my garden.
It is planted in the ground (i.e., it is not in a pot). It is about
three years old. The plant has not grown at all in these three years.
There are very few leaves on it. Often the leaves turn yellowish,
curl up and fall down. During summer (as in now), when other fruit
plants in my garden grow and become full of leaves, it has barely
few. It has now started to shed even leaves that are green.

I initially suspected some insects behind the problem. It could still
be true, but that may not be the only problem.

I wonder if anyone can identify any cure for this problem.

Thanks very much in advance.

Oranges -- and all citrus -- require excellent drainage. In the ground,
they should be irrigated only when the top 2 inches of soil are dry;
then, give a generous soaking. Your description sounds like a citrus
that has poor drainage and is getting irrigated too often.

Also, citrus needs an acidic soil with nutrients that include extra iron
and extra zinc. Your soil might be alkaline or lacking in iron and zinc.

Finally, citrus has tender bark that is easily damaged by too much
sunlight. If your tree is almost leafless, you need to wrap newspaper
around the trunk and main branches.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean, see
http://www.rossde.com/garden/climate.html
Gardening diary at http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary