Lemon – Proper Watering

Q: My son gave me a Meyer lemon tree for Christmas. The plant was filled with beautiful lemons and blooms. Since then, the blossoms have dropped as well as most of the leaves. I water it regularly. I have noticed clusters of white fuzzy stuff on the top of the soil.

A: The fuzzy stuff is probably just a fungus decomposing the surface material of the potting soil. Its presence tells me you are watering too frequently. It is likely the plant has developed root rot that’s causing the leaf drop. Water the lemon only when a finger pressed one inch into the soil comes up dry. I can’t guarantee it will live until you can take it outdoors in spring, but it’s worth a try.

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