January is a time when there is a snowstorm outside the window, but the house is hot and dry. The lemon or kumquat that delighted you with golden fruits under the tree suddenly begins to shed leaves and small fruits. It seems that he “died”. But in fact, the plant is simply exhausted after harvest and suffers from dryness and stress.
Right now, in the first weeks of January, it does not need nitrogen feeding, but light support and protection. And there is a simple remedy that is already in your kitchen. We are talking about the peels from tangerines or oranges left over from the New Year's table.
Remove the zest from two tangerines, fill it with one liter of warm water and leave for a day in a closed jar. Strain the infusion and pour into a spray bottle. Spray leaves and twigs once a week in the morning or evening, avoiding direct sun.
Essential oils in citrus peel gently repel spider mites, and trace elements help the leaves maintain chlorophyll. In addition, the light citrus aroma creates a thin film that retains moisture and protects against drying out.
Important: spray only the leaves, do not pour the infusion at the root. Citrus fruits are sensitive to waterlogging, and the leaves respond well to such “aromatherapy.”
Within two weeks you will notice that the yellowing stops, small fruits stop falling, and by February the plant will again begin to produce new shiny leaves.
Do this once a week throughout January and February. By spring, your lemon will be green, shiny and ready to bloom again.
