Citrus is a genus of tropical and sub-tropical trees that are known around the world for their tasty fruit. They originated in Southeast Asia and have been carried around the world because they are so delicious.
They are popular with both commercial farmers and family hobbyists because they are not too difficult to grow, and they provide a wealth of healthy snacks and can be used in a wide variety of recipes.
But once you have them planted, and they are growing, how do you fertilize them to keep them happy and productive?
What do you need to know?
If you know when to fertilize, what fertilizer to use, and how to apply it, you will be in great shape and have a good crop to share with your family and friends.
When do you need to fertilize?
If you want a bumper crop, you need to feed your citrus. It varies depending on the species and location, but generally, it isn’t too difficult. Feed them every two months when they are growing in the spring and summer, then ease back to once every three months in the fall and winter.
New plants don’t need to be fertilized during the first year, and older plants just need feeding every three months.
Things to look for in your citrus fertilizer
If you know what to look for, you can tell when to fertilize your citrus trees. A healthy tree will have dark, dense foliage, along with an abundance of blossoms if it is happy and healthy. It will need fertilizer, but not too much.
Applying too much fertilizer can actually reduce the yield, so if your trees look healthy, apply the minimum amount of fertilizer.
Once they blossom and until their fruit ripens, they will need the most nutrients, so make sure that you feed them regularly, once every two months.
Are you growing your citrus in a pot?
When growing citrus in a pot, you need to give it a little more nitrogen. But don’t forget that it will also need micronutrients like:
- Boron
- Copper
- Iron
- Magnesium
- Zinc
What about the pH?
Citrus likes soil that is a little acidic, so you will want your soil’s pH between 5.5 and 6.5. If your soil is too acidic, you can add ash, baking soda, bone meal or lime. And if it is too high, work in a little manure before you plant.
What fertilizer works best for citrus?
There are a lot of fertilizers on the market that are specifically made for citrus. All will do a good job, just make sure that you read the directions first. In addition to nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, you will want your fertilizer to also contain micronutrients in it like:
- Boron
- Copper
- Iron
- magnesium
- Manganese
- Zinc
Liquid or granules?
You can go either route, the choice is yours. You might want to try both, go liquid one year and granular the next to see which gives you the best results.
Look for a good 10-10-10 if your soil is a little lacking and 5-5-5 if you have rich soil. (The numbers stand for the amount of nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium in the fertilizer.) If your soil lacks nitrogen, you might want to try a 12-6-5 fertilizer.
Nitrogen Deficiency
If your trees have pale green or yellow leaves and are not growing well, you might have too little nitrogen. You should look for:
- Leaves falling off
- Leaves that appear burnt
- Leaves that grow upright
- Poor growth
- Stems turning red or purple
Too little phosphorus
Your trees need phosphorus to help with plant growth and cell division. It also helps the tree to convert nutrients into useful forms. It will:
- Give you a higher quality fruit
- Improve flower production
- Increase stem strength
- Make the tree more disease resistant
- Stimulate root growth
Phosphorus Deficiency
Too little phosphorus will reduce your tree’s productivity, so you need to look for the signs, such as:
- Bronze colored under the leaves
- Loss of leaves
- Red or purple foliage
- Very poor growth
Last but not least, potassium
Potassium plays many important roles in the healthy growth of your citrus tree. It helps with:
- Fighting disease
- Improved fruiting
- Regulating growth
- Taking in carbon dioxide
Potassium deficiency
Symptoms of Potassium deficiency are yellowing leaves between the veins (chlorosis), curling leaf tips and brown scorching and curling on leaf tips. An additional sign is yellow leaf spots on the underside of leaves.
How to spot Potassium Deficiency:
- Curling leaf tips
- Decreased fruit development
- Poor root development
- Slower growth
- Yellowing or browning leaf edges
Keeping your trees watered will help them to use the potassium in the soil. Increasing the organic matter in the soil will help hold needed moisture. And if you like bananas, their peels are high in potassium, so bury them at the base of your trees.
If you prefer using organic fertilizer, here is an easy DIY fertilizer recipe for your Citrus trees.
Going organic?
If you want to avoid chemical fertilizer, you can make your own organic version. Just
- 1 part dolomite lime
- 4 parts seed meal
- 1/2 part kelp meal
- 1/2 part bone meal
Easy to do, and healthier too!
How to apply fertilizer to your citrus trees
Citrus trees can take in nutrients through their roots or their leaves. So you can either spread or spray the fertilizer.
Granular fertilizer
Wet the ground around the tree first, then spread the fertilizer and compost around the tree but not too close to the trunk. Just spread it evenly over the tree’s root system and work it into the soil. This will let it dissolve as you water so the roots can absorb it effectively.
Liquid Fertilizer
Mix the fertilizer as directed on the package and spray it evenly on the foliage. Don’t spray too much or it will just run off and not be used by the tree.
Oops, too much?
If you over-fertilize, you might notice a crust forming on the top of the soil. You might also notice that the leaves turn yellow or brown soon after you apply the fertilizer. Note how much you applied and reduce the amount next time.
Harvesting the fruits of your labor
With a little careful application of fertilizer, your citrus trees will thrive and you will have a bountiful harvest each year. You might want to write down what you did–type of fertilizer, when you applied it, how much you applied, etc.--so that you will know what worked and what didn’t.
With some easy work and help from Mother Nature, you will be enjoying bumper crops of citrus each year, enjoying the fruit and juice for many months.
