I bought a bag of Tui Citrus food for my potted lemon, and saw in fine print that it’s not suitable for potted varieties. What does it need instead or can I just go ahead and use it?

Hi Kate, the recommendation not to use blended fertilisers on plants in pots and containers is "best practise". Essentially fertilisers are salts and potentially can burn plant roots when over-applied. Tui Citrus food (and all of the Tui Food range) is a blend of straight fertilisers with no control mechanism. When they are applied to the soil the nutrients start releasing immediately and continue releasing, so there is more chance of over-application which will burn plant roots.

When a fertiliser is applied to the soil, the soil acts as a buffer and the fertiliser is dispersed into the soil. When too much fertiliser is applied to plants in pots, the concentration of fertiliser (salts) hits the pot wall and potentially burns the roots which also grow out to the pot wall. Tui recommends either Tui Novatec or Tui Enrich Fruit, Citrus, Tree & Shrub fertiliser for plants in pots and containers and Tui Citrus food for plants in the garden and raised garden beds. As you have already purchased the fertiliser you can use it, but err on the side of caution and apply it lightly, don't do a "one for luck" extra application. One level tablespoon sprinkled evenly around the base of a plant in a 40-50cm pot and watered in well should be okay. Lianne.