Topic: Small grapefruit tree

[shaunster]

about 3 weeks ago i bought a small pot grown grapefruit tree from the garden center, it looked healthy and had 3 large fruit on it which we have since eaten.

However some of the leaves have started to curl up and break off easily when touched - what could be causing this?
the pot was very dry when i bought the plant so i watered it after reading up on citrus watering.
it has blossomed and set new fruits in the last week so it is still growing actively.

any advice on what this problem could be would be appreciated, also any tips for growing pot grown citrus trees would be helpful.

i also bought a lemon tree at the same time and repotted it because it was root bound and it is now triving in my greenhouse, should i repott the grapefruit even though it doesnt appear to be root bound?

Cheers

[manicscousers]

Hiya, Shaunster, welcome to the site..I hope someone answers you, I've got a lime tree that sounds very like your grapefruit, I transplanted it and it's made no difference  ???

[saddad]

Hi Shaunster and welcome to the site... were there any red spider mites on it?
 :-\

[shaunster]

thanks for the welcome  ;)

im abit new to citrus' as you can tell  ???
i cant see any mites on the leaves, some have small black dots on them.

one thing i have noticed about it is that the soil dries out very quickly in the pot once watered

[saddad]

If the water isn't just running out of the bottom of the pot it could be thirsty..
Some composts are very difficult to dampen once they have dried out...
 :-\

[shaunster]

i will re pot it and see what happens i think, it could be thirsty i guess

[shaunster]

i thought id take some pictures to show what they look like

first of the grapefruit tree - most of the curled leaves have falled off now


now the lemon tree



and the kumquat tree


finally olive


i think most of them look healthy now, but im not an expert

[Amazin]

Have you tried giving them a feed? There's specific citrus food you can get - Chempak do a summer and winter citrus feed - might give them a bit of oomph.

I use it on mine and also occasionally on my blueberries, feijoa and kiwi - only as a treat though, don't want them getting spoilt (besides, it ain't that cheap)!

 ;D

[saddad]

They look fine Shaunster... keep up the good work, even evergreens shed leaves...
 ;D

[shaunster]

i have given them a feed yes, not too much yet though since i didnt want to overwater them.

no more leaves have fallen today, and none are curled  :)