Why do indoor lemon leaves turn yellow and fall off?

Lemon takes root well in a pot of a suitable size and is quite capable of blooming and bearing fruit at home. Despite this, citrus is considered a whimsical plant. It is picky about growing conditions and requires the attention of gardeners. When exposed to unfavorable factors, the plant begins to hurt and may die.

One of the most common problems that novice gardeners encounter is yellowing of lemon leaves. This phenomenon is not typical for an evergreen citrus plant. Yellowing and falling leaves are signs of improper tree care or infection with infections and pests. Why lemon leaves turn yellow and fall off, and how to save the plant - read on.

Reasons for yellowing of lemon leaves related to care

Yellowing of lemon foliage is often associated with improper care and unfavorable conditions. growing.

The list shows the main reasons for the change in crown color:

1. High or low temperature. Optimal temperatures for lemon vary between 18-26°C. If the room is colder or hotter than normal, the lemon begins to hurt. At high temperatures, a lot of moisture evaporates from the surface of the leaves, they turn yellow and wither. Reduced temperatures negatively affect the root system of the citrus tree, leading to the death of shoots and falling leaves.
2. Lack of light. Lemons are light-loving plants.In the shade, their photosynthesis is disrupted, which is why the leaves of indoor lemons turn yellow. To avoid such a problem, place the tree on a south or southwest window sill. If the light is not bright enough or the plant is illuminated for less than 12 hours, then fluorescent lamps are used.
3. Exposure to direct sunlight. Direct sunlight is also detrimental to lemon, as is lack of light. When they get on the plant, yellow spots-burns form on the leaves.
4. Insufficient watering. The soil in the lemon tree pot should be kept moist at all times. If it is dry, the leaves will turn yellow and fall off. To avoid such a problem, the soil is moistened often, but in small portions.
5. Water stagnation. When the soil is systematically moistened or there is no drainage, the soil becomes waterlogged. There is no air supply to the roots of Schisandra, which is why they begin to rot and die. This leads to leaf fall and plant death.
6. No transfers. Leaves may turn yellow and begin to fall off if the composition of the soil changes and there is not enough space for the root system. In such conditions, it stops developing, insoluble compounds are formed in the soil, preventing the absorption of useful elements. Before the lemon blossoms replanted annually, then once every 3 years.
7. Lack of fertilizing. Homemade lemons often produce leaves and fruits at the same time. For the proper development of both, the plant requires a lot of nutrients. To ensure that the soil always remains fertile, fertilizing is applied to it every week.
8. Temperature changes. Citrus does not tolerate temperature changes and drafts. These factors are detrimental to him.The tree cannot be placed near an open window and taken outside or for the winter without first hardening it.
9. Dry air. Tropical lemon prefers high humidity. If the room is dry, the crown begins to dry out and fall off. To create an optimal level of humidity, the plant is sprayed with a spray bottle daily during the growing season. In winter, if the tree is in a heated room, place a humidifier or containers of water near it. It is dangerous to place a plant near a battery.

Yellow leaves do not always indicate that something is wrong care. If a few leaves on a bush have yellowed, but the rest of the plant appears healthy, this is most likely due to the plant's natural cycle.

Note! The lifespan of a lemon leaf is 3-4 g.

How to save a plant

If the citrus crown begins to turn yellow and fall off, it is necessary to urgently take measures to save the plant. First of all, they review the care and eliminate all existing errors.

If the tree has not been watered for a long time and the soil is cracked, you should not pour a large amount of water into the pot. The soil is moistened with a small amount of water every two hours.

If the soil has been flooded, the plant will have to be replanted. Before placing the citrus in a new pot, the rotting roots are cut off. The root system is treated with copper sulfate.

To help the tree recover, once a week Epin is added to the spraying water, and Heteroauxin is added to the irrigation liquid.

Signs of missing elements

Lemon is picky about the composition of the soil. He should regularly receive nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and iron. In smaller doses it needs manganese, calcium, boron, magnesium, etc.

By the type of yellowing of the crown, you can understand what elements the lemon lacks. Here are some examples:

1. Lack of nitrogen. Many light yellow small dots appear on the leaf blades.
2. Phosphorus. A deficiency of this component is indicated by yellowing of the leaf blade at the edges.
3. Iron. With iron deficiency, the leaves turn light yellow. Only the veins remain bright green. This disease is called chlorosis.

For such symptoms, only the missing component is added. The rest of the time, complex fertilizers are used.

Diseases

The cause of yellowing of the crown and tips of the shoots is often various diseases. Many of them cause similar symptoms. To solve the problem, it is enough to prescribe the correct treatment.

Gommoz

Gommosis is a fungal disease in which cracks form on the trunk and branches.. Gum begins to ooze out of holes in the bark. This leads to disruption of sap flow. The crown does not receive enough nutrition, which is why the leaf blades turn yellow and begin to shed their leaves.

To save the plant, the infected shoots are removed and the affected areas on the trunk are cut out. The cut areas are covered with garden pitch, and the indentations on the trunk are washed with copper sulfate and covered with garden pitch. The tree is sprayed with fungicide.

Note! In advanced cases, gommosis cannot be treated.

Root rot

Root rot is one of the most insidious diseases. Its danger lies in the fact that it becomes noticeable only at a late stage of plant damage.

The main visible symptom of root rot is the wilting of the crown - it looks as if it has been scorched.

To save the lemon, it is removed from the pot. The roots are cleared of soil and washed in water at room temperature.All affected areas are cut off. The remaining part of the root system is washed in copper sulfate.

The tree is transplanted into a new pot filled with drainage and soil. All materials must be disinfected. The soil around the trunk is compacted and watered with warm water.

