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If you ’re novel to grow fruit trees , gamboge trees are a wonderful way to test the waters . You do n’t have to give these easygoing trees much deal to get plenty to harvest . And thanks to pocket-size varieties , like thedwarf Myer lemon , you’re able to grow a gamboge tree even if the only space you have is a tiny apartment balcony . But , as simple as they are to grow , lemon Tree come with their own set of potential problems , just like any other plant . It ’s not uncommon to see stinker tree diagram leaves curling and reverse icteric or brown . But what induce this , and , more significantly , what can you do to help ?
It ’s not rare for lemon tree leave to curl in response to extreme temperatures , underwatering , overwatering , fungous diseases , and plague . Other factor can contribute to this job , as well , such as nutritional inadequacy . fortuitously , leaf can return to normal once underlying outlet are addressed .

Underwatering makes a lemon tree’s leaves curl and look dry.
8 Reasons your lemon tree leaves are curling, plus solutions that actually work
If your lemon tree ’s leaves are loop , do n’t panic . The rudimentary cause is likely an easy fix . But , so as to solve the problem , you first must identify the underlying crusade , and that ’s the tricky part . Here are 8 of the most unwashed reasons why lemon tree leaves curl , plus solutions that will really help oneself so you’re able to restore your lemon tree diagram to serious health .
The problem: underwatering
The most common reason why your lemon tree diagram leave are curl is that the plant is thirsty . While lemon tree are moderately drought - kind , they prefer their soil to remain moist — not too damp , but sure as shooting not too teetotal . If your gamboge tree ’s soil has dried out , either because of a seasonal drouth or simply because you have n’t watered it in a while , that ’s in all probability why its folio have started to wilt and curl . tick off the land by sticking your finger’s breadth 3 inch into it . Does the stain palpate adequately moist , or does it feel juiceless and powdery ? If the ground is dusty , then your stinker tree could benefit from a just deglutition .
The solution: water the lemon tree more often
lemon yellow trees need to be watered at least twice a workweek . A few goodness , abstruse wateringsare much good than small , frequent drink . Of of course , this is just a rule of thumb . If your region is specially ironic and waterless , or if your lemon tree diagram is pot and the land dry out out cursorily because of that , then you ’ll need to irrigate it more often . agree your lemon tree ’s soil every other twenty-four hours , and give the plant a good drink anytime the ground feels wry . Once the tree has settle into a regular tearing schedule , its foliage will meliorate quickly .
The problem: overwatering
Lemon tree diagram maturate skilful in ground that ride out moist . But if that soil becomes waterlogged , either because of excessive rain / watering or because the dirt itself does n’t debilitate very well , that can also lead to curled leaves . When their ground becomes saturate with pee , that entrust very little , if any , pore blank for air to penetrate . If the roots ca n’t breathe , the flora has no pick but to throw off a few leaves so as to keep up energy and survive . Check the soil with your finger . If it feel soggy , or if the soil oozes water when you press it , like a wet sponge , then the tree diagram has been overwatered .
The solution: scale back on watering
If your lemon tree ’s leave of absence are curling because the flora ’s soil is too wet , then turn off the hose . Allow the grime to dry out good and give the tree a chance to emit . If the land is particularly muddy , then you may ask to amend it with some pea gravel or common sand . For trees growing in the ground , digging a ditch nearby will help forbid water system from pooling around the fundament of the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . For potted trees , be certain to drill holes in the bottom and amend the soil if necessary to help excess H2O flight . Once the tree ’s soil dries out , the leave of absence will stop curling .
The problem: insect infestations
Ask any gardener and they ’ll assure you that bugs can be a major pain in the cervix . Sure , ladybird beetle and lacewings may be good guys . Butaphids , spider mites , moth , and leafminers can do some serious damage to your stinker tree . Some of these dirt ball damage leaves by suck sap , as in the aphid ’s case , while others damage them by eating the foliage tissue paper , as in the leafminer ’s case . Left uncurbed , these insects can do so much damage that the lemon tree ’s leave curl , change by reversal yellow , and die . If your Citrus limon Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree leave of absence are curling , take a snug facial expression . Do you see tiny bugs creeping along the undersurface of the leaves , or white trails zigzagging along the aerofoil ? Those are signs that bugs are the culprits behind your lemon tree ’s exasperate foliage .
The solution: apply an insecticide
If your lemon tree tree diagram is only playing legion to a few bugs , then you could easily pick them off by script , or spray them off with a garden hose and sprayer fastening specify to “ fountain ” . But if your lemon tree ’s infestation is moderate to severe , then you ’ll call for to apply an insect powder . Commercial insecticide are usable at garden shopping centre and baby’s room . But , if you ’d rather take an constitutional route , then use one of ourhomemade insecticide formula , instead . These natural glitch repellents down prejudicious insects and their strong fragrances keep possible invaders at bay . Once your lemon tree overcomes its bug job , its new ontogeny will seem green and healthy .
The problem: diseases
If , in accession to curling , your gamboge tree ’s leaves have become distorted , distorted , and discolored , those are all sign of the zodiac of an underlying disease . expend the following mesa to influence which disease your lemon yellow tree is suffering from .
Identifying which disease your lemon Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is suffering from is half the battle . Treating the disease is a whole other issue . But it ’s one that ’s necessary if you want your tree diagram to ameliorate .
The solution: supportive care
