LemonCitrusTree | Citrus Blog

Eating citrus and drinking the juice is more than just a yummy treat. The health benefits are immense. In fact, when I looked into it I was blown away by how good for your body citrus really is. Citrus lowers blood pressure. Sweet oranges and tangelos are the richest food sources of hesperidin. Hesperidin helps lower blood pressure along with a vast amount of other benefits. It is also found in most other citrus as it is a Citrus Bioflavonoid.

Boosts immunity, and digestion: Great for cough and sinus issues. Helps with dandruff, acne and overall skin health. All of these can be attributed to the high levels of vitamin C found in citrus.

Reduces “bad” cholesterol: Limonin helps clean out all of the unwanted cholesterol

Good for vision: help prevent night blindness and muscular degeneration. - Carotenoids are to blame for these amazing side effects.

Anti-aging and beauty treatment: Phytonutrients help eliminate free radicals which in turn keep your skin young.

Soluble Fiber: An anti-inflammatory and helps with pain of arthritis etc. It also helps cure inflammation of the blood vessels, providing protection against heart attack, strokes, and heart disease.

Arthritis: The citric acid found in limes and lemons works wonders, helping move pesky uric acid through and out of the body. Uric acid is what causes arthritis.

Muscle spasms and cramps: Citrus is high in potassium, this will help your muscles get some rest.

Hydration: Just like our bodies, citrus contains lots of water and is extremely hydrating.

Weight loss: The acids and vitamins found in citrus work as an appetite suppressant as well as helping break down fat.

These are just some of the vast amount of benefit consuming citrus fruit has on your health. Drinking a glass of citrus water, eating your favorite citrus as a snack or just finding a way to get it into your meals will benefit more than just your taste palate. Citrus is truly one of nature's many magic medicines! It’s so wonderful having fresh citrus on hand!

Mother's Day is very special to us at LemonCitrusTree. We care that your mother receives a beautiful tree that she will love and enjoy. Traditional gifts of cut flowers and chocolates are fleeting, lasting only a moment; While our trees will last for many years. Citrus Trees are especially known for their long life spans (up to 50 years or more) when properly cared for. We are so confident in our trees that we back them up with a 3 Year Warranty. Along with our warranty we also provide expert tree care guidance unlike other companies that only care about making a sale. If you ever need us just send us a message or call us at 866-216-TREE (8733) and be sure to pass that phone number on to your Mother. From all of us at LemonCitrusTree we wish you all a very Happy Mother's Day!

Sale runs till Mother's Day.

http://lemoncitrustree.com/store/mothers-day-sale-2016.html

Elegant Citrus Lemon, Lime, Kumquat Holiday Garland with Pomegranate door decoration:
Things you will need.

☼ 1/2-inch-diameter rope
☼ Evergreen (Citrus Leaves smell wonderful) or salal leaves or any natural looking leaf garland found in craft stores.
☼ Small oranges, lemons, limes and/or kumquats
☼ Fake cranberries found in craft shop
☼ Cinnamon Sticks
☼ 30-gauge florist's wire
☼ Scissors
☼ Pine cones

Whole fruit will last one to two weeks, possibly longer if the room is on the cool side.
Or you can dry out the fruits prior to usage and this will last the whole season.
To do this, slice the fruit and bake in an oven at 200 degrees to dry them (be sure to dry out on a cookie sheet, flipping them every so often) or you can dry them using a food dehydrator. Follow manufacturer's instructions on drying the fruit.

Cover the rope with leaves by attaching them with wire. Run the wire through off center of large fruit and then back through fruit and attach to garland. Run wire up through one hollow of the cinnamon stick and back down through another hollow of the stick. Add 3 or 4 cinnamon sticks to a cluster.

Secure the fruit to the rope leaf garland where you would like. Add the cinnamon sticks.
Attach the cranberries throughout. Small pine cones can be added by screwing in c hooks on the bottom of the cone, and attaching them. To make it more secure and position the cones  I recommend cutting small wires and bending the wire into the shape of a U . Situate where you want the cones, slip the U shape between the garland and push both ends of the wire into the bottom of the cone, this helps hold the cone in any position you want.

