Citrus limon syn. Citrus x limonia

HELP!? What is this crystalline substance on the back of some lemon leaves? Should I remove or let it be?

#advice #advice-needed

@ankur1406 Ankur have you ever seen this on your lemon tree? @chloejane ?

@sushiwaitress no, I never seen

Here's a thought.. https://www.gardening-forums.com/threads/what-are-these-crystal-like-thingy-on-my-plant.17625/

Hmmm. It kind of looks a bit like the forum thread you suggested @lesliecole49, but according to mr google it could also be woolly aphids. I really don’t know what to think, but I removed the affected leaves to be on the safe side. Let’s hope no more will appear. Thanks @sushiwaitress @ankur1406 and @lesliecole49

They just don't look like a wooly aphids to me. I have host trees for them so I see them often. Not saying these aren't, wooly aphids are known to infest citrus trees. I use neem oil for all the pests I find. Good luck, nasty little bugs! When the woollys are in our trees, they poop honeydew of course this lands on anything below the trees and that turns into sooty mold. It's not unusual around here to see a vehicle going down the toad covered in mold. Car washes do good business around here!

I agree that it doesn’t look exactly like woolly aphids, but it might be due to all that wet stuff. I did notice quite a few hoverfly larvae nearby, so it seems to be something they are interested in, at least. I’m keeping a close eye on that lemon tree now, and it doesn’t look like there are any more leaves developing anything — so far, so good, right? Fingers crossed 🤞 @lesliecole49

I concur!

After some trial and a lot of error, I finally manage to keep the greenhouse frost free. But there were quite a few freezing nights that obviously were tough on my citrus. Now there is splitting along the trunk, but I still have hope. Maybe I’m a dreamer, but at this point I need something to believe in.

Oh no!😨 I hope they survive!

Thanks @kaigia. I am worried, but all I can do now is wait and hope for the best. Luckily, this kind of cold is almost unheard of around here, so next year will probably be better.

😣 keeping fingers crossed 🤞🏼 that it will be ok and it’s not too badly damaged

Hopefully it’ll self heal.

I hope so too, @gjones.

She doesn’t look happy, but the inner branches look normal. Hopefully she will be fine after some pruning in spring.

Fingers crossed. These leaves will probably drop but maybe she’ll send out lots of new growth in spring😊

I wonder what will happen to my lemons during winter. I’m pretty sure the tree will survive, but I must admit I worry just a little.

When will they be ready to pick, Mona? I’m sure they’ll be fine if the tree is ok. 🤞😘

Your lemon tree is doing great! I would think it should be fine in your enclosed greenhouse. Looks like the lemons will be ready to pick soon😊

That big lemon is slowly turning yellow now, but the smaller ones are bright green so I don’t expect them to be ready until spring - if they are still hanging on. I think if I control the moisture, the tree should cope with quite a bit of cold. Air temperature in the greenhouse will go below zero, but I doubt the soil will freeze. @gjones @jacaranda

I hope it does well over the winter months. From what I’ve read, some varieties of lemon trees can survive a bit of frost but unripened fruit will probably not survive.

This weekend we finally got to celebrate my birthday, and this lemon tree was one of my presents. Lucky me! I wonder how I know when it is time to pick those two yellow fruits?

Happy birthday to you! Keep us posted on the fruit!

Happy birthday! What a great gift😍

Thank you @cyndi, that was a really useful link! You seem to have information on just about anything! I will be trying one of the lemons soon, so exciting! There is also a green one and some tiny beginnings of fruit as well, so hopefully I won't mess this up - imagine having my own (small) supply of homegrown lemons, that would be such a luxury!

Thank you @columbiariver and @gjones. I have always wanted a lemon tree, but I had decided it was too extravagant to just go out and buy one. I do have a citrus that I started from seed about 15 years ago. That tree looks great, but chances of fruit probably aren't great, as I used a clementine (I think) from the supermarket, and I'm sure they are accustomed to a lot more light and warmth than I can give.

This will be such a treat for you then. It's nice to get a good nursery grown one. It will be stronger.

Thanks @cyndi. One more tree is always good. While forest areas are disappearing everywhere, here in my garden it is all about reforestation -- for wildlife and against wind!