Lemon tree problem - Ask Extension
I have had my lemon tree for about a year. It was outside last summer, came in for the winter and is once again outside.
It looks happy outside as I ...
Knowledgebase
Lemon tree problem #873801
Asked June 19, 2024, 2:47 PM EDT
I have had my lemon tree for about a year. It was outside last summer, came in for the winter and is once again outside.
It looks happy outside as I am getting new shoots and buds. BUT the underside of the leaves has brown specs that look like eggs. They are everywhere, including the stalk/stem of the plant. I went to a local nursery and they prescribed insect soap.
Three doses later, I still have the brown spots on the underside.
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
My best guess is citrus scale. You should see sticky honeydew on some of the leaves. Insecticidal soap works best when the scales are young and soft-bodied. Also, insecticidal soap is a contact insecticide. It won't work if it doesn't touch the insect. Read here:
https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/insects/brown-soft-scale-a-common-insect-pest-of-indoor-plants-5-599/
A less likely possibility is citrus canker. Hopefully that is not it:
https://site.caes.uga.edu/citrus/citrus-canker-2/
https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/insects/brown-soft-scale-a-common-insect-pest-of-indoor-plants-5-599/
A less likely possibility is citrus canker. Hopefully that is not it:
https://site.caes.uga.edu/citrus/citrus-canker-2/