Pomegranate Door Decoration:
Make a Pomegranate door decoration by making a ribbon loop around a door knob pushing wire through both ends of ribbon into the Pomegranate, add a nice floppy bow.

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!

All of us at LemonCitrusTree

Winter can be hard on everything, including the trees that need to go inside for the winter.
It is so important to have a good fertilizing program during the spring and summer months so the tree is hearty for the winter. A good fertilizing recipe is found on our blog here: http://lemoncitrustree.com/store/citrus-blog/2015/08/11/feeding-recipe-for-a-happy-tree/

Trees taken inside for the winter can continue to be fertilized, because there is no fear of frost damage.

Good lighting is a requirement for all citrus, and this can be daunting task when sunshine is rare in the winter months. Trees taken inside for the winter are considered to be in a partially sunny environment throughout the season.

Citrus need FULL SUN 6-8 hours a day. Anything less than 6-8 hours of full sun, is considered partial sunshine. So a tree placed near a window that gets full sunshine a few hours, in NOT full sunshine. Any real sunshine your tree might receive in the winter can be very limited, unless you have a sunroom and that will also depend on the location of your sunroom. So a good rule is, unless you have a sunroom any sunlight your tree may receive is minimal. Without a sunroom, additional lighting will be required throughout the winter months and possibly even with a sunroom you may find you need to supplement lighting.

My main concern is to help the winterized citrus get through the winter months, and I also tried to be conscientious of costs. I wish I could recommend a metal halide (MH) as it is the best choice for citrus, but I can’t recommend them, due to the costs involved. So my second choice ( to keep costs low) I recommend a compact fluorescent light (CFL) 5000k grow bulbs, which  is full spectrum bulb which promotes overall plant growth. This should be screwed into a reflector, so the light is directed onto the tree and not used just as a bulb in a standard lamp or overhead light. Without the reflector the light is too dissipated to be of much use.

The lights can be purchased as a full set, bulb with reflector at http://www.littlegreenhouse.com/accessory/lights.shtml

If you chose the above option, the reflector can take up to a 150 watt bulb, so you can increase the wattage from a 40 watt that comes with the reflector up to a 150 watt, if that is your preference.

You can also purchase the grow bulbs through Amazon with higher wattage bulbs than what is offered with the reflector at littlegreenhouse, just be sure you also purchase a reflector. Make sure whatever reflector you buy, you don’t go beyond the wattage recommended for that reflector. Please don’t inadvertently buy a reflector that takes up to a 150 watt bulb and screw in a 200 watt bulb.

The grow lights should be left on a minimum of  8-12 hours at least. If the tree gets good sunshine and the sunshine is shining directly on the tree a few hours EVERYDAY, then you may be able to turn the lights off after 6 hours.

I also recommend Dyna-Gro DYFOL008 Foliage Pro. Used during the winter months.
Dyna-Gro is suppose to help plants thrive in low light environments and that is exactly the concern in the winter. Dyna-Gro should be used an hour BEFORE lights are turned on in the morning, at least once a month (or not more than the package directions.)

When lighting is supplemented, turn lights out at night. Plants require day and night.

Misting trees with a spray bottle will help with humidity, adding water to the catch tray also helps, just don’t allow the bottom of the pot to sit in standing water. If you mist the tree to add humidity, only mist about an hour before the lights are turned on, as wet leaves might cause burning.

When watering trees in winter, keep in mind the water coming out of the tap is a lot colder in the winter. Water the tree with warm water ONLY.

It’s important not to place the tree near a heat vent, this will dry out the tree. Turn off the vent if possible or redirect the heat away from the tree.

If you have green leaves dropping off the tree after you have placed it inside for the winter, it is more likely a lighting issue. You will need to keep the grow lights turned on longer, or may need to up the wattage of the bulb.

Happy Winter Growing,

Nancy

Most people who see any bug in the garden automatically assume that it is a “bad bug" or harming their plants.

It’s really important to know the difference between the good, the bad and those that aren't quite so attractive.

I always recommend people wash their trees a few times during the summer when they fertilize, as a pest preventative.

Washing with dawn dish soap and warm water with a washcloth helps if there is honeydew on the leaves.

Presently I have a spider that has decided to make himself a home in my Meyer Lemon. He popped out of the thick foliage and introduced himself in late spring, when I fertilized the trees and was doing the normal washing of the trees.

