Author Topic: Calamondin - Leaf Curl  (Read 6478 times)

mikey

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Calamondin - Leaf Curl
« on: March 14, 2007, 09:38:34 »
Jackie (my OH) has a Calamondin (baby Orange) plant she was given last November. It had, and still carries small fruits and up to now has been very healthy looking. The plant is +/- 12 inch high in a 7 inch pot sitting on a South facing windowsill. It is not rootbound.

Over the last week a lot of the leaves have started to curl, have checked for 'beasties' but there are none

any ideas / suggestions please

Mikey
North Willingham, Lincolnshire (20 miles North East of Lincoln)  HASL: 55m

Ceratonia

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Re: Calamondin - Leaf Curl
« Reply #1 on: March 14, 2007, 10:03:52 »
Citrus leaf drop is a very common problem and almost certainly isn't a pest, but a response to incorrect light/water/temperature - they can be a bit fussy.

You can often pick up expensive lemon trees etc from B&Q and similar places because they don't treat them properly, all the leaves start falling off, so they flog 'em off for a pound or something.

There are a few reasons why it happens - one is a lack of light, which I don't think is the case here.

Another common reason is that Citrus are not very good at compensating for the leaves being much warmer than the roots - which can happen when they're in a sunny window - the leaves get warmed up, but the roots don't. The leaves are busy sucking up water, because they're hot, while the roots are thinking it's still winter and there's nothing to do. Eventually, the plant cannot cope with more water going out than coming in and its only solution is to curl the leaves and then to drop them.

Spray/mist the leaves regularly (rainwater is best if you have lime in tap water - otherwise you end up with  chalky leaves). Use tepid rather than cold water for watering and don't let it dry out. Maybe consider moving it to a spot that's bright, but not directly in the sun, until it recovers (outdoors on a sunny day, for example).

The opposite problem of over-watering can also cause leaf-drop, if the roots have been so waterlogged that they rotted. They don't need much water in winter.

Even if all the leaves curl up and fall off, don't give up - assume it is still alive; they will often recover after a month or two.

mikey

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Re: Calamondin - Leaf Curl
« Reply #2 on: March 14, 2007, 10:48:03 »
Ceratonia,
wonderful reply to our query .....

OH thinks the change of position may have had something to do with the problem, previously (up to about a month ago) the plant was in the kitchen, in good light but not in direct sunlight, leaves and pot all got the same light and temperature.

Now fed (weak Phostrogen), watered and sat outdoors in sheltered sunny spot, for the day, then back inside to the original kitchen position (the plant that is .... not OH)

many thanks

 
North Willingham, Lincolnshire (20 miles North East of Lincoln)  HASL: 55m

mikey

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Re: Calamondin - Leaf Curl
« Reply #3 on: March 15, 2007, 19:34:11 »
Ceratonia,
wonderful reply to our query .....

OH thinks the change of position may have had something to do with the problem, previously (up to about a month ago) the plant was in the kitchen, in good light but not in direct sunlight, leaves and pot all got the same light and temperature.

Now fed (weak Phostrogen), watered and sat outdoors in sheltered sunny spot, for the day, then back inside to the original kitchen position (the plant that is .... not OH)

many thanks

 

only 36 hours after getting excellent advice from Ceratonia, our 'baby' is making a miraculous recovery, almost all of the curly leaves have opened up 'flat' again. Plant spent another day on the South facing Patio, quite an amazing recovery

next time we have a citrus problem we know who to ask .... of course now we are in the know should not be any more problems  .... Oh dear, dangerous talk

thanks
Mikey
North Willingham, Lincolnshire (20 miles North East of Lincoln)  HASL: 55m

 

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