Citrus compost & feed?

[smallblueplanet]

Just bought a diddy-sized lemon tree from Lidl.

What is different about citrus compost compared to multi-purpose. What is the nutrient balance of citrus feed? Ta.

[SarzWix]

2 different answers here, the first is a citrus enthusiast's web page;

FAQ: What type of compost should I use to repot my citrus tree in?
Answer: We recommend John Innes No3, but you will need to add bark chippings/perlight/grit to help aid drainage. You may also require a small amount of garden lime to increase the pH to 6.5.

The second is Westland's description of their Citrus compost;

A specially developed Citrus Compost that provides ideal conditions for citrus fruit trees, with added loam to help retain nutrients. The slightly acidic compost is ideal for roots to thrive and ensures a long life full of flowers and fruit.

Uses:
Ideal for the potting or re-potting of oranges, lemons, limes or grapefruit trees.

Feeding:
Feed citrus trees every two weeks with a well-balanced feed such as Westland Feed-all Soluble Plant Food as soon as active growth starts in the spring, through until the end of September. Alternatively, use Feed All slow release tablets, which will feed your plants slowly over this period.

Sizes:
10L

Nutrient Content & pH:
The compost contains a slow release balanced fertiliser complete with trace elements and has a pH of 5.5- 6.0.

Which compost would be most suitable for growing citrus plants?

You need to use a compost that is slightly acidic for the very best results. The new Citrus Compost also contains added loam, which holds nutrients in the compost and helps to retain moisture too. This special formulation is ideal for growing citrus plants and encourages healthy growth and development.

Not sure if that will help you, or cause more confusion...

[smallblueplanet]

...Not sure if that will help you, or cause more confusion...

Until I re-read it. JI no3 seems to be too acidic for citrus at 5.5-6.0, so add lime to bring it too a less acidic 6.5.

Thanks for the info.

[smallblueplanet]

If citrus like slightly acidic compost can I use ericaceous compost (and feed)?

Lidl Online

Lidl have some cheap.

[Paul Wagland]

Maybe a mix of ericaceous and general purpose? Might be too acid otherwise. Also I think the drainage is really important. I've often read that water-logging will kill citrus much faster than the cold. A good measure of sharp sand is probably the easiest way to do this.

I'm also interested in the nutrient make-up of citrus food - any expert growers out there?!

[smallblueplanet]

This site compares nutrient ratios in 'specialist feeds'. Looking at them all I can't see a common amount, they're all different? Maybe so long as they're regularly fed?

citrus fertilisers

[momol]

Manda, here is a link about citrus :Home Citrus Growers full index

.

[smallblueplanet]

Lol! thats the homepage of the link I just posted momol!

[momol]

Oops, sorry, didn't know it is the same, I kept this link for years now, back them we were hunting for citrus ( got around 15 or 16 types) .

[smallblueplanet]

You've got 15 or 16 citrus trees?

[momol]

They were all on dwarf root stock. Back then was in Singapore and my hubbie love citrus plant . We give them all away when moved back to Europe . I misses them !!!
My custard apple and all the other plant .

[redadmiral]

i believe citrus just generally needs more nitrogen than is found in other feeds. i imagine any specialist citrus feed will be beneficial. i bought feed for my lemon tree from the citrus centre: CITRUS FERTILIZER as it says it promotes bushiness which is definitely what my tree needs!

[smallblueplanet]

Thanks redamiral, I was trying to save money rather than over-spend on specialist branded citrus stuff. I shall just use a nitrogen rich feed and see how it goes. Also will probably try some eracacious compost (unless its full of peat, then I'll use multi-p) cut with some sand & perlite.

Awww thats a shame momol - I think you should buy some more.

[redadmiral]

good plan! i think you'll be fine with that. i grew a lemon tree from seed, so its at least 10 years old now, and it was only last summer that i started to notice it had visible signs of nitrogen deficiency -- i hadn't fed it at all for it's whole life! Doh. so now of course i need to repair the damage.
however, as mine did very well without it for so long, i reckon something with an extra kick of nitrogen should be fine.
i think i also read citrus can be prone to iron deficiency.

[Furkin]

i believe citrus just generally needs more nitrogen than is found in other feeds. i imagine any specialist citrus feed will be beneficial. i bought feed for my lemon tree from the citrus centre: CITRUS FERTILIZER as it says it promotes bushiness which is definitely what my tree needs!

Hi all,
As a newcomer (see Introduce Yourself) to this forum I thought I’d throw in my two-penorth.

Most young citrus trees need different feeds for the summer to the winter. The winter feed does - as redadmiral says - helps to feed the foliage,,,,, but then you need the summer feed, to promote the actual fruiting.
Though the fertiliser mentioned is probably great for the winter, personally I wouldn't use it in the summer.

I started with a couple of citrus about 3 years ago.
Some specialist swear that the only way to get good fruit is to keep the soil moist at all times,,,,, but another specialist states that keeping soil moist is bad & that it's better to run almost dry then almost drown them !

I bought my first 'Orange' tree from a well known & respected supplier in Cornwall.
After just a few weeks it started to wane . When I looked better at it, apart from finding out that it wasn't an actual 'orange' tree but a calamondin ! I found that it was just 4 twigs stuck into the soil ! After 6 ignored e-mails I gave up !

My first lemon tree has flowered for 3 years but wouldn’t keep the fruit on the tree,,,, until last year. I have 3 great lemons still on the tree, still growing & ripening.
I have a tangerine tree that has over a dozen fruits also still growing & ripening. I’m hoping that this years weather will make things go a lot quicker.

I’ve just sprouted some Clementine pips (you know clementines ? The ones without pips ???) So am keeping my fingers crossed for these.

I currently use a standard separate ‘Winter’ & ‘Summer’ feed for my stuff.
I also have fig, nectarine, olive, kiwi, hazel nut, cherry plum trees etc. All quite young,,,, but am expecting a lot this year ! oooooops - did I speak to early ?

Good luck to you all