I have a dwarf grapefruit tree which I have planted in 100% CHC. It was originally very robust and full of leaves. For the past two months, it has been dropping leaves like crazy. The leaves are dark green in color, slightly curled, droopy, and falling off all the time! I have soaked the tree in a fertilizer/epsom salt soak in attempts to get it to have new growth. This tree did have a couple of new gowths/stems right before the leaves started falling off and the new leaves were not very well developed with the new stems having an almost rubbery feeling to them. Any assistance with this tree is appreciated. Does anyone know if Grapefruit trees are supposed to do well in containers? Thanks, Tim.

This tree has now lost all of it's leaves! Any ideas on what needs to be done to save it or is it already too late for this tree? Please help!

I would add Peat Moss to retain some moisture. That medium looks dry as heck.

Only the very top layer is dry, less than 1/2 inch down and the medium is quite moist.

this looks too coarse,you,re not growing orchids. I only use pine bark ground fine, I know that sounds strange but I can show results that it works. I don't like peat,it is hard to wet if it gets dry. most peat based soils have a wetting agent and after it is gone it is hard to get wet if it drier out. If you want more info on bark I can tell you exactly what I use.

Do you have drain holes in the pots ?

I'm new here, but my questions/comments:

1) What was the temp and lighting where the tree was sitting?
2) What was the frequency and amount of fertilizer?
3) Usual soiless mix is CHC:Peat of 4:1. 100% CHC may require a lot of watering.

Also see:
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I have this tree planted in a 100% CHC. It is under a T5 Grow light and gets light approximately 12 hours a day. It is watered once weekly. I fertilize it with water soluable fertilizer twice a month during watering. The plant has been kept indoors all winter and is kept at 74 to 77 degrees. Yes, all my citrus have drain holes in the pots. Thanks for all the help! Tim.

I wouldn't think 1 once a week is enough with 100%. My trees get once a week sometimes more and they are in a much less open medium.

Whether bark or CHC is used as the basis for a growth medium, the results should be pretty much the same, at least for a period of time. Courser sized particles are used to promote drainage. The three differences, between CHC and bark, are pH, longevity, and water holding capacity. CHC has the perfect pH for citrus 6.5, holds, up to 7 times it weight in water, and last up to 5 years. However, a good medium can be made using either ingredient. Not enough information is given about Tim's Grapefruit tree in order to give an educated answer. I have grown citrus trees in both 100 percent CHC and CHC/peat moss, and much prefer a blended medium that incorporates peat moss. I noticed Tim's grapefruit tree discarded its leaves without the petiole still attached to the leaf blade, indicating stress. I believe, that one thing is pretty much for sure, and that is, that the Grapefruit's problem is inside the container. It would be helpful to know what the average root zone temperature, and root zone moisture level during the three winter months in question. A 100 percent CHC medium has a water pass through that is so rapid, the medium does not have time to adequately absorb enough water. A filler product, such as peat, is added to both slow down the water pass through, increasing the moisture level, plus build a better water contact bridge to the trees root tips. Lastly, I have always felt that of the various varieties of citrus, grapefruit is difficult to grow as a container tree. If I had to give one answer,without knowing enough about the tree's care, I would lay the blame on root temperature?????? - Millet (1,035-)

here is some pics of the soil i use

Hershell

Hershell, how heavy is your citrus medium? How much would a 5 gallon container weigh filled with your mix, when moist? - Millet (1,035-)

A 2 cubic ft bag weighs 40 lb. moist. It will fill 4-three gallon pots. It is comparable to promix but don't hold near as much water.

Millet may very well be right in this case...I haven't thought much of it but two months ago I had my floors changed out from a wooden floor to a porcelain tile floor. I can only guess that this change resulted in a colder floor and has affected the two trees I am having problems with...my grapefruit tree has lost all it's leaves, my washington navel has lost a lot and is not doing very well, and my Mexican Lime is still looking sparse with yellowing leaves and leaves dropping. My Improved Meyer Lemon is doing great and my cocktail tree...blend of Meyer Lemon and Key Lime is also doing fine. Should I get a plant heating pad to put under these posts while they are indoors under my grow light? Thanks to all for the help!