leaf drop

Hi, Some of my container citrus are experiencing lots of leaf drop. The leafs on others are green and curled up. They do not uncurl after watering. Would this be from underwatering? Also some of the trees have bugs and result in sap on the floor, I assumed mealy bugs?

any help is appreciated

thanks Frank

Hi frank,
If you can see little white fuzzy bugs,you have mealies,if not sounds like spidermites,they form the sticky do!!!
Dish soap in a water bottle sprayer,couple drops to about 16ounces is what I use,every 4 days I soak the heck out of them,it will work if you keep up with it for about 2 to 3 weeks,to get all the baby mites as well,they reproduce so fast.

Frank,
Are the leaves limp? if they do not uncurl after watering it is not due to under watering.. if it was under watering the leaves should perk back up not too long after watering..

My thinking is since the leaves are still green.. what is the temps of the soil? and location of the plants.. if they are in front of a sunny window and the temps are low the leaves will drop.. Also if the soil is too warm and the leaves are not getting enough light it will result in limp leaves that kind of curl.. I have not had this to the extreme that leaves drop but I presume it is possible..
You can check the soil temp with a digital cooking thermometer..

Gina *BabyBlue*

hi

thanks!!!

The plants are in a southern exposed big window, in a heated room.. The coldest it ever gets is 61. We did reduce the water a week or so ago.

I do see the mealy bugs, so they suck the sap out of the plant? Would that explain the curled green leaves?

Frank

Frank.
61 would be ok if it was not getting full sun.. Can you move it out of direct light or filter the light for a week or so and see how the plants reacts??
In direct sun the leaves will heat up and will require more from the roots.. if the roots are not warm enough (70+ for direct light) then the plant will respond by dropping leaves to balance it's self out.. less leaves requiring root activity..
I can't say this is what is going on with your plants but is my best guess..
some bugs cause leaves to curl as well.
others are welcome to chime in with ideas..
Gina *BabyBlue*

thanks

do the trees come back after loosing all the leaves?

FYI, during the day the room is heated to around 68. It is 61 ish at night

Frank

So long as the stems and branches are still green it should put on new leaves and growth when it warms back up. Are all of your leaves gone on some??

remember that the soil may still be close to 61* when the rest of the room has warmed up.. Soil warms and cools slower than the air.. I can not say how much longer it takes.. but this could be a factor.. Honestly the only way to know the temp of the soil is to use a thermometer in the soil..
So your soil will be warmer when air temps are cooler in the evening.. but early am when the room is warming up and sun starting to hit your plants your soil temps may not be as warm.. roots take time to react to the warmer temps as well.. Another thing you might try (experiment) use warm water in early am (before sun hits the plants) next time you water.
mid day 2pm (today) the air temps and soil temps of my plants were roughly the same.. now that the air/ room temp is lowering the soil temps read about 3*F warmer than the air temps.. I am thinking of charting my plants soil temp and the air temp for a week or so.. they are also in a south window so I would include if it is cloudy or sunny..

There may be other reason for your leaf drop..
how bad is your bug problem?? Spider mites really did a number on my seedlings.. I have a few that are nothing but sticks thanks to spider mites..

Gina *BabyBlue*

hi
yes you are right I will check the temp with a thermometer..

We have around 12 indoor citrus. say 3 have no leaves at all. 2 lost most and rest are ok. For what it is worth this is on the smaller trees that we have.

Also a few weeks back we reduced watering to once ever 2 weeks, from ever week. I think this didnt help.

Frank

I don't have mine on a set schedule.. I check each pot before watering.. each plant will take up water at it's own rate.. I have some I water once a week some I don't need to water but once every other week or so.. I check the soil about every 2 or 3 days to see how everyone is doing..
I also mist spray each plant and look for bugs when I spray them daily.. some times two or three times a day.. the mist spray may not add much humidity but it gives me time to inspect each plant..
Hope you find the right fix for your plants!!
if the soil is dry enough give them a little warm water..
remember with less leaves they will not take up water as fast..
Hope your other is doing well..

Gina *BabyBlue*

Thanks
I will also measure the temp of the soil next saturday when I am home during the day.

you might be right in that the house is relatively cool compared to the plants are getting. Since we have a new born however my wife has increased the house temp to 70 during the day....

Frank