What to do if the leaves of the plant become sticky? (Shchitovka). Why do indoor lemons have sticky leaves? Indoor lemons have sticky leaves, what to do?

It is especially popular among amateur gardeners, but in order to grow a beautiful and healthy plant, you will have to spend a lot of effort. Thus, indoor lemon is very often attacked by various pests, as a result of which the plant suffers serious damage, and sometimes even dies.

Today we will talk about what to do if the leaves of the indoor plant suddenly become sticky, as if poured with sugar syrup, what could this condition indicate and what could cause it?

When there's nothing to worry about

The leaves of indoor lemon can be coated with sugar syrup if the plant is watered frequently and very generously. Sticky coating in in this case– a completely natural reaction of lemon to excess moisture. In its homeland, lemon attracts ants in this way, collecting all existing pests from the plant. In order to get rid of such plaque, it is enough to simply normalize the amount of moisture entering the lemon.

Scale insect invasion

Scale insects are one of the most insidious pests of lemons, which can sometimes be very difficult to see with the naked eye. The first sign that a scale insect has settled on an indoor lemon is the presence of transparent leaves on the leaves of the plant. sticky coating. Gradually, the affected lemon, becoming exhausted, dries up and dies.

To combat this pest, modern chemicals are used, such as Fitoverm and Aktara. When sprayed with these protective agents, the juice of indoor lemon, having absorbed the poison, itself becomes poisonous. By sucking out such juice, the scale insect inevitably dies. After such treatment, it is important to remove the old top layer land and replace it with a new one. As a rule, to achieve the desired result, it is necessary to carry out from three to five treatments, maintaining an interval of two weeks between them. However, it is worth keeping in mind that after such manipulation to save the plant, its fruits will be unsuitable for consumption.

There are other, more harmless methods of dealing with sticky plaque on lemon leaves. So, for example, you can wash the leaves with infusion, to prepare which you need to dissolve 50 g of tobacco in 1 liter of water, mix everything thoroughly and leave for two days. Treatment should be carried out 3-4 times a day.

Tricks of aphids

A small light green insect called aphid, rapidly multiplying, infects the leaves, trunk and shoots of indoor lemon and sucks out all the juices from the plant, as a result of which it dies. Aphids can be detected with the naked eye, as they are clearly visible on the vegetative parts of the plant. After an aphid attack, indoor lemon leaves become sticky, curl and dry out.

To combat this pest, wash the affected areas with a solution every 7 days. laundry soap. Good also helps garlic water, for the preparation of which you need to chop the head and pour it hot water(200 ml), then leave to infuse for 2 days. The affected areas of the plant should be treated with this water every 5 days.

To the great regret of many gardeners, a sticky coating appears on the trunk and leaves of the lemon tree. There are several treatment options for this disease. But to pick up the right way treatment, it is necessary to identify the causes of the appearance of a viscous, unpleasant liquid on the tree.

Causes of sticky coating on lemon leaves

Sometimes indoor citrus plants have drops of viscous liquid on their leaves. They look like they've been sprayed with syrup. One of the reasons is abundant moisture. It is not advisable to water the lemon more than 2 times a week. To make sure that the cause of the disease is hidden in moisture, you need to check the soil; if it is too wet, you should reduce the amount of water.

Cannot be used for irrigation tap water. It contains chlorine, which is harmful to plants. Suitable for plants: thawed, filtered or settled. The water must be left to stand for at least 3 days.

It is necessary to maintain a balance, to ensure that the wood does not dry out or begin to rot from too much water.

Lemon pest damage

On a lemon tree growing in natural conditions, it is normal for sticky moisture to appear on the leaves. Thanks to this, the tree attracts ants, which are orderlies. They rid the plant of other pests.

Signs of infection:

brown dry spots;
sticky coating on a tree trunk.

If treatment is untimely, sooty fungus or black fungus develops - fungal disease aspergillus, which is a causative agent of diseases not only in plants, but also in humans. Affects an organism with reduced immunity.

Most often, scale insects appear on weakened young trees. It is necessary to feed citrus regularly, about 4 times a year. complex fertilizers. The scale insect grows in colonies, gradually increasing its habitat area on the trunk and leaves. Neglecting the growth of pests is unacceptable. Otherwise, as a result of the disease, new shoots will grow deformed and ugly. The appearance will be greatly affected.

You cannot delay treatment, otherwise the lemon tree may die.

When treated with insecticides, the next crop becomes poisonous. It is not recommended to eat lemons.

It is difficult to remove scale insects. On top it is covered with a waxy, dense shell. Spraying with chemicals must be carried out every 3 days until the spots completely disappear. The preparations “Confidor” and “Aktara” are well suited; they are used for spraying and watering.

When processing, it is important to pay attention to the most inaccessible places: the underside of leaves, the root zone.

Spraying with chemicals can be alternated with less aggressive irrigation:

For the solution, you will need to dilute 10 ml of 70% alcohol and 15 ml of laundry soap in 1 liter of water.

How to carry out the procedure:

cover the soil from liquid ingress;
Apply directly to affected areas.

Lemon treatment depending on symptoms

Weak plants are often susceptible to diseases. Therefore, it is important to create a lemon necessary conditions for its development. This proper care And thorough examinations. Already when the first signs of the disease appear, pest control must begin.

White coating on lemon leaves

Signs by which you can quickly identify a pest:

The whitefly is very small, but can be seen. By shaking the plant a little, the insects usually fly off.
Upon careful examination, you will notice white-gray formations that resemble mold.
When an insect is present, the lemon begins to grow slowly. The leaves of the tree curl, then dry out and turn yellow.

More effective method- This is a sweet solution. To prepare, mix one glass of water with two tablespoons of sugar. Spray the plant. In a week, give lemon a shower.

At large quantities Only chemicals will help against midges.

Sticky residue and white lumps

To prevent mealybugs from appearing on the tree, you need to monitor the air humidity. It should be about 80%. It is also necessary to remove spoiled or diseased flowers and leaves. If there is still a mealybug on the lemon, you need to use the following preparations for irrigation: “Intavir”, “Decis”, “Karbofos”. Or you can wash the stems and leaves of the lemon with garlic infusion.

You will need:

5-6 cloves of garlic;
0.5 liters hot water.

Crush the slices, add hot boiled water, leave for 4 hours. Filter and apply to affected areas.

Black plaque on lemon leaves

It is the insects that leave the stickiness. Washing all the leaves one by one with fresh beer will help here. And for spraying you can use a tobacco-soap solution.

Preparation: dissolve 50 grams of laundry soap in 0.5 liters of water. Then pour 50 grams of denatured alcohol into the resulting solution, add 20 grams of 1.5% tobacco extract and add 0.5 liters of water to the resulting mixture. The resulting solution is sprayed onto the lemon.

Brown plaque

Most likely it is a spider mite. This pest is difficult to detect. It settles on the back side of the leaves. Its color gives it away - brown with a yellowish tint. First of all, the insect harms young leaves, which are covered with cobwebs, under which the pest lives. An infusion of yarrow will help get rid of it.

Preparation: Brew 80-100 grams of yarrow herb with boiling water, after half an hour add to 1 liter and leave for 2 days. Spray with infusion 3 times a day, 1 time per week.

