Help/advice needed: Sick lemon tree

Discussion in 'Pests, Diseases and Cures' started by apasagic, May 19, 2021.

  1. NigelJ

    NigelJ Total Gardener

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2012
    Messages:
    6,042
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Mad Scientist
    Location:
    Paignton Devon
    Ratings:
    +20,951
    @john558 At a guess your Hibiscus syriacus is not flowering, because you pruned it. If I remember right the flowers form on older wood rather than young shoots. I've had a couple over the years and they have never needed pruning.
    Your foliage is a very light colour, but that could be down to light conditions when photo was taken, my foliage is generally dark green.
    Not enough sun can result in no flowers and that is why I need to move mine when I have a vacant spot in a sunny area as it is being shaded out where it is at the moment.
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • john558

      john558 Total Gardener

      Joined:
      Feb 14, 2015
      Messages:
      2,359
      Gender:
      Male
      Occupation:
      Retired
      Location:
      Ramsgate, Kent
      Ratings:
      +8,190
      Hi, the pic of the flower was from last year, there are a few flower buds this year, but I need a stepladder to see them!!!

      It's in the ground Pete

      I really want the bush around 3ft high, so is it prune and not feed next year:scratch:
       
    • john558

      john558 Total Gardener

      Joined:
      Feb 14, 2015
      Messages:
      2,359
      Gender:
      Male
      Occupation:
      Retired
      Location:
      Ramsgate, Kent
      Ratings:
      +8,190
      Yes NigelJ that's the name. It get full Sun in the morning.
       
    • pete

      pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

      Joined:
      Jan 9, 2005
      Messages:
      47,721
      Gender:
      Male
      Occupation:
      Retired
      Location:
      Mid Kent
      Ratings:
      +84,377
      I'm going to disagree with Nigel on this.
      They flower on new wood after mid summer, so you can winter prune, but really hard pruning does affect flowering, at least that is what I find.

      I've got about a dozen or more planted in the garden or on the allotment, most are just seed grown with only a couple named varieties.

      The foliage will be yellow now as its getting ready to fall.
      But I have noticed some of mine are a bit yellow in summer, I think an iron feed maybe the way to sort that out, but never bothered.

      I think you can feed too much, never feed mine, and never water them.
       
      • Like Like x 2
      • Agree Agree x 1
      • noisette47

        noisette47 Total Gardener

        Joined:
        Jan 25, 2013
        Messages:
        5,863
        Gender:
        Female
        Location:
        Lot-et-Garonne, Aquitaine
        Ratings:
        +13,964
        Have to agree, pete. The theory goes that you prune in early spring. If I do that, the shrubs struggle to regain their strength. Put on lots of wispy shoots, but don't flower as well. I leave them alone now, apart from dead-heading the seed pods. @john558....they're quite big shrubs normally and I really don't think yours is going to be happy being chopped down to 3' every year! Older plants don't move well, so your best bet is to let seed pods form and sow new shrubs. You should get one or more the same colour, then you could plant it somewhere where it can reach it's natural height. Then it will flower well.
         
        • Like Like x 1
        • Informative Informative x 1
        Loading...

        Share This Page

        1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
          By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
          Dismiss Notice