Well Millet, after following your advice of fertilizing my citrus once per week, I have literally run into a thorny issue. When I was feeding only once every three months or so, I never had any thorns. All of my plants have started putting out some massive thorns. I liked it when they did not have any thorns at all. Could I be over feeding? I am using a 5-1-1 liquid feeding 3tbsp per gallon as directed on the container. My Valley Lemon and Mexican Lime have become the worse offenders, but my other Meyers are starting to produce baby thorns and they are older trees.

Also, can these thorns be clipped without issue?

Thorn growing by a citrus tree, are what citrus trees do. Fertilizer does not produce thorns nor cause them. You can certainly clip the thorns off if you wish. When you say your trees are older trees, then you must be talking about trees that are 15+ years old. Young trees produce thorns. Thorns are actually modified leaves, which in a small way provides some protection for the tree, but mainly thorns are the trees aerial drip system to evenly space rain water over the full surface area of the tree's roots. - Millet (1,37-)

Most lemons and key limes are naturally thorny trees. Some branches will have more than others.

I knew they produced thorns, but it just seems as though the thorns have started to explode. I just attributed it to feeding them more, because they were apparently suffering from malnutrition. Seems like every time I go look at them, there are more thorns and I never had thorns before, but the Mexican and Valley have only been with me for two years.


Thank you for the reply.

Very succulent, rapid growth will often be more thorny than growth occuring at a more moderate rate, especially where lemons are concerned. I don't know what you are feeding them, but 3 tablespoons to the gallon, once a week, seems a little rich to me.

Ned

This is what I am using, http://www.planetnatural.com/cgi-bin/planetnatural/alaska-fish-fertilizer


You are right, I reread the bottle and it should only be 1tbsp per gallon, I think.

One tablespoon per gallon of Alaska Fish Fertilizer applied once a week with a formulation as low as 5-1-1, in my estimation, would just barely be considered "OK". I have never used Alaska Fish Fertilizer, nor do I ever use any type of an organic fertilizer. Being organic, the nutritional elements in Alaska Fish fertilizer, first has to be be converted by the soil bacteria into a usable form, before the trees and use it. I would not be afraid to use 5 tablespoons per gallon. Most containerized growers use fertilizers with formulations containing 20, 25 or 30 percent nitrogen. I use a 25-5-15 fertilizer, and I apply it with every watering. Many growers use the formulation 30-10-10. The Citrus Clonal Protection Program (CCPP) at the University of California - Riverside, fertilize all of their container citrus trees at the high rate of 300 ppm with every single watering, and they do it the entire year around. Citrus trees are heavy feeders. - Millet (1,379-)

So your suggestion is to stay with the 3tbsp/gal?

Do what you wish, but if they were my trees I would fertilize much heaver that 1 teaspoon of a 5-1-1, most especially during the warm months of Spring, Summer and Fall. One comment about the formulation of 5-1-1, is that citrus require a good measure of potassium (3rd number), and Alaska fish supplies very little. - Millet (1,379-)

I also use Osmocote quarterly.

Millet, In one of your recent posts, which I have not been able to find, you mentioned using epson salts. What was your recommendation on this again? Maybe others would like this info again.

Epson Salt is magnesium sulfate. It helps to green plants up rather quickly. I also use it on my lawn.

I also use it. I apply it when I apply Osmocote.

Most fertilizers, even fertilizers with trace minerals, often do not include the element magnesium. Magnesium is required for chlorophyll production, and for the tree's respiration. To correct a magnesium deficiency mix 1 tablespoon of Epsom salts to 1 gallon (3.8l) of HOT WATER, then apply the cooled mixture to the tree once a week until symptoms disappear. Epsom salts dissolves poorly in cool water, therefore the need for hot water. - Millet (1.377-)

thanks, I know what to do tonight.