I have two Improved Meyer Lemon trees, potted on my patio. I purchased them last fall, I think in October (2011) or so. At the time, they both looked very healthy and one even had a lemon on it. After potting, I quickly noticed that the one with the lemon was yellowing leaves badly, and dropping them too. I fertilized well, and that seemed to cure some of the yellowing. I also tested the soil and found it to be neutral or even slightly basic, so I added sulfur. This all but cured the yellow leaves, but it continued to drop leaves occasionally.
As the weather warmed, the tree started to bud out and bloom, and is now loaded with blooms. However it has not shown any new vegetative growth. The other lemon tree is doing great, blooming and setting new growth, as are the two limes that I have potted on the same patio.
Can anyone think why just this one tree would bloom but not set any new growth? It keeps dropping leaves, but keeps pushing new blooms. I'm afraid at this rate that come May or so, I'll have a Charlie Brown lemon tree. Should I prune it? I have not pruned any of my citrus trees yet, but I'm sure a few could stand a pruning. Should I somehow amend the soil again? I'm really at a loss here...Please help!
_________________ Tom Brueggen Backyard Gardener Houston, TX
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