Hey there ive got a tahitian lime that is dropping all its leaves. It is pretty cold here (Auckland New Zealand) at night not below 5 degrees celsius tho. Would this be why?? I read in one of the forums that if the ground is cold and the leaves heat up in the sun and cant cool themselves off with water from the roots, then shed them. For this tree is there any way to help him he is planted in the ground so cant be moved. He has new growth shoots that look fine. Has some yellowing of some of the old leaves.
Any ideas???

I think I read the same post or one similar. The conclusion was a shade cloth to cut down on the amount of bright light would be of great benefit during cool weather and bright sunlight conditions-both winter and early spring. I think you must provide additional heat if temps get below freezing or the lime is in trouble very quickly. They don't like cold weather at all...good luck

Tom is right--I can leave container citrus outside all winter under a shade cloth without WLD--I do move my limes inside if the temp is expected to drop below 40F or 5C.

The above suggestions are true for containerized citrus trees. However, I have never heard of an in-ground tree losing its leaves due to WLD. As your tree is growing outside in the ground, the problem must be from a different cause. - Millet (932-)

Re-reading your post--your problem may be no problem--it is not unusual for citrus to drop the older leaves in winter. Millet is right about inground trees not being affected by WLD.

A new flush in mid winter may be a problem though--those leaves will be very susceptable to cold. HAve you fertilized too late or has it been unusually warm?

What is WLD?

I hate acronyms. After Mobil who I worked for got taken over by Exxon, here came the acronyms. I believe Exxon made the Federal Government it's model for confusion.

Phil, WLD = Winter Leaf Drop. (Millet 931-)

Unfortunately my citrus's leaf drop is continuing. My poor tahitian lime especially is looking pretty sad. Will he grow back the dropped leaves again in spring? (we are about one month away) or is he on a downward spiral? I think it may be due to the cold nights in the last three weeks cold at night (5 degrees celcius) but warm and sunny during some days. There was a few days with an extremely chilly wind too. My moro blood orange and buddha hand have dropped a few leaves too.
Also i just read on another topic "Do not use iron formulation as a foliar spray, as iron can cause toxic reaction to citrus leaves" Last week i did a foliar application of Sequestion an Iron Chelate for chlorosis could this have caused more leaf drop than usual of late?
A week before the iron i sprayed them first with pyretherum insecticide and then an oil spray. I read somewhere yesterday that spraying oil in winter can defoliate too.
I also applied some epsom salts a handful to 3 litres of water between 8 trees.

Any suggestions or comments????

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