Greetings Benny, Millet et al. As usual I have been away for some time. I will post some more cordial missives later. Right now I have an urgent question. I use CHC medium in my containers. For the past year I have had no problems. I recently experienced catastrophic leaf drop on at least one of my lemons. I'm not sure if my moisture meter is functioning properly or if I have just become forgetful or what? Can underwatering cause this? Am I metering too deep? I appreciate your help.

Ciao for now,

Rocco

Rocco, I have been wondering where you have been. I thought you were now out making the big bucks. Under watering could eventually cause leaf drop, but you would see a leaf wilt long befor a drop. The tree's problem is probaly some thing else. GREAT seeing you posting, take care. - Millet

Thanks Millet, I am still here. What other possibilities are there. I'm sure there are many causes. The fact that it is only one of many trees has me puzzeled and now that you mention it there was some wilting for about two weeks. Have you any recommendations on using the moisture meter as opposed to the good old fashioned finger method?

Thanks again,

Rocco

Roco:
Welcome back.
But sorry, I don't know much about CHC.
I am still on the edge of experimentation. I just bought 14 cu ft of that the other day and I should receive that maybe next week.
My craze now is growing bananas and I found out that CHC is the perfect medium for them. So I hear (read).

Rocco, leaf wilt usually means under watering, unfortunately it can also be a symptom of over watering, and root damage. What was the formula of the CHC mix you made, and how long has the tree been growing in the present medium? Are new leaves starting to flush out yet. I would not recommend ever using a moisture meter. The old finger method is a much more accurate method to determine when to water. The cause of the problem your tree is having, is certainly in the container. Have you slipped the tree out of the container to check the root system? Do you have any other information on the care the tree has been given during the last months or so? Have you been using your garden hose to wash down the foliage, which can easily cause leaf drop if your water supply is high in soluble salts. - Millet

Hi Millet,

The formula of the CHC mix I cannot recall off hand but I belive it was from a spec that you penned. I may have it written down somewhere but somehow 4 parts peat and 7 parts CHC comes to mind. In any case I followed the spec to the letter... (perhaps you could post it again) The trees have been in the same pots for about a year. I have a cool greenhouse that stays 50F in the winter at night and 70 to 80 in the day. I have been relying on the moisture meter exclusively and I feared it may come back to haunt me. I haven't fertilized since the end of last summer. I DO use my regular garden hose for all watering and spraying needs. I also have a pH meter and I took some samples of the mix and it seemed to have moved slighltly to the acidic side (6.6) on average. I remember adding some limestone pellets about six months ago when I found the same condition. I usually water about once every week now and maybe half that frequency in the winter. The trees have given me about 25 lemons each this winter. The fruit is beautiful and tasty. The trees seemed mostly healthy prior to this one tree having a breakdown however they lack that rich dark green shiny leaf look that I've seen on your trees and Benny's. There is new growth on all trees. If I can supply any other information please let me know. As always I am truly grateful for all your help.

Best regards,

Rocco [/code]

Rocco, your leaves are not a dark green color because you have not fertilized the tree for quite a while. I fertilize at 250 PPM nitrogen with every watering. UCR fertilizes their container trees at 300 PPM with every watering. Have you been spraying the foliage with the garden hose? You can get away with spraying the foliage with the hose a time or two, but if your hose water has a high soluble salt content then spraying will cause all the leaves to drop. You should purchase a soil thermometer and keep track of the temperature of the medium, and toss out your water meter. The finger method is much better and safer. Your problem could have to do with the watering, or cold soil while the tree's foliage is in the direct sun. Is new leaves forming again on the tree. Is the tree putting out some new leaves? As your tree is in a greenhouse throughout the winter, you should fertilize all year long, at least at 1/2 strength during December and January. - Millet

Thanks for the quick response. The tree only recently lost the leaves so I would guess the soil temp is ok. I do have a soil thermometer and I will check it. I only spray the foliage a few times a year, when the cottony cushion scale need to be controled. How do I know if my water contains the salts you mention? I will go back to the 'finger method' and I will start a regular feeding program. Just nitrogen? How do I acheive the PPM you recommend? Just to clarify, the tree lost about one quarter of its leaves and yes it and the others are now showing new growth. Will you post the CHC 'recipe' again for me and others? Is my adding limestone ok? I am amazed at all the knowledge you guys have.

Salute'

Rocco