Prevention measures

It is imperative to carry out preventive measures to increase the plant’s immunity. When growing lemon for decorative purposes, you can use proven recommendations to enhance growth and prevent chlorosis.

Chlorosis is a violation of the formation of chlorophyll in leaves. With this disease, lemon leaves turn yellow and fall off.

For the solution you will need:

10 liters of water;
1 tablespoon of potassium sulfate;
3 grams of iron sulfate;
5 ml boric acid;
15 grams of ammonium nitrate.

Dissolve all ingredients in water. Water with the solution once every 5 months. The mixture gently stimulates healthy growth, has an antifungal effect, and is a mineral fertilizer.

It is necessary to provide the lemon tree with proper care, carry out timely recovery and then the plant will delight beautiful view, incredible aroma and harvest.

Lemon, like other indoor plants, is subject to various diseases and pest attacks. Sticky leaves are a fairly common problem that occurs for several reasons.

That is why, before treating a tree, it is necessary to establish the factor that caused such a state of green mass, and only then resort to appropriate measures.

If sticky spots appear on the lemon leaves, you need to carefully examine the plant. Often, incorrect agricultural practices are to blame for such a situation, but the cause may also be infestation by insect pests.

A sticky coating on lemon leaves is always a consequence of one of three negative factors:

Long-term excessive watering;
Defeat by scale insects;
Aphid infestation.

In order for the green mass of lemon to withstand the appearance of sticky spots with minimal losses, it is necessary to choose effective methods treatment.

Excessive watering

Leaves covered with a sticky coating are a completely natural reaction of a tree to excess moisture in the soil. Under natural conditions, such a situation is not uncommon, because this representative of citrus fruits secretes a specific sugar liquid to attract ants.

They, in turn, protect the crop from pests, collecting them from all parts of the plant.

Take a close look at the soil in the pot - are you flooding it?

If the soil is excessively waterlogged and the leaves are sticky and shiny, then the reason lies in improper care.

What to do in this situation:

Normalize watering, moistening the substrate as needed, when the top layer (2-3 cm) dries.
Check quality drainage system(presence of holes for draining excess moisture and a drainage layer) and if it is absent, transplant the plant into another pot with everything necessary.
Use a suitable substrate for citrus fruits with sufficient looseness and water permeability.

If the lemon is heavily flooded, in addition to normalizing watering, it is necessary to completely replace the substrate with fresh one to avoid rotting of the root system.

Defeat by scale insects

The appearance of scale insects on a lemon is a much more serious problem than excessive watering, because in the absence of treatment and treatments the plant dies.

The pest can be present on a recently purchased flower, and then “move” to an indoor lemon, or get onto the tree in other ways.

The presence of scale insects can be determined by the following signs:

On the green mass you can see dry brown spots, brown pimples, as well as a sticky lemon on the trunk (a waste product of the pest).
Colonies of female scale insects (small black, transparent or other colored insects) and males (larger in size, approximately 2-3 mm) are visible on the plant.
The leaves are covered with sooty fungus.
The lemon gradually dries out due to exhaustion.

How to deal with scale insects:

Carry out interval treatment (3-5 times) with insecticide preparations “Aktara”, “Confidor”, “Fitoverm” every 4 days.
Spray all parts of the plant, including hard-to-reach places (internodes, root zone, lower part of the plates and leaf axils).
Chemical control methods can be alternated with effective folk remedies. It is advisable to use tobacco infusion (50 g of tobacco per 1 liter of water, leave for 2 days, spray 4 times every day). Or a soap-alcohol composition (dilute 10 ml of 70% alcohol and 15 ml of soap in 1 liter of water), preventing them from getting into the ground.

Additionally, you can spill the lemon with Aktara solution according to the instructions.

Sticky coating due to aphid infestation

Aphids are small light green insects that feed on plant juices and, if untreated, lead to complete death.

The pest is easy to see with the naked eye, because it settles on all vegetative parts of the lemon tree and provokes the appearance of a sticky coating, curling, and drying out of the plates and entire shoots.

What to do if you are infested with aphids:

Wash the affected parts of the lemon with a solution of laundry soap - pour 300 g with two liters of warm water and let it brew, then add 8 liters of cold water. Treat every 7 days.
Use garlic water - chop 1 head of garlic, add 200 ml of water and leave for 2 days, then use for spraying or wiping infected parts. Process the lemon at intervals of 5 days.
Use a herbal infusion of nettle or wormwood (pour 2 tablespoons of dry collection with a glass of boiling water and leave for 12 hours, strain before use).
Spray with propolis solution (5 tablespoons pharmaceutical product dilute with 20 tablespoons of boiled water).

If folk remedies do not help get rid of aphids, it is advisable to use chemical insecticides (“Aktofit”, “Aktellik”, “Fitoverm”). The spray solution must be prepared according to the instructions on the package.

Prevention of sticky plaque: what to do to protect lemon?

Mineral fasting – common reason depletion of the lemon, which, as a result of reduced immunity, is attacked by pests and becomes covered with sticky spots.

As an effective preventative measure it is recommended to introduce complex mineral supplements for citrus fruits on a regular basis.

The composition of the following components also shows good effectiveness:

Ammonium nitrate (10-15 g);
Iron sulfate (3 g);
Boric acid (5 ml);
Potassium sulfate (1 tbsp.)

The mixture is diluted with 10 liters of water and applied once every 4-5 months. In addition to enriching the soil with mineral components, the solution has an antifungal and growth-stimulating effect.

If a sticky coating appears on lemon leaves, you should not delay treatment - the sooner you start treating, the faster tree will recover and begin to grow.

Lemon, like other indoor plants, is subject to various diseases and attacks by pests. Sticky leaves are a fairly common problem that occurs for several reasons.

That is why, before treating a tree, it is necessary to establish the factor that caused such a state of green mass, and only then resort to appropriate measures.

Why lemon leaves are sticky: establishing the reasons

A sticky coating on lemon leaves is always a consequence of one of three negative factors:

Long-term excessive watering;
Defeat by scale insects;
Aphid infestation.

In order for the green mass of lemon to withstand the appearance of sticky spots with minimal losses, it is necessary to choose effective treatment methods.

Excessive watering

They, in turn, protect the crop from pests, collecting them from all parts of the plant.

Take a close look at the soil in the pot - are you flooding it?

If the soil is excessively waterlogged and the leaves are sticky and shiny, then the reason lies in improper care.

What to do in this situation:

Normalize watering, moistening the substrate as needed, when the top layer (2-3 cm) dries.
Check the quality of the drainage system (the presence of holes for removing excess moisture and a drainage layer) and if it is missing, transplant the plant into another pot with everything necessary.
Use a suitable substrate for citrus fruits with sufficient looseness and water permeability.

If the lemon is heavily flooded, in addition to normalizing watering, it is necessary to completely replace the substrate with fresh one to avoid rotting of the root system.

Defeat by scale insects

The appearance of scale insects on a lemon is a much more serious problem than excessive watering, because in the absence of treatment and treatments the plant dies.

The pest can be present on a recently purchased flower, and then “move” to an indoor lemon, or get onto the tree in other ways.

The presence of scale insects can be determined by the following signs:

On the green mass you can see dry brown spots, brown pimples, as well as a sticky lemon on the trunk (a waste product of the pest).
Colonies of female scale insects (small black, transparent or other colored insects) and males (larger in size, approximately 2-3 mm) are visible on the plant.
The leaves are covered with sooty fungus.
The lemon gradually dries out due to exhaustion.

