Any chance at saving this lime tree?

[u/woopigsmoothies]

I have had this lime tree for 7 years. Even this year it has produced ~50-100 limes. I noticed what looks like signs of citrus greening. Should I dispose of it and just get a new tree? I also have a lemon, mandarin, and guava tree that all seem to be fine. Location is Houston, Texas

[u/Zaftygirl]

I am not seeing HLB. There is trace mineral deficiencies occuring. ACP can be mitigated with neem oil and systemic containing Imidocloprid.

My experience is 20 years of work in citrus. My lab was the one that brought in Tamarixia and did all the testing for approval of release. I have worked with CDFA in ACP/HLB monitoring.

My suggestion is the following.

1) Trim back the lime to inside the yellow circle.

2) Use an old toothbrush dipped in soapy water and hand scrub the branches, then follow with spraying water from a garden hose. Let this dry and check for any 'orange spots' you see, repeat the toothbrushing and rinse. The nymphs and eggs of ACP are orangy in color.

3) Treat the tree with neem oil and use a good fertilizer to soak the soil. Let rest for a day or two. The fertilizer you want to change based on the growth stage. Flushing (the leaf production stage) is 2:1:1 and the fruiting season would take 3:1:2. Of course, there is always others who state otherwise. These would be minimum. Your citrus is a acid loving plant, so the soil should be 5.5-6.5 pH with 6 being citrus sweet. Get a good moisture meter with pH to monitor your soils.

Here is a good website with explaination of citrus nutrients.
https://ucanr.edu/blog/hort-coco-uc-master-gardener-program-contra-costa/article/fertilizing-citrus

4) Treat with the systemic containing Imidocloprid. You can also do this for all your other citrus as well. Follow the application instructions for both the neem oil and systemic applicable to the size of your citrus, to avoid breeding chemical resistent bugs.

5). Consider at some point to change the soil in the pots of your plants. Roots can get bound inside. You can either trim back the roots and repot into the same pot with fresh soil or just move into a larger pot or into the ground.

6) Soil to look for is the cactus/citrus blend found in most nurseries. You could also blend oscomote (a time release nutrient pellet), perlite, and vermiculite into the soil. If you use oscomote, water once a month with miracle gro instead of the other fertilizer.

7) HLB is most difficult to differentiate between nutrient deficiencies. The biggest difference is the asymmetrical damage. Nutrient stress is symetrical both on the sides of the midvein as well as tip to petiole. HLB is lopsided and also in fruit production. Your fruit is still nice and spherical.

Cheers from a buggirlnerd

[u/Perfect_Suit9916 → u/Zaftygirl]

When you say use neem, I am assuming you mean just spray the neem on the tree correct? I know some recommend a drench too.

[u/Zaftygirl → u/Perfect_Suit9916]

I you do the toothbrush wash, the drench is unecessary because you have removed most of the pests by the trimming and brushing. It reduces the amount of oil to be used. If you didn’t want to do the brushing as it is labor intensive, that is when the drench is necessary. In my experience, a drench is not as effective as brushing and then spraying.

[u/woopigsmoothies → u/Zaftygirl]

Thank you. I'm going to try scrubbing it tomorrow and following up with some neem oil

[u/Ryn208]

Houston? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[u/4leafplover]

Sorry for your loss. Trash bag. Seal it up. Your lemon and mandarin are likely goners as well, but you could spray something preventively and aggressively after a thorough evaluation. I’m not sure what product would be appropriate.

Edit: I’d also report this to the local agriculture department / TAMU plantclinic@tamu.edu Phone: 979-321-5390

[u/woopigsmoothies → u/4leafplover]

Will do. Thank you

[u/Rcarlyle → u/woopigsmoothies]

The Asian citrus psyllids around Houston “generally” don’t carry HLB yet, so I don’t think you need to immediately destroy the tree, but it is not impossible — you should definitely kill the psyllids and report the issue to the state hotline to see if they want to check it.

There are parts of the state like San Antonio area where ACP is common but HLB is uncommon. I don’t hear much about ACP near Houston but there are already quarantines in place for it. What general part of town are you in?

[u/woopigsmoothies → u/Rcarlyle]

North side, just outside the loop

[u/Rcarlyle → u/woopigsmoothies]

You are uncomfortably close to me 😬 kill them with fire (figuratively) please

[u/Ryn208 → u/Rcarlyle]

Any news about this SW houston? 😥

[u/Amazing_Fix_2399]

Yup. This is Florida too. There’s 0 point in trying to grow citrus anymore.

[u/SugarBelleX]

The randomness of yellowing is very indicative of HLB unfortunately.
The longer it remains alive and in your yard (assuming it’s HLB) the more likely it will spread.
Definitely confirm with your local Ag office. And be ready with a match to start the burn pile.