(Since this is about horticulture, I posted it in CS)
I’ve got a little orange tree which I started two years ago from an orange pit. Now, it has grown to approximately a feet and seems healthy enough. (Come to think of it, it might actually be grown from a tangerine instead. Does that matter?)
However, recently I noticed the older leaves are turning brown at the edges. The brown edges grow until the leave is mostly brown, then the leave falls off. This also starts to happen with newly grown leaves. Am I doing something wrong?
The tree is still in a relatively small jar, 5 inches diameter. I try to water it regularly, and have recently given it some fertilizer (though not very much, since it still looks small).
Any experts out there? I’d appreciate all kinds of tips.
Well, since nobody else wants to answer, I’ll throw in a couple of ideas.
My first thought is over-watering. You need to make sure the pot has good drainage so the roots aren’t standing in water. Garden stores often have meters that tell you if the soil is too wet or too dry; just drive in the spike and read the dial. You might want to try repotting it (maybe in a bigger container) with some stones in the bottom and a good potting soil. (If the roots are all over the chunk of soil when you turn it out, it has gotten too big for the original pot.)
Another possibility is a parasite infestation, maybe aphids, mealy bugs, or scale. Look it over carefully for any little dots on the green parts. Those first two can be killed with soapy water, either dish soap or the insecticidal stuff from the plant store. Either spray it on or dunk the whole plant in a bucket and gently slosh it around for a minute or two. Make sure to soak the top inch or so of soil to get any eggs or larvae. Scale insects are tougher; one recommendation I’ve heard is to get a Q-tip and some rubbing alcohol, and dab a little on any little dots you see.
Thanks for the tips. I’ve repotted it; the roots were growing thick at the underside of the pot. Furthermore I did notice some things that might be bugs so I used some plant spray. Here’s hoping that it works.