This Clementine mandarin was growing fine. I gave it some Osmocote 8-9 month fertilizer a few months ago in May. Wondering what’s going on. Could it be a lack of N?
Any citrus experts around? I posted this kind of late.
Citrus like acidic fertilizers and rain water, ph 6. Peters, 25/5/15 Hp.is a good one.
Thanks. Figures I just bought a 50# bag of the Osmocote. When I spoke with the rep he didn’t mention anything about this not working for citrus fruits. I didn’t think about asking but did mention all the tree types I’m growing. 5 different citrus trees. Would you add some sulphur every couple months to help out since I already fed these in May?
Sulfur not necessary. You could add Osmocote plus on top to add during the growing season to add some fertilizer between the regular fertilizing so the trees has a consistent supply. Some of them are heavy feeders, like Meyers.
That’s what I used in May. Two months ago. The O+ 15-9-12. The tree really took off but now the lower and new growth is very pale green. Citrus is such a pain. I also have a Meyers in a pot and that’s the pickiest tree.
I have no problem with Meyers. For me citrus is easy. After years of dealing with them it’s not that difficult. There are a few do’s and done,s that’s all, like don’t fertilize while blooming in spring and a couple more, that sit.
In a pot any plant needs frequent fertilizer. And it does look like lack of nitrogen. I’d say apply the fertilizer you have that contains nitrogen. That should green up the new growth.
The fasted way to test if it’s a N deficiency would be to just get a small bottle of high nitrogen liquid fertilizer, dilute it down to 1% N and spray the leaves. If they start looking better afterwards then you should probably supplement your regular fertilizer regime with granular N of some form. I personally use an iron-enriched urea, but I’m in an area where maintaining acidic conditions is a lot easier.
When my citrus need some N, I don’t generally see the leaves curling and distorted like this:
I wonder if there’s something else at play, either some other deficiency (or toxicity?), perhaps combined with an N deficiency. Or maybe it was attacked heavily by sap sucking insects at the start of the most recent flush?
Yeah, I was kind of wondering that myself. For me, I get chlorosis, not curling. Hence why I feel like, if N is suspected, a foliar application to quickly determine if it is actually the problem or not is probably a good idea.
Thanks, I fed it 2 months ago Osmocote + 15-9-12, 8-9 months. I’m wondering if maybe the food gets old? They only had 2 backs left on the pallet.
@a_Vivaldi Thanks, What about chelated iron foliar?
@swincher thanks, That worries me about toxicity. I did feed it it pretty heavy with the O+ and it’s been a real hot few months. I was wondering because if the heat and constant watering if too much nutes can be releasing. I had a friend mention he thinks it’s iron deficiency. I guess spraying with the chelated iron couldn’t hurt. I don’t see any visible infestation but possibly mites maybe.
I use Osmocote plus on all my plants and have no issues on overfeeding. I have also used jacks 25-5-15 on a weekly basis with no issues either, so I don’t think its a fertilization issue. I looked closely for leafminers but didn’t see any. I would think some sap sucker or bug makes the most sense.
How long has it been in that container?
Thanks Lucas,
Out of 5 citrus only 2 have this happening. One is in the back and the other in front. The one in the back has appeared to grow through it after looking today.
So you supplement feed the jacks every other week? I do that with container figs using expert gardener. About a Tbs per gallon. I didn’t think citrus would benefit from that.
This tree has been in the same pot for 4 years since I adopted it. Probably 5 more years. With citrus do you root prune and replenish new soil like figs? If so what it the best time to do that?
I did a lot of supplement feeding with Jacks last year but barely at all this year. I have many more plants now so it just takes too much time lol. Last year, there were times that I fed them every other day with no adverse results, but I didn’t get much growth during that time either.
It’s been in the same pot for 9 years total? That’s amazing 
.
I have not gotten to the point of root pruning the citrus yet. I start with a 5g, and once they stall out or start looking ratty I up pot them to 15g. My plan is to go up to 25g and then root prune every 3 years or so. I have found that figs have much more aggressive root growth than citrus so the intervals of the root pruning between the two would be very different.
Have not done any root pruning myself so can’t advise on the best time.
Here are the three most important factors for growing successful citrus: feed, feed, feed.
I’m being slightly sarcastic, but there is definitely truth to this. They are so hungry and get sickly if they don’t get what they need.
I grow citrus in the gracias be outside, in raised beds una greenhouse and in pots outside. The feeding protocol I have used works for all these different growing cultures.
Beginning in the first week of February I mix a proper amount of osmocote, fish bone meal and ammonium sulfate and apply are the trunk, 3” below the surface. I then drench the soil with ferti-lome to ensure all the micronutrients.
In the first week of June I repeat the protocol I applied in February.
Throughout the growing season, during the first week of each subsequent month, beginning in March and ending in September, I top dress with a few cups of nitrogen rich manure and work it in around the trunk.
Twice a week I change the water in my fresh water fish aquarium. Each time I change it I get 5 gallons of fish poopy water and apply that to my citrus and other plants on a rotating basis.
If you follow a system like I just described, and make sure you have proper drainage, you will
have lush, green citrus trees, loaded with fruit.
Best of luck
I feel like I don’t feed nearly as heavily. I wonder if citrus require heavier feeding in colder soil?
Wow thanks I didn’t realize they were such hogs lol. Thanks for the feeding schedule looks like I’ll have to step up their food.
I also don’t feed that often either. 2-3 times per year for me
Brevity has never been my strong suit. Perhaps the lengthy description makes it seem more extensive than it really is. I only do 2 heavy feedings a year, in February and June.
The once a month with a few handfuls of compost and weekly watering with aqurium water probably is not critical and can be skipped. But I do it anyway because I make lots compost. Plus I use the aquarium water instead of the regular water I would be using from the rain barrels.