How to deal with scale insects:

Carry out interval treatment (3-5 times) with insecticide preparations “Aktara”, “Confidor”, “Fitoverm” every 4 days.
Spray all parts of the plant, including hard-to-reach places (internodes, root zone, lower part of the plates and leaf axils).
Chemical control methods can be alternated with effective folk remedies. It is advisable to use tobacco infusion (50 g of tobacco per 1 liter of water, leave for 2 days, spray 4 times every day). Or a soap-alcohol composition (dilute 10 ml of 70% alcohol and 15 ml of soap in 1 liter of water), preventing them from getting into the ground.

Additionally, you can spill the lemon with Aktara solution according to the instructions.

Sticky coating due to aphid infestation

Aphids are small light green insects that feed on plant juices and, if untreated, lead to complete death.

What to do if you are infested with aphids:

Wash the affected parts of the lemon with a solution of laundry soap - pour 300 g with two liters of warm water and let it brew, then add 8 liters of cold water. Treat every 7 days.
Use garlic water - chop 1 head of garlic, add 200 ml of water and leave for 2 days, then use for spraying or wiping infected parts. Process the lemon at intervals of 5 days.
Use a herbal infusion of nettle or wormwood (pour 2 tablespoons of dry collection with a glass of boiling water and leave for 12 hours, strain before use).
Spray with propolis solution (5 tablespoons of pharmaceutical product diluted with 20 tablespoons of boiled water).

Prevention of sticky plaque: what to do to protect lemon?

Mineral starvation is a common cause of lemon depletion, which, as a result of reduced immunity, is attacked by pests and becomes covered with sticky spots.

As an effective preventive measure, it is recommended to apply complex mineral fertilizers for citrus fruits on a regular basis.

The composition of the following components also shows good effectiveness:

Ammonium nitrate (10-15 g);
Iron sulfate (3 g);
Boric acid (5 ml);
Potassium sulfate (1 tbsp.)

If a sticky coating appears on lemon leaves, you should not delay treatment - the sooner you start treatment, the faster the tree will recover and begin to grow.

Why does a sticky coating appear on lemon leaves?

To the great regret of many gardeners, a sticky coating appears on the trunk and leaves of the lemon tree. There are several treatment options for this disease. But in order to choose the right method of treatment, it is necessary to identify the causes of the appearance of a viscous, unpleasant liquid on the tree.

Causes of sticky coating on lemon leaves

Tap water should not be used for irrigation. It contains chlorine, which is harmful to plants. Suitable for plants: thawed, filtered or settled. The water must be left to stand for at least 3 days.

It is necessary to maintain a balance, to ensure that the wood does not dry out or begin to rot from too much water.

Lemon pest damage

On a lemon tree growing in natural conditions, it is normal for sticky moisture to appear on the leaves. Thanks to this, the tree attracts ants, which are orderlies. They rid the plant of other pests.

Signs of infection:

brown dry spots;
sticky coating on a tree trunk.

If not treated in a timely manner, sooty fungus or black fungus develops - a fungal disease aspergillus, which is the causative agent of diseases not only in plants, but also in people. Affects an organism with reduced immunity.

Most often, scale insects appear on weakened young trees. It is necessary to regularly, about 4 times a year, feed citrus with complex fertilizers. The scale insect grows in colonies, gradually increasing its habitat area on the trunk and leaves. Neglecting the growth of pests is unacceptable. Otherwise, as a result of the disease, new shoots will grow deformed and ugly. The appearance will be greatly affected.

You cannot delay treatment, otherwise the lemon tree may die.

When treated with insecticides, the next crop becomes poisonous. It is not recommended to eat lemons.

When processing, it is important to pay attention to the most inaccessible places: the underside of leaves, the root zone.

Spraying with chemicals can be alternated with less aggressive irrigation:

For the solution, you will need to dilute 10 ml of 70% alcohol and 15 ml of laundry soap in 1 liter of water.

How to carry out the procedure:

cover the soil from liquid ingress;
Apply directly to affected areas.

Lemon treatment depending on symptoms

Weak plants are often susceptible to diseases. Therefore, it is important to create the lemon the necessary conditions for its development. This means proper care and thorough examinations. Already when the first signs of the disease appear, pest control must begin.

White coating on lemon leaves

Signs by which you can quickly identify a pest:

The whitefly is very small, but can be seen. By shaking the plant a little, the insects usually fly off.
Upon careful examination, you will notice white-gray formations that resemble mold.
When an insect is present, the lemon begins to grow slowly. The leaves of the tree curl, then dry out and turn yellow.

Another effective method is a sweet solution. To prepare, mix one glass of water with two tablespoons of sugar. Spray the plant. In a week, give lemon a shower.

With a large number of midges, only chemicals will help.

Sticky residue and white lumps

You will need:

5-6 cloves of garlic;
0.5 liters of hot water.

Crush the slices, add hot boiled water, leave for 4 hours. Filter and apply to affected areas.

Black plaque on lemon leaves

It is the insects that leave the stickiness. Washing all the leaves one by one with fresh beer will help here. And for spraying you can use a tobacco-soap solution.

Brown plaque

Preparation: Brew 80-100 grams of yarrow herb with boiling water, after half an hour add to 1 liter and leave for 2 days. Spray with infusion 3 times a day, 1 time per week.

Prevention measures

Chlorosis is a violation of the formation of chlorophyll in leaves. With this disease, lemon leaves turn yellow and fall off.

For the solution you will need:

10 liters of water;
1 tablespoon of potassium sulfate;
3 grams of iron sulfate;
5 ml boric acid;
15 grams of ammonium nitrate.

Dissolve all ingredients in water. Water with the solution once every 5 months. The mixture gently stimulates healthy growth, has an antifungal effect, and is a mineral fertilizer.

It is necessary to provide the lemon tree with proper care, carry out timely recovery, and then the plant will delight with its beautiful appearance, incredible aroma and harvest.

Homemade lemon has sticky leaves and a white coating on them. Why does this problem occur and how to treat the plant?

Lemon is a plant whose fruits are beneficial for the immune system. To grow this tropical tree, you need to provide all the necessary conditions as close as possible to the conditions of its homeland.

Need to find the right approach in caring for lemons, as well as studying diseases that are dangerous for them.

In this article we will look at the causes of plaque, its elimination and prevention.

The causes of the problem and how to get rid of it?

It is worth separating the sticky and white coating. The causes of such growths are usually excessive watering or pests. Next, we will consider in detail why this or that type of plaque occurs.

Why are the leaves of a houseplant sticky?

The sticky coating that appears on the bark and leaves of the lemon tree is a great nuisance for the gardener. Transparent, consistency similar to sprayed syrup. There are several ways to eliminate liquid, and to determine the most suitable one, you should first find out the cause of the sticky layer.

From excessive watering

Pests are not always the culprit for the appearance of a sticky coating on indoor lemons. Such a nuisance can arise due to excessive watering, which will eventually lead to rotting of the plant.

From pests

Shchitovka

Often the cause of sticky leaves on homemade lemons is scale insects. Signs indicating damage by a dangerous pest:

a sticky coating appears on the leaves or trunk;
brown dry spots may appear;
the plant dries out.

