Citrus Growers Forum

Marches · Posted: Fri 01 Nov, 2013 1:15 am

Millet wrote:

WLD = Winter Leaf Drop

The sticky leaves on your tree has nothing to do with sunny days, your tree has a bug problem Check you tree carefully. - Millet

Are you sure it's not just "sweating"? It only does it on sunny mornings, no other time of day, just when the sun is very bright and shining directly at it.

Millet · Posted: Fri 01 Nov, 2013 11:54 am

Citrus don't sweat sticky dripping goo. Look for scale (small round brownish bumps) on upper and lower aurface of leaves, trunk and branches. Further, look for small white globs (mealy bug). - Millet

Marches · Posted: Fri 01 Nov, 2013 9:33 pm

Millet wrote:

Citrus don't sweat sticky dripping goo. Look for scale (small round brownish bumps) on upper and lower aurface of leaves, trunk and branches. Further, look for small white globs (mealy bug). - Millet

I had a closer look and spotted a few, you were right. It's night, the room is cool and the plant is basically sticky and soaking.
What can I do? Just get a normal houseplant bug spray (since it won't fruit for a few years yet, not worried about contamination)?

What can I use to spray it with when it is old enough to fruit? Thanks for your help.

Millet · Posted: Sat 02 Nov, 2013 12:36 am

You can use Horticultural oil at a spray rate of 1%, Neem oil, or soapy water (might take 2- to 3 sprays if you use soapy water. Of all the above I prefer Horticultural oil. Personally I have never used soapy water, my guess would be 2 table spoons/gallon water. A member of this forum that does use soapy water might chime in. What ever you use spray the top and bottom of the leaves, plus all the wood.
Millet 3042

citrange · Posted: Sat 02 Nov, 2013 2:51 pm

The plant looks fairly small, so you would do well to wipe the leaves with a damp tissue or soft cloth, moistened with slightly warm water and a little soap or one drip of washing-up liquid (US=dish soap). This will remove the sticky deposits and many of the scale insects. In your photo you can see the scale insects aong the rib of the lowest leaves and on some of the stems. Wipe both sides of the leaves and stems. Then use the insecticide or oil spray.