Kaffir Lime Tree

Hello Everybody this is my very first post ever on this site, I am a beginner to the green finger world, I have an indoor Kaffir Lime Tree inside in a pot infront of a south facing garden window, its about 60 cm high from the soil in the pot.
the problem is that the leaves have gone from a beautiful green colour to almost white ish, and there is like a brown oil on the leaves too.
I don't know what to do to stop this and get my leaves back to green again, what am I doing wrong???
Thanking you all.
Alan

 

Check carefully for bugs. Pay close attention to the undersides of the leaves and also look out for fine spiders web type things.

 

WOW yes there are spider webs and in them are tiny little red things.

 

What do I do?

 

Red spider mite. RSM is a blight.

• Get it outdoors now. Hopefully the nights will be cool enough to weaken the infestation. Place it where it will not get any sun if possible, at the least where it is afternoon before the sun warms it up.
• The leaves are large enough to wipe off with a sponge. To do this mix thoroughly a few drops of olive oil, a few drops of washing up liquid and water (approx 0.5 ltr) and wipe the leaves using the sponge. Do this in the morning for the next two weeks or so. Pay particular attention to the undersides of the leaves.
• Increase the humidity around the plant. A large oversized plant saucer with gravel in is needed. Stand the pot on the top of the gravel and keep the water topped up to just below the top of the gravel.
• Do the same for all the other houseplants that you have too. Small leafed plants are tricky.
• Thoroughly clean the house where any plants are. Use a carpet mite killer.

Act now, it is a pain in the ass if it gets a hold indoors. I suffered it outdoors last year, thought that I had got rid but they reappeared on one plant a few weeks ago on a windowsill. Trouble is that the plant was sharing the space with about 90 seedlings which I had to bin. Older plants are easier to treat and the waxy leaves of Kaffir Lime are the easiest type. Do the above, keep out until the first frosts and I would expect you to be ok.

There are predatory mites available but they really need large infestations to be effective.

 

Okay Great I will put the plant outside now, why in the shade? is that to weaken the mites?
Thanks for the reply.

 

Spot on. It helps extend the cool/cold night temperatures.Cold and humidity are the two main enemies of RSM.

 

Nice Advice Longk the Kaffir Lime Tree is looking better with only a few mites left, the leaves are still looking whitish but I suppose that will take time Yes?
thanks again

 

The gestation period for the eggs is about 15 days I think so it really needs about a month before you can be sure. But continue the wiping, keep the humidity up and hope for cool nights and you should be ok.