I named him Eli and decided he can stay as long as he wishes. I left Eli’s home alone and moved on to washing the other trees. Eli is protecting my tree from predatory insects.

Interesting enough, of all my citrus trees, the one tree that Eli has taken residence in, is the healthiest of all my trees.

I made the right decision in allowing him to stay, so he gets free room and board. I just wish the rest of his family would have joined him in moving into the trees next to him.

Right next to Eli's tree, is a tree that had a recent visitor,  the infamous leaf miner.

Although admittedly Eli's family may not have been able to prevent the mining operation that is ongoing,  one can hope Eli was on his toes, because no mining operation is occurring in his home.

The little guy you allow to live, could be the best of all preventatives.

Please make certain the bug you kill is your enemy, because predators can do a better job of protecting your investment, because they are on guard 24/7.

Moral to the story, distinguish between Friend and Foe.
Nancy

People who have talked to me about pest issues on their Citrus Trees know I’m a real fan of bathing my trees. Spraying soapy water onto a leaf is only useful if used as a biodegradable wetting agent to maximize adhesion to the leaf surface, so foliar nutrients don't just roll off the leaves.Although the soapy spray will probably drown the offending bug, it won’t fix all the issues the pest caused your tree. So I don’t recommend it.

If you are spraying soapy water to drown the offenders, you are not fixing the massive problem of honeydew.  Honeydew is a sweet, sticky liquid that plant sucking insects excrete as they ingest large quantities of sap from a plant. Eventually, if the honeydew isn’t washed off, fungi will begin to grow which is sooty mold. Although sooty molds don’t infect plants, they can indirectly damage the plant by coating the leaves so it reduces photosynthesis,  which can stunt plant growth and cause leaf drop and in sever cases branch die-back.
THINGS YOU WILL NEED

• ☼ Warm Water
• ☼ Dishpan
• ☼ Dawn Dish Soap
• ☼ Washcloth
• ☼ Toothbrush
• ☼ Ziplock Bag
• ☼ Wide Masking Tape
• ☼ Tanglefoot

1. 1. Squirt Dawn dish soap into a dishpan with warm water, make sure your solution is nice and sudsy.
2. 2. Pick one branch and start washing top and bottom of leaves with a wash cloth. Pay attention to the bottom of the leaf, this is where most eggs and pests will be found. Also pay attention to any distorted leaves. Some aphid species inject a toxin into plants, which causes leaves to curl and distort. Depending on the severity of the underside of the leaf determines what approach I take. Sometimes I will wash the leaf repeatedly, most the time If I find a pest and it’s distorted the leaf I will  remove the leaf and store in a ziplock bag.
3. 3. Use toothbrush in crevices that the cloth can’t reach.
4. 4. Once the tree is completely washed, treat top and underside of leaves with Horticultural Oil OR Neem Oil.
5. 5. Wrap masking tape above or below the graft area, STICKY SIDE OUT.
6. 6. Add Tanglefoot to sticky part of tape, this is a barrier to keep crawling pests from gaining an access point to your foliage.

Do NOT place tree against anything where foliage is touching a railing or wall. Check tree in a week, you may have to rewash only a section. Re-apply oil to the whole tree again.

I give my trees about 6 baths annually, because happy trees are clean trees.

Wishing you the best success in your citrus growing!

Nancy

How would you feel if I was in charge of your care, but I simply failed to feed you?
How long would you expect to survive? Yet this is what happens in many cases with plants that are expected to produce.

If you starve a tree, it will starve you.
If you feed a tree, it will feed you.

Citrus are heavy nitrogen feeders and nitrogen leaches out the fastest of all nutrients.
It is important to have a good fertilizing schedule, due to the leaching of nutrients in sandy soils and the fact that citrus require high nitrogen intake. Trees simply cannot produce fruit if the tree is lacking nitrogen. When watering your Citrus many nutrients are lost. So FEED FEED FEED your trees!

RECOMMENDED FERTILIZERS

Notice: Avocado Trees: adjust use of DynaGro to once per month.