Traditional methods (recipes).

harmful insects

folk methods

Soap solution. Mix 5 g of green soap with 2 g of anabasine sulfate in 1 liter of warm water. Wash the affected plants with the prepared solution. After 24 hours, rinse with clean water. Carry out this treatment once a week for a month.
Tobacco infusion. Add 50 g of tobacco to 1 liter of water, stir, let it brew for two days. Spray the prepared solution onto the tree 4 times a day.
Soap-kerosene emulsion. Add 10 g of kerosene and 5 g of soap to 1 liter of water. Spray the plant 1-2 times a week.

Chemicals. Many people start a lemon tree as a decoration element. In this case, to exterminate scale insects, you can purchase drugs such as:

The cause of the appearance of a sticky layer on lemon leaves may be aphids. She can get into the house through open windows and doors from a tree or flower bed growing nearby, and can also switch to a lemon from another house plant or a bouquet of flowers. Aphids infect the entire plant, sucking out all the juices, as a result of which the lemon quickly dies.

On early stages infection, it is very difficult to see the insect, but you can identify a dangerous pest by curled, dried leaves with spots.

If these symptoms are detected, it is necessary to immediately take measures to destroy the aphids:

Traditional methods (recipes).

Laundry soap solution. Treat the lemon tree with this solution for a week.
Garlic water. Pour boiling water (200ml) over 1 chopped head of garlic. Let the solution brew for 2 days. Treat the tree with infusion once every 5 days.
Nettle decoction. Infuse 2 tablespoons of dry collection in a glass of boiling water for 12 hours. Strain the resulting solution and treat the damaged leaves with it.

Chemicals. Decorative lemon can be treated with such chemicals as:

Process several times with breaks a week.

White stains: causes and treatment

This coating looks like a piece of cotton wool and can be transparent and slightly sugary.

From pests

White plaque can only appear from pests, namely scale insects. Improper care, contaminated soil or seedlings - all this can cause the appearance of such a dangerous pest on the tree as mealybug.

It sucks juices from the entire plant, which leads to diseases and even its death. You can resort to the following traditional methods of treatment:

Traditional methods (recipes).

Infusion of garlic with soap. Pour a few cloves of garlic into 0.5 liters of hot boiled water. Let it brew for 4 hours. Strain, then apply lemon to the affected areas.
Soap and tobacco solution. Dissolve 50 g of soap in 500 ml of water, then add 50 g of denatured alcohol and 20 g (1.5%) tobacco extract. Add another 500 ml of water. Treat the diseased tree with the resulting solution.

Chemicals. When a tree is damaged by a scale insect, you can use the following drugs:

Spray several times at weekly intervals.

Prevention

Regular inspection of the plant and temporary prevention of possible diseases can prevent dire consequences.

It is necessary to periodically remove all dried leaves from the plant.. It is also important to monitor temperature and water conditions. The plant needs to be washed several times a month. On pure plants Pests appear much less frequently. You can wipe the lemon with soapy water, which will prevent the appearance of various pests.

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What to do if your lemon leaves are sticky

The sticky coating that appears on the bark and leaves of the lemon tree is a big nuisance for the gardener. There are several ways to rid a plant of liquid, and to determine the most suitable one, you should first find out the cause of the sticky layer.

Sticky lemon leaves are a big nuisance for a gardener. IN as soon as possible it is necessary to determine the cause of the appearance of sticky plaque and eliminate it

Causes of sticky plaque

Sticky residue due to excessive watering

Indoor lemons develop droplets of sticky moisture on the leaves if the plant is watered too much.

The fact is that the norm on lemons that grow in nature is the release of a viscous liquid. With its help, the plant attracts ants, and they rid it of other pests.

Having made sure that the reason is watering, it is worth reducing its supply and maintaining a balance so that the lemon at home does not dry out or begin to rot from excess moisture.

Lemon pest damage

The scale insect most often appears on weakened trees. It is advisable to regularly feed the growing lemon with complex fertilizers, once every 4-5 months.

It is unacceptable to ignore the appearance of insects, since new shoots as a result of the disease grow deformed and suffer appearance. If you do not start saving the plant in time, it may die, which is why you should not delay treatment.

It is worth paying attention to the fact that insecticides, absorbed through the roots and foliage, make the lemon poisonous for some time, so it is not recommended to eat the next harvest.

We fight sticky pests

It should be taken into account that the scale insect is covered with a dense waxy shell and is not immediately amenable to destruction, therefore mechanical cleaning and spraying with chemicals will have to be repeated several times, every 3-4 days, until the spots completely disappear.
When processing, you need to pay attention to the most inaccessible areas, including the underside of the leaf, its axils, internodes and root zone.
Chemical control methods can be alternated with less aggressive options. Mix in proportions: 15 ml of soap, 10 ml of 70% alcohol and 1 liter of water. Hermetically isolate the soil from liquid penetration, apply the solution pointwise to the affected areas of the tree.
If, despite efforts, new spots still appear on the lemon, it is recommended to use the preparations "Aktara" and "Confidor", the dilution method is written on the packaging, both are used for watering and spraying.

If other methods are ineffective to get rid of sticky plaque, you can use the special product “Aktara”

Prevent plant diseases

Measures to increase the immunity and resistance of the plant will help cope with the disease. If you grow lemon solely for decorative purposes, you can resort to proven recommendations to activate growth and prevent chlorosis (an imbalance in the distribution of chlorophyll).

The following components need to be connected:

10–15 grams of ammonium nitrate;
3 grams of iron sulfate;
5 milliliters of boric acid;
1 tablespoon potassium sulfate.

Then dilute in 10 liters of water and water with the mixture no more than once every 4-5 months.

These harmless substances have antifungal properties and are mineral fertilizers and gently stimulate healthy development. As a preventive measure, you can use special fertilizers for citrus plants.

About diseases and pests of indoor lemon

The tropical plant lemon has long been grown in indoor culture. But this matter is quite complicated, since the plant needs to be provided with conditions as close as possible to the conditions of its homeland. We will help you avoid possible diseases and pests, and introduce you to the methods and methods of combating them.

Preventative measures for lemon disease and pest damage

The main measure to prevent lemon diseases is to create familiar conditions for growth and vital activity. Before you start planting indoor lemon, you need to familiarize yourself with the rules for growing it and be prepared to follow them carefully. This capricious plant does not forgive even seemingly insignificant deviations from the rules and reacts to them by deteriorating health. So, let's list the basic important rules:

Maintaining optimal heat and humidity conditions. The plant feels better in the temperature range +15-22 °C, but if you give it rest for winter time, then the temperature should be reduced to +10-12 °C. Lemon also does not tolerate sudden temperature fluctuations. The plant reacts negatively to dry air - its humidity must be maintained at 75-85%. To monitor this parameter, it is better to get a hygrometer. Based on these conditions, you need to follow a number of rules:
- Do not place the plant near heating appliances.
- Moving lemon from room to room, from room to street and vice versa should occur at times when the temperatures are approximately the same. The increase/decrease in temperature should be as smooth as possible.
- To increase the humidity level, use humidifiers or place wide containers of water in the room.
To increase humidity levels, you can use special humidifiers
To fill the pot, it is better to use ready-made soil mixtures for lemons.
To water lemons, it is better to use bottled, melt or rain water.
For lemon it is better to use complex fertilizers
Video: how to feed a lemon
Diseases of lemons indoors
Indoor lemon has a fairly large list of possible diseases. Let's look at the most common ones.
Chlorosis
This disease occurs as a result of stagnation of moisture, acidification of the soil, deficiency of iron and other elements. In this case, there is a decrease in the activity of photosynthesis and the formation of chlorophyll. The first sign is yellowing of the leaves and then their falling off. Then the tops of the shoots may dry out, the roots die, and the leaves become shredded.
When chlorosis turns yellow soft fabrics leaves, and the veins remain green
It is clear that the disease is caused by a violation of care, so first of all you need to eliminate them:
- Get rid of stagnant moisture, dry the soil, and replace it if necessary. Rinse and dry the drainage. You may need to transplant it into another, smaller pot.
- Check soil acidity using litmus paper. If it is high, then the soil should be deoxidized by adding fluff lime or chalk. To do this, take half a tablespoon of powder and dilute it in a glass of warm water, then water the soil in the pot. The acidity of the water flowing from the drainage holes is measured, and if it is still high, the procedure is repeated until the pH level is within 6-6.5 units.
- Replenish iron deficiency by adding preparations containing it in chelated form, such as Ferrofit, Ferrilen, Antichlorosis, Micro-Fe and the like. Or you can simply dissolve 20-40 grams of iron sulfate in one liter of water and feed the plant.
Phyllosticosis
This fungal disease is also called brown spot. A sign of the disease is the formation of brown or dark brown spots on the leaves, round, oval or irregular shape. If treatment is not started, the spots grow and cover the entire surface of the leaf blade, after which the leaves dry out and fall off. Favorable conditions for the development of fungus are dampness and air temperature of +25 °C and above. The source of infection is soil, water, purchased flowers, etc.
When affected by phyllosticosis, brown spots form on the leaves of plants
To cure a plant, you should tear off the affected leaves and treat the crown with fungicides (these are drugs to combat fungal diseases). Popular drugs are Horus, Quadris, Abica-Peak and others. It is better to use them outdoors, but if you still have to use them indoors, then take precautions - prevent the drugs from getting on food or dishes, and ventilate the room after treatment. If the infection is not severe, then it is better to use biological products such as Fitosporin-M, which is absolutely safe for humans, animals and bees. At the same time, it is also a fertilizer, as it contains humic acids.
Anthracnose
This is also a fungal disease that often affects lemons in greenhouses and conservatories. If the room has high humidity and temperature, then indoor lemon may also become infected. Anthracnose can be recognized by the formation of dark brown spots on the leaves, covering the edges. If the infection is severe, the fungus spreads to the shoots and fruits, all leaves dry out, and the above-ground part of the plant dies.
Anthracnose can be recognized by the formation of dark brown spots on the leaves, covering the edges
Prevention and treatment are the same as for other fungal diseases.
Citrus cancer
If dark brown spots with a yellow border, similar to small tumors, have formed on the leaves of the lemon, this means that the plant is infected with the citrus canker virus. To a healthy plant it is not able to cause harm, but if it is weakened by other diseases or poor quality care, then cancer will begin to develop. At the same time, it, starting on the leaves, will subsequently move to the fruits and shoots. We have not yet learned how to fight the disease, so the plant will definitely die. Without expecting this, it is destroyed as quickly as possible so as not to infect healthy lemons and other citrus fruits, if any. Prevention - careful adherence to the rules of lemon care, as well as regular treatments of the crown weak solution potassium permanganate at intervals of 3 months.
If dark brown spots with a yellow border appear on the leaves of the lemon, the plant is infected with the citrus canker virus.
Video: lemon diseases
Pests on lemon
Of course, in room conditions It is more difficult for insects to get to the plant, but there are still ways.
Shchitovka
This is a hemiptera insect with a small (0.5-5 mm) body covered with a dense shield consisting of one or two larval skins and a secretory waxy part. Because of this, scale insects on the plant are sometimes perceived as droplets of wax. Young insects move actively, settling throughout the lemon. In adulthood, scale insects lose the ability to move and stick to the plant. Feeding on its juice, they themselves secrete a sweet liquid, which accumulates on the leaves and shoots, making them sticky. It clogs pores, preventing respiration and photosynthesis. This liquid is also a breeding ground for sooty fungus. If you do not fight the pest, the result will be disastrous - the leaves will curl, dry out and fall off, the plant will weaken and die.
Scale insects on the leaves resemble droplets of wax
Insecticides are used to kill pests. The contact preparation Fitoverm can be used against young larvae, but adult insects are reliably protected from its damaging effects by the shell. Therefore they will be more effective systemic drugs, which penetrate the plant’s vascular system. Pests, feeding on poisoned juice, die. The best of this group for lemon are Aktara and Aktellik. They can not only spray the crown, but also water the soil to enhance the effect. But it should be remembered that Actellik has a strong bad smell, so it can only be used outdoors. In addition, you can use various folk remedies - onion and garlic infusions (they are prepared by keeping chopped vegetables in water for about half a day at the rate of 50 grams per half liter), soap-kerosene solution (per liter of water 40 grams of grated soap and 1 ml kerosene) and others. In the initial stages of insect damage, you can wash off with soapy water using a brush or sponge.
The smallest (0.5-3 mm) insect is widely known to everyone who has a garden, vegetable garden or indoor plants. As a rule, light green aphids can be found on lemons. Its harmful effect is similar to that of the scale insect - the aphid also feeds on the sap of leaves and shoots, secretes a sticky sweet liquid, and curls the leaves. The means and methods of dealing with it are also similar.
Light green aphids are more common on lemons.
Spider mite
This pest has microscopic dimensions (0.2-0.6 mm), and is not easy to see with the naked eye. Therefore, it is usually possible to detect its presence on a lemon only after some part of the leaves is damaged. Settling on the underside of the leaf, these arthropod arachnids pierce the leaf blade and feed on the sap. On the front side of the leaf, yellow spots form around the punctures, which are used to determine the presence of a mite. Subsequently, the leaves curl into irregularly shaped lumps, which the mite entangles in a web, thus equipping a nest.
Very small yellowish dots on the leaves indicate damage by spider mites.
It is small in size (from 3 to 6 mm) and has an oblong body, covered with a powdery, cotton-like white coating. Like the previous pests discussed, it is sucking and feeds on sap from all parts of the plant. A variety of citrus mealybug can also attack lemon roots. It's very easy to get rid of it. Since the bug is afraid of moisture, when it is detected, it is enough to simply bathe the lemon in warm soapy water, thoroughly washing off the insects. Then you should treat the crown with a strong-smelling infusion, for example, tobacco or garlic, to repel new pests.
The mealybug has an oblong body covered with a mealy, cotton-like white coating.
Video: Aktara treatment for pests
Some Frequently Asked Questions About Lemon
It is not always possible to determine the cause of deviations in the development of lemon. Let's answer a few frequently asked questions for diagnosing problems.
Brown spots appeared on the lemon
This indicates infection with fungal diseases - anthracnose or phyllosticosis. In the worst case scenario, it could be citrus canker.
Why does a lemon drop flowers and what to do?
The reasons for this phenomenon may be various violations of lemon agricultural technology:
- Drafts and sudden changes in temperature during flowering.
- Moisture deficiency or excess.
- Inadequate nutrition, deficiency of potassium and phosphorus.
- Too much abundant flowering, the plant sheds excess flowers.
- Moving a blooming lemon to other rooms, turning it 90-180°.
- Pest infestation.
To eliminate the problem, you need to normalize the living conditions, normalize by removing excess flowers (leave one of the largest buds per 10-15 leaves), and get rid of pests.
How can you treat lemon when rolling leaves?
To answer this question, you need to know the causes of the phenomenon. They can be like this:
- Leaves may curl due to lack of water. Maintenance rules must be followed optimal humidity for lemon.
- If there is a lack of fresh air, the leaves can also curl. Therefore, with the onset of warm days, indoor plants should be moved to verandas or under awnings and similar places, protected from drafts and direct rays of the sun.
- If after watering the leaves do not straighten and the situation remains unchanged, this means that the plant is deficient in boron. In this case, you need to make up for the deficiency by adding a 0.2% solution of boric acid (2 g per liter of water).
- If the leaves are not rolled into a tube, but simply bent, then this indicates a copper deficiency. For such symptoms, you need to spray the lemon with a 0.5% solution of copper sulfate.
- And the leaves can curl as a result of damage by aphids or scale insects.
Why do lemon leaves have sticky leaves?
The most common cause is the sweetish secretions of aphids or scale insects. And also, perhaps, with excessive watering, the plant itself releases a sugary liquid.
How to help a lemon recover from illness
When a lemon has been cured of any disease, it will need to restore its strength and immunity. To do this, you should provide it with enhanced nutrition with complex fertilizers (but not overdo it), and also treat/feed it with growth stimulants. The most famous among them:
If a lemon bloomed in the first year after a serious illness, then it is better to remove the flowers in order to preserve its strength to recover.
Growing lemons in an apartment is accessible only to a dedicated and attentive amateur. Only by scrupulously following the rules of agricultural technology can you count on a positive result.