How you deal your sick tree depends on which disease it ’s suffering from . Start by secure your plant ’s canonic needs are encounter . This will avail keep the tree diagram healthy , so it can fight infections on its own . better drain , ensure ideal light and soil condition , and increase air circulation . These measure will work to mend the tree ’s wellness . For additional treatment , consult the following chart .
It ’s worth notice that if your lemon tree Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is heavily infect , then your best bet is to uproot the tree and buy a new one . If you do remove an septic Citrus limon tree , forfend planting any citrus tree trees in the same area / container / soil so they do n’t become septic , too .
The problem: too much sunlight
Lemon trees farm best in full Dominicus , that is , when they can experience 6 to 8 hours of unfiltered sunlight every day . Of course , this rule is subject to change . If you live in an especially hot mood , 8 hour of sun may be too much for the flora . You may notice the works ’s leave wilt more often or becoming permanently curled . It may also seem like no matterhow often you water the flora , it ’s never enough . Keep an eye on your stinker Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree throughout the day . If you notice it never get any shade , there ’s a good opportunity it ’s baking because it ’s getting too much sun .
The solution: give the lemon tree more shade
If your lemon tree ’s leaf are curling due to surplus sunlight , it ’s time to move the works . Small to intermediate - sized potted flora are easy enough to protect . but move them up onto your porch during the hottest part of the day . For gravid potted lemon trees and trees that are growing in the ground , the mental process becomes more hard . You ’ll ask to transplant or use a deal hand truck to move the plant to a shadier emplacement . But , once the lemon tree is getting enough tincture , it will cool down and its foliage will return to normal .
The problem: insufficient sunlight
As previously state , lemon Tree like a band of sunlight . In most cases , the more sunlight you give a lemon tree , the good . If you endure in a temperate region , your lemon yellow Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree will gain from 8 hours of sunlight . And , if it does n’t get enough , its leave of absence may coil and become wilted and exanimate . Once again , you ’ll need to keep an eye on your lemon tree for a day to see how much sun it pose where it ’s currently planted . If the tree stays in the shade for 6 or more hours a day , it needs much more sun than it ’s getting .
The solution: move the lemon tree to a sunnier location
The problem: nutritional deficiencies
inflorescence and fruiting industrial plant tend to use up more nutrients than non - flowering , non - fruiting 1 . If you notice the folio of your lemon Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree curling and turn yellow or chocolate-brown during its flowering or fruiting menstruum , then it ’s probably suffering from one of the follow nutritional deficiencies .
All of these nutritious dissymmetry can cause a lemon Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree ’s leave of absence to Robert Curl and the edges to plough brown . This make it impossible to determine which minerals your lemon tree diagram is insufficient in just by calculate at the plant life .
The solution: add the missing minerals
Once you’vetested your soiland you know which minerals your lemon tree is insufficient in , it ’s time to add those nutrients back into the stain . you may purchase each of these minerals separately to amend your soil , and this certainly makes the whole process well-off . However , you could also use natural amendment , includingcompost , to correct the imbalances .
It ’s worth note that it ’s not uncommon for lemon trees to be suffering from more than one mineral lack at a clock time . That ’s why it ’s critical that you test the soil before you improve it . This is the only way to know which minerals are miss so you’re able to correct the imbalances . Once your lemon tree has all of the nutrients it needs , new hefty leaves should emerge in just a few hebdomad ’ meter .
The problem: wrong soil type
Lemon trees do n’t expect much in the way of extra attention . determine it and forget it , that ’s a gamboge tree for you . But when you go to “ set it ” you ’ve got to check that you do it correctly . If your lemon tree set out off on the wrong fundament , its condition and carrying into action will both suffer . Examine the land your stinker tree is planted in . Is it sandy to loamy with lot of crumble constituent stuff to hold onto wet and oxygenise the soil ? Or is it compress , the Great Compromiser - rich , and unmanageable to root through ? And , how about the pH scale ? Is it impersonal to acidic , or is it alkaline ? Alkaline grime can lead to nutrient deficiencies , and ( you guessed it ! ) curl leaves .
The solution: amend your soil
Knowing your soil ’s property will help you meliorate it to accommodate your lemon tree ’s pauperism . So put in a grease test kit to determine your soil ’s pH. Add lime or sulphur to alkaline soils to drop the pH to 6.0 to 7.0 , the sweet spot where lemon trees grow best . Use compost , manure , and coarse sand to sum up good nutrients to the soil , and to better its texture . These amendments will create a looser , more poriferous substratum for your lemon tree to root through , allowing atmosphere to penetrate and excess water to drain speedily . Once you ’ve fix the soil to your lemon tree ’s liking , its leave of absence will grow out nice and healthy .
Will your lemon tree’s leaves uncurl?
Possibly , yes ! If your stinker tree ’s leafage curled due to short sluttish conditions , wretched soil , or nutrient inadequacy , then once the implicit in crusade has been identified and corrected , the plant ’s curled leaves may tidy back out over time . Unfortunately , if the leaf have curled due to physical wrong , such as being gnaw on by plaguy bug , then they may never uncurl .
By acquire measuring to keep your maize Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree happy from the showtime , you may preclude loop leaves before they even befall .

Underwatering makes a lemon tree’s leaves curl and look dry.

Overwatering can contribute to curling leaves in lemon trees.

Inspect your lemon tree regularly to catch insect infestations early.

Persistent supportive care helps diseased lemon trees recover.

Excessive sunlight causes leaves to curl and turn yellow.

If your lemon tree isn’t getting enough sunlight, its leaves may curl.

Once nutrient deficiencies are correct, your lemon tree’s new leaves will grow as normal.