Sooty fungus

Sooty mildew is another fungal disease. A black coating forms on lemon leaves. It can be easily washed with a cloth or damp hand. Without timely treatment, the crown turns yellow and crumbles. The ends of young branches also begin to hurt.

Getting rid of sooty fungus is not difficult. To do this, wipe off the black coating with a damp cloth. Do not put too much pressure on the sheet plate so as not to damage it.

After erasing the sooty fungus, the tree is sprayed with a solution prepared from 1 teaspoon of copper sulfate and 5 liters of water. Another option is to treat the plant with a fungicide.

Note! Sooty fungus only affects citrus fruits with weakened immune systems. In most cases, this disease is a consequence of plant damage. pests.

Scab and warts

Scab and warts are diseases caused by fungi and bacteria. Affected leaves and shoots become deformed. Dark spots and raised formations form on them. The disease affects not only the crown of the tree, but also its fruits.

Without timely treatment, the plant begins to turn yellow and dry out. Eventually the leaves fall off and the lemon dies.

To treat the disease, fungicides are used, for example, Aktara or copper sulfate solution. The product is sprayed on a citrus plant.

Before you start processing the lemon, tear off all affected areas. It is recommended to water the soil in the pot.

Pests

Homemade lemons are also sometimes affected by pests.They also cause yellowing of the crown.

Spider mite

Spider mites are small pests that settle on the underside of leaves and form spider cocoons there.. Typically, indoor lemons are affected by the red variety. To better examine the tick, use a magnifying glass.

The pest feeds on the juices of young leaves and shoots. The plant begins to suffer from dehydration and nutrient deficiency. Photosynthesis is disrupted, which causes yellowing of the crown. Premature leaf fall is observed. Without timely treatment, the plant dies.

To save a lemon tree, use one of the following methods:

1. Insecticides. The tree is sprayed with chemicals, for example Funanon. Such products are dangerous not only for pests, but also for people. Therefore, the fruits after processing are not eaten,
2. Soap solution. In 5 liters of water dilute 0.5 pieces of laundry soap and 1 tbsp. ash. The product is sprayed onto the crown of the plant.
3. Hot pepper infusion. 5 pods of hot pepper are ground in a meat grinder, pour in 3 liters of water and leave for 3 days. The composition is filtered and used for spraying.

Shields

Scale insects are another dangerous pest. The insect larvae fixate on the trunk, branches and leaf veins of the lemon and feed on the sap of the plant, as a result of which the leaves begin to turn yellow and wither. Massive leaf fall is observed.

Before starting treatment, the wood is washed in the shower. In the process, they try to remove harmful insects.

After this, the wood is wiped with kerosene diluted in a 1:1 ratio with water. The procedure is carried out at least 3 times with an interval of 7 days.

Aphid

Aphids are one of the most common pests of domestic citrus fruits. These are small winged and wingless insects. They settle on shoots and leaf blades in entire colonies.

Aphids reproduce quickly and feed on plant sap. The tree begins to suffer from a lack of fluid and nutrients. The leaf blades begin to turn yellow and curl. Sticky formations form on them, onto which sooty fungus attaches.

The diseased lemon is washed in the shower with warm water. Try to remove all pest colonies.

Aphids are easily removed using folk remedies. Therefore, citrus growers try not to use chemicals.

Folk remedies for fighting aphids:

1. Soap and tobacco solution. Add 0.5 kg of tobacco to 5 liters of water. The mixture is infused for a day, then filtered. 40 ml of liquid soap is added to the resulting infusion.
2. Orange peels. Half the jar is filled with orange peels. The rest of the volume is filled with water. The mixture is infused in a dark place for a week. Then filter and dilute with 2 parts of water.
3. A decoction of bitter herbs. Boil 0.5 kg of wormwood in 5 liters of water for half an hour. The broth is allowed to brew for a day, then filtered and used for spraying.

Mealybug

The mealybug is white in color and settles on the underside of the leaf in large numbers, so it is not difficult to notice the pest.

The affected parts of the plant are covered with a white coating. Then they turn yellow and curl up. Gradually they begin to dry out and fall off.

To get rid of the pest, the lemon tree is washed under running water. The affected parts of the plant are torn off. The tree is sprayed with insecticides.

Nematode

Nematodes are small worms that live in lemon stems. They feed on the sap of the root system, leading to its destruction.

The pest cannot be seen with the naked eye. It can be detected when the problem has already reached significant proportions.In this case, the leaves of the plants turn yellow and curl. Then they fall off. Ultimately the tree dies.

To remove pests, the lemon is removed from the pot. The roots are washed with warm water. Then they are treated with insecticides or a solution of copper sulfate.

After this, the plant is transplanted into a new pot. The soil is pre-disinfected.

Preventing yellowing of leaves

Yellowing leaves indicate serious problems. Even after eliminating the causes, plants take a long time to recover.

Therefore, it is important to take care of prevention in advance:

1. To ensure optimal soil moisture, water is poured not into the pot, but into the tray underneath it.
2. Provide optimal temperature conditions, lighting and humidity.
3. Disinfect soil, planting material and garden tools.
4. Follow the schedule fertilizing. Alternate complex mineral fertilizers with organic fertilizers.
5. Lemons are replanted regularly. To check whether the roots have filled the pot, insert a toothpick into the soil. If it goes through slowly, then it’s time to replant the citrus.

Conclusion

Citrus is an evergreen plant. Yellowing of the leaves is unnatural for it. It indicates a violation of the rules of care, unfavorable growing conditions, and damage by diseases and pests. Such a symptom requires immediate intervention from a citrus grower.

To revive the plant, it is necessary to find and eliminate errors in care. Check the tree for diseases and pests, and if they are found, provide proper treatment. In some cases, replanting and creating greenhouse conditions may be required.