IN natural conditions lemon is a fairly tall tree with a spreading crown, its height reaches 8 meters.

Of course, it would take up a lot of space in an apartment, so they were bred specifically for home floriculture. dwarf varieties. They are neat bushes that give a very good harvest.

If you decide to grow lemon at home, then pay attention to the following varieties.

Meyer, or Chinese dwarf. The most popular variety that does not require special care. Withstands lack of lighting well. The shortest of all known varieties. Meyer is a hybrid of lemon and orange, so lemons have a sweet taste. Fruits can set after 18 months of growth, flowering is abundant.
Pavlovsky. Released to Nizhny Novgorod region. It reaches a height of 1.5 meters, propagates by cuttings and produces a harvest in the third year. From one plant you can get from 10 to 30 thin-skinned, seedless fruits. Flowering occurs twice a year. The tree lives up to 45 years.
Novogruzinsky, or New Athos. Quite a tall tree, reaches 2 m. With large leaves and flowers lilac shade. It bears fruit in the 4th-5th year, lemons weighing up to 120 grams, aromatic and tasty.
Maikopsky. Medium dwarf, lush, with a large number thin branches, produces many tasty fruits.
Ponderosa, or Canadian. Hybrid of lemon and grapefruit. Flowering begins in the second year after rooting. The yield is small, from 3 to 7 pieces, but the fruits are large in size, their weight can reach 1 kg. Unpretentious, does not require additional lighting.
Eureka. Frost-resistant variety, it can be grown on outdoors in mild climates, can withstand temperatures down to -5 degrees. The fruits appear in the second year of growth, large, thick-skinned and tasty. The plant reaches 1-1.5 meters in height.
Genoa. A low-growing bush without thorns. It blooms and bears fruit throughout the year and is resistant to adverse conditions. It has high productivity.

Whatever variety you choose, with proper care, each tree will delight you with its decorative look, lush flowering and yellow or orange lemons.

What to choose – planting seeds or cuttings

Unlike oranges and tangerines, lemon is easy to take cuttings and quickly sprouts from an ordinary seed. How to grow lemon at home - from cuttings or from seeds, which method is better? Let's look at the features and disadvantages of each method.

Seeds

You may not even wait for the first harvest; under favorable conditions, they will bear fruit no earlier than 6-7 years from the moment of planting.
Difficulties with crown formation. The tree should be constantly pruned and monitored for excess branches.
Unlike grafted plants, lemons grown from seeds produce a larger yield.

Cuttings

Propagation by cuttings allows you to grow a stronger and more viable plant.
If the cutting is taken from a fruit-bearing tree, then the probability of getting fruit without additional grafting is very high.
Many varieties are propagated only by cuttings, since their fruits do not have seeds.
Flowering and setting of lemon trees begins much earlier than those grown from seeds. But cuttings should be taken from a mature plant that has bear fruit at least 2 times.

How to grow lemon yourself?

Have you chosen a method for planting lemons? Well, let's get to work.

Soil requirements

Since lemon will grow in a limited space, it is necessary to choose the right soil for planting and make sure that it is saturated with useful substances.

If you are planning to dig up soil in your garden or vegetable garden, then this is a bad idea. Garden soil is too dense and does not have proper drainage, and in general it has an incomprehensible composition and is most likely inhabited by small pests in the form of bugs and worms. But if you insist and understand the soil, then take 3 parts of turf soil and one part each of sand and humus. Sod land take under old deciduous trees, except oak and poplar, cut a layer no deeper than 10 cm.

But it's best to buy from flower shops special mixture for citrus fruits. In extreme cases, a universal substrate will do, but its acidity should be from 5.5 to 6.5 units.

Every 3-4 years the tree needs to be replanted, so throw away the old soil without regret and fill it with fresh new soil.

Lemon roots are small, so there is no need to buy a large pot. For a young plant, it is enough that the height of the container is 20 cm, and the diameter of the upper part is no more than 15 cm.

Pot

There is a great variety of pots and pots in stores. What is best for citrus? Let's figure it out.

Clay. Clay containers have good porosity and are saturated with water. On the one hand, the tree will not suffer from a lack of moisture, but on the other hand, it may rot from its excess. Rapid evaporation through the walls of the vessel cools the lump of earth, and lemons are tropical plants; this is harmful for them. Salts and minerals, the roots are drawn to nutrients and often grow into the clay. When transplanting, the root system is severely damaged. Well, the fragility of the material is of considerable importance. The slightest blow, and you have to look for a new place of residence.
Plastic. Ceramics, of course, are more beautiful than plastic. But plastic is cheap, light and durable. Among the disadvantages, one can note the homogeneous structure, which does not allow excess moisture evaporate through the walls. But the risk of rotting can be reduced by using drainage bedding on the bottom. Lightness of construction - the tree will be less stable than in a heavy clay pot.
Tree. It combines all the advantages of clay and plastic, but fragility and deformation from water are a significant drawback. Usually, a “seasoned” plant that has survived childhood illnesses and a period of growth is transplanted into wooden tubs. In this case, the inner surface is impregnated with special components and lined with film to avoid rotting.

We've sorted out the material, now pay attention to the dimensions. Make sure that the diameter of the top part is approximately equal to the height of the pot. But the bottom should be narrowed. And the more branched the crown, the wider the pot.

