Kaffir Lime

[jenn]

Hello all,
I am new to this forum and was hoping someone here would have some experience putting a citrus tree in S/H medium. I tried with my Kaffir Lime tree this fall; the tree declined and I had to switch it back to soil and redwood chips.
Thanks

[Dave]

Hey Jen. Welcome. What do you mean by S/H medium?
I use potting soil mixed with some added sand in the mix for better drainage. You say your tree declined..what were the symptoms was there leaf drop? or did the leaves turn yellow? ect.. Are you growing the plant inside your house or in a greenhouse?

[jenn]

I am so sorry it took me so long to get back to this thread I started.
Anyhow, to answer your question. S/H Is semi-hydroponic medium. I have most of my orchids (which LOVE it) in it, and a few other tropical plants. I have even heard it works beautifully for African Violets.
When my poor tree declined, the leaves yellowed and dropped. It was getting proper food and water, and the decline was so rapid, that I attributed it to the S/H. The plant winters indoors and goes outside weather permitting. It does flower and fruit every year (not that I use much of the fruit, just a little of the peel; now the leaves on the other hand...YUMMY) anyway... I had heard citrus thrive in S/H, but my poor little tree did not seem too thrilled. I was hoping for input from other growers of citrus.
Thanks

[Dave]

Citrus trees can be finicky, its taken me a while to properly care for my citrus trees so they do not produce tons of yellow leaves, drop their leaves and die.

I tried growing a tiny regular lime tree with clay pellets in a semi hydro solution. It seemed to be growing good during the summer, but then I did not keep on top of changing the solution regularly and so it slowly lost all of its leaves. If you have good liquid fertilizers give it a shot