hi all, my satsuma tree is very healthy and has alot of new growth, the only problem is that some of the new growth's tips are brownish black, they werent always like this. my satsuma also has a catapiller (sp?) problem, they are tiny, about 1/4", does anyone know of a good bugspray? i was wondering if i could make my own soap and water spray?
thanks for any help guys!
-beau

Get some Ultra-Fine oil form Lowes or HD...

thanks laaz!, ill check it out today!

Hi Beau,
Lazz's recommendation about the oil is good and it will help keep the leaf miners from laying eggs if you have that problem, but your soap solution will work on the caterpillars.

thanks, do you know how i could make the soap solution? also do you know whats causing the tips of the new growth to turn brownish black?
thanks again guys!

I just use a Tbs or so of dishwashing liquid in a gallon of water. Soap kills insects by drowning-- it wets them through their waxy coating.

Can you post pictures of brown tips?

hey skeet, i will try tomorrow when the suns out, thanks for the help so far!

Brown tips in container citrus usually indicates a salt buildup in the soil.

do you know what i should do to get rid of it? flush it perhaps?
thanks!

Hi Beau, I don't know what caused the brown tips -- it looks more like some kind of contact damage to me. You have a lot of other new growth that looks fine. You do have leaf miners, so Lazz's suggestion of oil will help keep the adult moths from laying eggs-- soap is not much help with the leaf miners.

Hello,
well for soap...
Use natural soap, nothing with Tensides. Even if Tensides do the same as natural soap, some Tensides are toxid to plant tissue and thus should be avoided.
Natural Soap come from potash and will cause no harm, ask your pharmacist if he can get some. It's not expensive and much better for the use.
So I use 1 ounze natural soap to one Ouart of water, and I add about 3 tsp. of ethylic alcohol and stir well.
This solution works best.


About the brown leaf tips:
Looks much about a fertilizer burn.... or salt damage.
So what potting mix do you use and what fertilizer? How often do you feed?

Maybe the poting mix is to low in pH, because low potting mix reaction permits salt damage....

Since,

Steve

Although this is an old posting, it seems to have been revised in new interest, therefore, I would like to answer it as it might help other growers, who's trees are experiencing the same symptoms. Looking at the pictures, it is almost certainly caused by high soluble salt levels. When soluble salt levels become too high, root injury, which is ALWAYS FIRST SEEN as above ground foliage injury, may occur. This may result in temporary wilting (even though the mix is moist), leaf tip burn, marginal yellowing (or both as seen in the picture), only marginal yellowing, burning of the leaf margin, and in extreme cases, chlorosis or yellowing of the leaves. These symptoms show up particularly on the YOUNGER leaves. Soluble salt injury is caused by a competition for water between the plant and the chemical salts. As the medium dries, the concentration of salts increases. A medium containing 500 ppm soluble salts at 50% moisture will contain 1000 ppm at 25% moisture. If you have a Solu-Bridge, soluble salts are very easily measured. Mix one part growth medium with two parts water, allow to stand for 15 to 20 minutes, then check with the Solu-Bridge. - Millet