Drainage holes are required! Up to 2.5 cm in diameter, and for large capacity better add a couple more.

With each new transplant (every 3-5 years), the pot should grow by two to three centimeters. When the lemon stops growing, it can be left alone, but it is necessary to periodically remove the top layer of “impoverished” soil and add a new nutrient substrate.

You cannot plant a young plant immediately in a large tub, the soil will quickly oxidize and the lemon will hurt.

Disembarkation process

Now let's figure out how to plant a lemon so that it is comfortable and grows quickly. Let's consider two methods: a cutting from an elite variety and an ordinary seed taken from a fruit purchased in a store.

Seeds or pits

There is no need to buy seeds in the store; just take a juicy, ripe fruit and select a few intact seeds.

Now the fun part begins - germination. There are two ways. The first is to poke fresh, just extracted seeds into the ground to a depth of 1-2 centimeters, place them in a bright place without drafts and periodically moisten the ground. Hatching time is up to two weeks.

But since a person is a curious creature, and a woman is doubly so, you will periodically poke around in the pot in search of nascent life, which means you can inadvertently damage the tender shoots. Therefore, let's move on to the second method.

Place the seeds between two layers of cotton wool well moistened with water. You can sometimes satisfy your curiosity by lifting the top layer. As soon as the sprout appears, carefully transfer it to the ground.

You received a cutting from friends who have fruit-bearing lemons. Your actions are as follows.

First, you need to know if you got the right cutting. It should reach 10-15 centimeters in length, up to 5 millimeters thick, have a keratinized layer and 3-4 leaves. It is best to immediately dip a fresh cut in ash to prevent rotting. And if you additionally treat it with a growth stimulator, then rooting will take place quickly and without problems.
Secondly, for successful cuttings it is necessary to create a favorable microclimate of 20-25 degrees and good lighting.
Thirdly, stick the prepared shoots into the soil for citrus plants and spray generously with a spray bottle.

The cuttings will take root very quickly if you provide them with warmth, light and humidity.

Sprout care

Cover sprouts obtained from seeds or unrooted cuttings with transparent plastic cups or glass jars to create a microclimate. Spray young shoots daily and harden them fresh air, temporarily removing the cans.

The seed sprout can be released from the greenhouse nursery when 4 leaves appear. Successful rooting of cuttings is determined by the appearance of new leaves.

Fertilizer and replanting

Young trees practically do not need fertilizing; more mature plants that have reached 3-4 years of age should be additionally fertilized. In the spring-summer period, carry out the procedure once every 3 weeks, and in the cold season - once a month.

You can use folk remedies or buy fertilizers in the store. Use the purchased products according to the instructions.

Young shoots are replanted several times during the year, then replanting depends on the growth of the plant. During the period of active growth - once a year, then every 3-5 years.

The most favorable time is the beginning of spring, when new leaves have not appeared and inflorescences have not formed. You can also replant in the fall before the onset of cold weather.

Tree care

For successful growth and development, lemons need to be provided with good lighting, warmth and humidity. Avoid direct sun rays, they can burn the leaves. It is not recommended to place the pot in a draft.

Watering is moderate, the soil should be slightly moist. Tropical crops love spraying, so shower with a spray bottle more often.

Citrus diseases

When growing citrus trees at home, a number of diseases may occur. Each disease is characterized by certain symptoms and has different effects on plants.

Citrus cancer

Symptoms of the disease appear on the leaves, branches and fruits of plants. At the primary stage of development of citrus canker, small spots form on the underside of the leaves, which eventually spread to other parts of the plant. As a result of the influence of infection, the affected parts begin to darken and die.

Anthracnose

The disease affects all above-ground elements of the plant. Signs in the form of brown spots appear on the leaves, after which they spread to the trunk and fruits. Due to the deepening of the spots, an obstacle is created for the movement of nutritional components. When the ambient temperature is high, cracks appear in plants affected by anthracnose.

Scab (citrus warts)

The development of scab can be detected by the formation of translucent warts on the entire above-ground part of the trees. As the disease develops, the warts become larger, and the affected elements become deformed, lose nutrients and die. Fruits infected with scab fall prematurely and lose their taste characteristics.

Melsecco

Signs of the disease are chlorotic leaves and drying out branches. The development of melsecco leads to complete drying of the tree. The causes of infection are:

irrigation violation;
excess fertilizing;
freezing of shoots;
incorrect agricultural technology.

Gommoz

When growing citrus fruits at home, gommosis affects large roots and bark. A sign of the disease is the release of gum from the trunk, branches and leaves. Severely affected plants begin to shed their leaves.

Gommosis slows down the delivery of nutrients to the shoots, so the lack of control leads to their death.

Late blight

Late blight, a common disease, is characterized by the appearance of dark spots with plaque or mold. Affected citrus fruit elements begin to die, causing the entire plant to die. Over time, the fruits lose their presentation and taste characteristics. Late blight can spread from one plant to another.

Melanosis

Infection of citrus fruits with melanosis leads to the appearance of small brown spots on the fruit and foliage. Due to the effects of the disease, the fruits do not reach their maximum possible size, and their shape is distorted. Old trees are most susceptible to melanosis. Damaged parts of plants must be destroyed.

Mycospherellosis

The fungal disease mycospherellosis causes blistering spots to form on the undersides of leaves. Infection leads to leaf drop and damage to the fruit skin. To control the disease, it is necessary to regularly remove fallen leaves, reducing the source of new spores.

Root rot

The cause of root rot is excessive soil moisture or fungal penetration. The presence of infection can be detected by dark spots on the trunk from which liquid is released. Over time, the bark in damaged areas collapses and peels off.

Tristeza

The impact of tristeza extends to all parts of citrus plantings. The primary symptom of the disease is partial or complete cessation of growth and change in leaf color. Gradually, the leaves and branches begin to die off, and the shoots emanating from the trunk lose their strength. In some cases, tristeza damage to the roots is observed.

Citrus tree pests

In addition to diseases, harmful insects pose a danger to citrus trees. Negative influence pests leads to the following consequences:

tree growth retardation;
death of plant parts;
reduction in harvest.

The main reason for the appearance of insects is improper care. Also the reasons are sharp changes temperature, pronounced aroma of fruits and the presence of plant residues in the soil.

Shchitovka

Small insects attach themselves to the leaves and suck the juice out of them. As a result of the action of the scale insect, the leaves gradually turn yellow, curl and fall off. If you do not start treating the plant in a timely manner, it will stop developing and die. In rare cases, the scale insect damages the fruits, after which they become unfit for consumption.

Spider mite

Due to their small size, it is very difficult to detect mites on citrus fruits. A sign of its appearance is the formation of a thin web with which insects cover fruits and leaves. Pests are able to hide in the soil or in leaf axils.

Greenhouse thrips

The greenhouse variety of thrips is a small pest that lives on ripening fruits and leaves, absorbing nutritional components from them. Blotches and black spots form on the affected parts. Due to the impact of thrips, plant productivity decreases, and the inflorescences become deformed and begin to fall off.

Whitefly

Citrus trees are damaged by adult whiteflies and their larvae. Pests absorb plant juices while on the underside of the foliage. Affected leaves lose strength and fall off. Whitefly larvae excessively absorb sap and secrete liquid, which leads to a deterioration in photosynthesis.

