Marlborough
December
Q.
We grow lemons and mandarins in pots. Tui Citrus Food says not to use on plants in pots or containers. What should we feed our citrus in pots?
Dave MacLachlan
A.
- It is “best practice” to not use blended fertilisers such as Tui Citrus Food on plants in pots and containers.
- Essentially fertilisers are salts and can potentially burn plant roots when over-applied.
- Tui Citrus Food is a blend of straight fertilisers with no control mechanism, the nutrients release all at once and are taken up by the plant and excess is washed out of the pot through leaching.
- If fertiliser is over-applied to the soil, the soil acts as a buffer and the fertiliser disperses out into the soil.
- In pots and containers, when too much fertiliser is applied the concentration of fertiliser hits the pot wall and causes plant roots to burn.
- Tui recommends either Tui Enrich Fruit, Citrus, Tree & Shrub fertiliser for plants in pots and containers, and Tui Citrus Food for plants in the garden.
- In the growing season from spring through to autumn apply Tui Citrus & Fruit Superfood liquid fertiliser to plants in pots and containers weekly to promote healthy growth.
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Can Tui Citrus Food be used on plants in pots? Comments
I have a young lemon tree that is in a pot. When I water it the water goes right threw and runs out of the bottom. What should I do?
Frances
Hi Frances, make sure your lemon tree is planted in a quality potting that contains Saturaid to help retain moisture and channel water to the plants roots. Saturaid can be added to existing potting mix by sprinkling around the surface of the pot and watering in, it can be applied every 3-6 months and will hopefully help retain moisture. If this doesn't work, I suggest potting up your tree in Tui Citrus and Fruit mix, it is a free draining but moisture retentive mix.
The Tui Team