• ☼ Osmocote Flower and Vegetable Smart-Release Plant Food: twice a year.
• ☼ Espoma Citrus Tone for Citrus and Avocado:  every 30 days (approx. 3 tsps. for a 15" pot)
  OR
  ☼ Miracle-Gro Miracid, Acid-Loving Plant Food 30-10-10: every 2 weeks to 30 days. (DO NOT USE IF YOU'RE USING ESPOMA)
• ☼ Fertilome Concentrate Fish Emulsion Fertilizer
• ☼ Dyna-Gro DYFOL008 Foliage Pro
• ☼ Miracle-Gro Cactus Palm and Citrus Potting Mix

If you have just received your tree, then I suggest you not re-pot your tree until you have waited at least 2 weeks to insure the tree is not in shock. Re-potting is the worst thing you can do to a tree that is under stress. If your tree is having issues, DO NOT RE-POT!
Many people make this mistake thinking they will fix a problem and end up making it worse.
Use Miracle-Gro Cactus Palm and Citrus Potting Mix, when you’re ready to re-pot.

FERTILIZING SCHEDULE

Notice: Avocado Trees: adjust use of DynaGro to once per month.

February (beginning of the fertilizing year)

• Osmocote

March through October

• Week 1:  Espoma OR Miracle-Gro, Spray Dyna-Gro on Foliage
• Week 2:  Spray Dyna-Gro on Foliage
• Week 3:  Fish Emulsion, Spray Dyna-Gro on Foliage
• Week 4:  Spray Dyna-Gro on Foliage

November

• Osmocote

December and January are rest period for trees planted in the ground, if tree is inside you can continue to feed.

Foliar feeding is important and Dyna-Gro has 16 of the minerals essential for optimum plant growth. Using Dyna-Gro gives plants the nutrition they need. Plants take up the complete nutrient formula and foliar applications have greater mineral uptake than regular soil fertilizing.

Foliar Application: Mix a quarter to half tsp. per gallon of water and spray directly on leaves. It is important that this is done only in the morning and sprayed on underside of leaves as well, use a biodegradable wetting agent to maximize adhesion to the leaf surface, so the nutrients don't just roll off the leaves.

If you have any questions about fertilizing, you can reply to this blog with a comment or call us at 866-216-TREE (8733).

Wishing you great success in your citrus growing!
Nancy

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Citrus like sun! At least six hours of full sun per day is required. For best productivity provide 8 or more hours of full sun per day.

Of course, the sun is much hotter in some areas than in others, so the overall intensity of the sun will also play a role. As a general rule, sour fruits need less heat to ripen than sweet-fruited varieties. Here are some general guidelines by variety:

• Lemons and limes require the least heat to ripen, making them excellent choices for cool-summer areas.
• The Washington Navel orange has the highest frost tolerance of the sweet oranges. Washington is primarily grown in California's climate zones where there are cool winter nights followed by warm days to pump the sugars into the fruit.
• Grapefruits require intense, prolonged heat to ripen fully. (Heat causes pigmented grapefruits and pummelos to develop their distinctive red colors.) Grapefruit-pummelo hybrids like Oro Blanco are better suited to more moderate areas, sweetening in the San Francisco Bay Area and other coastal climates.
• Tangerines and kumquats require high heat for best flavor. Kumquats are among the most frost tolerant of all citrus.
• Keep in mind that all citrus fruits only ripen on the tree. Ripeness is best judged by sampling flavor, though rind color and time of year can also be good indicators.

By far, the Meyer Lemon is the most popular. Like all the lemons, it is easy to grow, prolific and does not need a lot of heat to ripen the fruit. The Meyer is slightly sweeter than the classic commercial varieties (Eureka). Its soft skin develops an orange hue when fruit is fully ripe, and its distinctive, mystical flavor combines lemon with a hint of tangerine. The Meyer lemon can be very productive, even indoors, and does not need a lot of heat to ripen the fruit.

Kaffir Lime leaves are used extensively in Thai and Cambodian cooking, and zest of the fruit is an ingredient in some curry paste recipes. Keep your Kaffir lime tree close at hand in a sunny window and you'll be able to create authentic recipes year-round.

Calamondin (Kalamansi) is a diminutive tree originating in the Philippines. It's ornamental form, fragrant blooms and small tart orange-colored fruits have made it a favorite for centuries. The sour juice of ripe fruits can be used in salad dressings and other recipes.