Mealybug

Mealybugs leave a white waxy coating on the surface of the ground parts of trees. Adults also absorb sap from young shoots, which leads to slower growth.

Aphid

The most common pest is aphids, which attack citrus fruits at the time of intensive development of new shoots. The insect sucks out nutrients, slows growth and causes early leaf fall. Settled on indoor plants, aphids carry various infections.

Garden slug

Slugs occur in damp areas and gnaw through fruits and foliage. Insects hide in dense foliage and damp shelters, crawling out to vegetation during the dark period.

Earthworms

The appearance of earthworms is accompanied by liquid sticky secretions that can harm trees. At the same time, insects aerate the earth, providing air flow to the roots. The presence of earthworms near citrus fruits is beneficial, so if you find insects, you should inspect the plantings and their condition more often.

Citrus nematode

The main reason for the development of the citrus nematode is initially contaminated soil and a lack of organic fertilizers.

How to fight if scale insects attack lemons

Especially dangerous pests homemade lemon - scale insects. When they appear on leaves and branches, convex oval plates about 4 mm long are formed. Having chosen for yourself the most suitable place, the larvae of scale insects stick tightly to it, gradually becoming covered with a dark shell, and it is very difficult to see them.

There are several varieties of scale insects: black, patterned, yellow-brown, spotted, round and oval. All varieties cause great harm to the plant. As practice shows, it is not easy to fight them, since the wax shield formed around the scale insect protects it from external influences, including the effects of pesticides. When living on a plant for a long time, the pest manages to multiply and infect neighboring trees.

The first sign of the appearance of this insect is a sticky, transparent coating on the leaves, reminiscent of syrup. Affected trees quickly weaken, become depleted and dry out.

If a scale insect has attacked lemons, you can use modern insecticides to destroy it: “Aktara”, “Aktellik”, “Fitoverm” and others. When watered or sprayed with insecticides, the plant absorbs poison, and its juice becomes poisonous. The scale insect sucks out the poison and dies. After processing the tree, the top layer of soil is replaced with fresh one. Spraying is carried out 3-5 times with an interval of 15 days. The disadvantage of this method of control is that the fruits after processing of citrus will be unsuitable for food.

There is another way to deal with scale insects on lemon. The leaves are washed with soapy water or tobacco infusion (50 g of tobacco dissolved in 1 liter of water). The solution is infused for 2 days. Washing is carried out several times a day.

Good effect gives a soap solution consisting of green soap (5 g) and anabasine sulfate (2 g). These components are mixed in 1 liter of warm water, and the affected plants are washed with the prepared solution. After a day, the solution is washed off with clean water. This treatment is carried out once a week for a month.

Lemon scale is removed using a soap-kerosene emulsion. Add 10 g of kerosene and 5 g of soap to a liter of water. The tree is sprayed 1-2 times a week.

Lemon pests: spider mites and their photos

Spider mites on lemons attack young leaves and immature shoots. Moves with bottom side leaf blade along the veins and feeds on the juice of the leaves, after which they turn yellow and dry out. It is quite difficult to detect a tick with the naked eye, since this pest reaches no more than 1-2 mm. Signs of its appearance are small, light dots - places where the leaf plate is punctured. In some cases, the leaves curl up, and cobwebs can be seen on their reverse side. New mites hatch in the web, and the affected leaf falls off.

Spider mites can be red, yellow, orange, white, or transparent. The most common pest of indoor lemons is the red spider mite.

If an insect is detected, the tree is sprayed with sulfur. Pesticides are also used to destroy it. For preventative purposes, the lemon is washed under running water, paying more attention to the underside of the leaves. Spraying the affected plant with water and laundry soap has a good effect.

Spider mites do not tolerate ultraviolet rays, therefore, when fighting it, citrus is placed under a special ultraviolet lamp for 1.5-2 minutes. This session is not only harmless to the plant, but increases its resistance to diseases and pests

For destruction spider mite you can use 35% sulfaride paste. The tree is treated with this solution 3-5 times with an interval of 7-10 days. However, such treatment is not recommended at the flowering and fruit set stage.

Aphids on homemade lemons: how to get rid of them

Aphids are small insects of light green color, 1-3 mm long. It quickly increases its numbers, occupying the trunk, leaves, ovaries, and shoots of the tree in large colonies. It produces 10-20 generations per season. It sucks juice from leaves and young shoots, after which the leaf plate is deformed and the ends of the shoots are bent.

It is quite easy to detect the pest, since aphids are homemade lemon, due to its light color is clearly visible.

In order to prevent the occurrence of aphids, citrus leaves and branches are washed 3-4 times a month under running warm water. During bathing, cover the soil with polyethylene. In addition, they periodically inspect the lemon in order to notice the insect at an early stage, when it will be easier to get rid of it.

Garlic water effectively fights the appearance of aphids. The crushed head of garlic is placed in a glass of hot water and left for 2 days. The tree is sprayed with the prepared infusion every other day for a week. After 5 days, the procedure is repeated.

You can get rid of the insect by treating it with dichlorvos. To do this, the lemon is placed in a plastic bag, into which a cotton swab soaked in dichlorvos is placed. The plant is left in this position for 5 hours, after which the leaves are washed or sprayed with warm, clean water.

A solution of 3% acetic acid will repel aphids. Wipe the plant thoroughly with this solution.

In order to prevent the appearance of aphids, it is recommended to place geranium next to the citrus, the aroma of which this insect cannot tolerate.

A strong solution of table salt (70g per 1 liter of water) will help to completely destroy the pest. Saline solution lemon is sprayed 3-4 times with an interval of 5 days.

Chemicals are used only in cases where other methods do not help.

Mealybug on lemon

When a mealybug infests a lemon, a fluffy white coating appears on the leaves. In addition, clear, sugary discharge may appear. This pest sucks juices from young shoots, buds and leaves, and attacks the root system. At the same time, the growth of the tree slows down significantly.

There are several varieties of mealybug. Depending on the type, its dimensions vary from 3 to 6 mm.

To avoid the appearance of mealybugs, it is necessary to monitor the humidity in the room. It should be quite high (70-80%). The plant should be kept clean and damaged leaves and flowers should be promptly removed.

When a tree is damaged by this insect, drugs such as karbofos, Intavir, Decis and others are used.

You can use other methods to combat the mealybug. Citrus leaves and stems are washed with soapy water or garlic infusion with soap. To prepare the infusion, pour several cloves of garlic into 0.5 liters of hot boiled water and infuse for 4 hours. After this, the infusion is filtered and applied to the affected parts of the plant.

Other lemon pests at home

Citrus nematode – small, transparent or white worm. It gnaws through the roots, settles in them and sucks out the plant juice. At the same time, the lemon leaves begin to fall off rapidly. If you dig up the roots, you can find small swellings or growths on them, and the pest lives in them.

Chemicals are used to control nematodes. It is useful to apply when it appears organic fertilizers that will help restore the soil and create conditions for life natural enemies nematodes: ants, springtails, mites and other insects.

To prevent lemon pests from appearing at home, it is recommended to carry out prevention. To do this, citrus leaves are regularly sprayed or wiped, especially on the underside. It is useful to periodically wipe the wood with soapy water with the addition of laundry soap, followed by rinsing with warm water.

The photo below shows some lemon pests: