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Diminuendo

Diminuendo

At the Start
Joined
Jun 3, 2003
Messages
1,453
Location
The West Country
I know there are few members on here that know quite a bit about plants so here goes. I have a lovely Kumquat tree in a pot. When it arrived it was loaded with unripened fruit and in full leaf. Over the last couple of weeks the fruits have begun to ripen, slowly. Unfortunately it seems to be dropping all of its leaves. I have checked the leaves over and there appears to be absolutely nothing wrong with them. I have followed the watering instructions on the label. In fact I have followed all the instructions on the label. I have checked on the internet and found very little, except for leaves that have disease etc.
I did read that some citrus plants shed their leaves, but it did not say why or which ones.
What am I going to do?
 
We need more info here, Dim. Where is the plant? Is it outdoors, in a greenhouse, a conservatory or a centrally heated room? Can you post a photo or two? Are you certain there is nothing infesting the leaves - Red Spider Mite is a possibility and it's not always easy to spot.
 
Its indoors, currently in a well lit, well heated living room. I have watered it according to the instructions. When the leaves fall off they look fine, very green and alive looking. I guess the plant has lost half its leaves. It was sent in the post from a company, it was well packaged. I'll try and put a couple of pics on tomorrow. I have also noticed the end of the stems have no budding leaves on them.
 
It sounds like the conditions could be too warm and dry. In winter, Citrus plants are better kept cool (but frost free) in an environment with some humidity...a frost free greenhouse or a conservatory are ideal. Even though you have watered the pot, the humidity (or lack of) might be why the plant is shedding leaves. A daily misting with water might help. If you can move it to somewhere cooler, this will also definitely help.

Evergreens do shed leaves at certain times of the year - a Mangletia of mine suddenly dropped half it's leaves last winter but it turned out to be a natural shedding. It may just be this with your Kumquat, but I would think that my first thought is along the right lines.

Read this helpful link.
RHS Advice

Good luck - I hope it survives. I'm all too familiar with the feeling of losing a cherished plant.
 
Thanks Mark for that info. I could move it to a conservatory. It gets quite chilly in there at night, but its frost free! Would the change in temperature from the living room to the conservatory be a shock?
 
It does sound like heat stress - I had a ficus (calm yourself, Brian) which did the same thing, in spite of having its roots always nicely moist. It just hated too much central heating.
 
Originally posted by BrianH+Feb 25 2007, 07:53 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (BrianH @ Feb 25 2007, 07:53 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Diminuendo@Feb 25 2007, 08:02 PM
Would the change in temperature from the living room to the conservatory be a shock?
Click to expand...
Will it shrivel her kumquat? Ooer missus... [/b][/quote]
:laughing: norty

I think it could be to do with a light change ? Id re-pot it and look at the roots and start again just incase its the start off something.
 
Originally posted by BrianH+Feb 25 2007, 08:53 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (BrianH @ Feb 25 2007, 08:53 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Diminuendo@Feb 25 2007, 08:02 PM
Would the change in temperature from the living room to the conservatory be a shock?
Click to expand...
Will it shrivel her kumquat? Ooer missus... [/b][/quote]
Brian can you keep yourself calm until tomorow when I will post a photo of my kumquat? norty
 
I'd put it in the conervatory. It doesn't like the dry, heat of your house. Even though it gets cool in the conservatory, it probably won't drop below 6 - 8 degrees C at this time of year, espcially with the mild weather.

DON'T overwater it. Mist lightly and put in the conservatory is my advice.
 
Agreed- I suggest you move it perhaps at a time of day when your house is least warm if you can .
 
I have moved the plant to the conservatory. Here are three pics which should show areas of leave drop and you can see the stems where the leaves have gone .

Picture277.jpg


Picture278.jpg


Picture279.jpg
 
Looks healthier than me :P if it was mine I would give it a liquid feed through a mist spray and keep it out of the sun after doing so or the leaves will obviously scorch...... cry good luck I hope you save it...............
 
Okay, I have no kumquats (how sad) :shy:

But I did have orange/lemon and also cactus type succulents. One other tip. When (?) it begins to get sunny I put those kinds of plants outside for just a few hours a day and bring them back in. They often need real light on their leaves. But not constant bright sun so best done early in the morning, or later in afternoon. And, maybe start off little at a time just to make sure the leaves do not burn.

They like it under a bigger tree where they get filtered sunshine like they would in 'wild'

Does mean lugging plant around, but I have mine on those wheely things to make it easier.

The first time I did this the new growth was amazing! Also seemed to strengthen plant each year so that it did not drop leaves the following year.
 
By jove I think we have saved my kumquat!!! Things are looking much better now. It has stopped dropping its leaves. It has some new shoots and the fruits are ripening. Can't wait to try one.
Thanks to everyone for suggesting tips and help.
 
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