I have a variegated lemon which I receiced last fall. It started out with plenty new growth and even had two blooms then suddenly it started to wither. I move it to a sunnier spot and watered it twice a week. It is now leafless and looks pretty sick. PLEASE help!!! I put a half a citrus fert. tablet in the pot (10") before it started to go downhill and it is growing in half miraclegro garden soil, 1/4 composted manure and 1/4 topsoil. :confused: :(

MG is not a good medium for citrus if used alone. It needs lots and lots of coarse sand, vermiculite and perlite. Citrus need very well draining soil and MG is not. MG holds too much moisture for citrus. The citrus fert tablets/spikes are not designed to be used with container plants or planted under the tree.

IF the tree were MINE, I would carefully unpot the tree and look at the roots,and rinse them off with warm water to help remove the fert from the tablet. Is there a good amount of roots? are they healthy looking(light tan with white tips)? are they mushy or black or brown and shrivled.

I would repot into a well draining soil if the roots are somewhat healthy. If the roots are really bad looking post back and we can discuss a method for treating root rot.
Andi

Thanks for the advice. The roots are in pretty good shape so I will repot but now I am not sure what it repot WITH!! I have a meyer and an orange growing in the same mix and they are loaded with both blooms and fruit and doing fine.Could be that they are older and more able to adjust.

IF they are growing well then leave them alone(the 2 that are flowering and fruiting), to unpot now you would stress the plant and loose the fruit and the blooms.

IF you need to use the MG just remember to add a lot of sand and perlite to the mix.

Citrus medium really needs to be well draining.

I repotted into dry soil and am pleased to say that the limp limbs are already trying to stand straighter. I will watch my watering real close and hope for the best. Thanks for all the help.:) :)