How Can You Overwater a Lemon Tree?

Overwatering a lemon tree can be devastating to the health of your plant. It can cause a number of problems including root rot, nutrient deficiencies, and the death of the tree.

Signs of Overwatering

The first sign that your lemon tree is getting too much water is if the leaves start to curl and wilt. This is often a result of low light conditions, as less light reduces the amount of water taken up by the leaves through pores in their skin. This results in a dehydrated leaf and will eventually turn yellow.

Another sign of overwatering is if the soil or mulch around your lemon tree starts to grow mold. This can be very annoying to the plant.

You can also check to see if the bark, straw or leaves on your mulch are black and smelly. If so, you can be sure that the mulch is too wet and will need to be replaced.

Overwatering can also cause root rot, which is a serious problem for indoor plants like lemon trees. This fungus grows in the waterlogged soil and can kill your lemon tree.

Inspect the roots of your lemon tree for signs of rot by carefully examining them. Healthy roots should be firm and white, while unhealthy ones look brown and have a mushy texture.

The most effective way to prevent root rot is to water your lemon tree only when the top two inches of soil have completely dried out. Then, leave the water in the soil for a few days to allow it to soak in before watering again.

Ideally, you should water your lemon tree every ten to fifteen days. This schedule may vary depending on your climate and the size of your lemon tree.

You can use a soil moisture meter or your finger to test the top 2 inches of soil for dryness before watering. Make sure to water the soil well before you add the fertilizer as this will help prevent rotting of your lemon tree’s roots.

If you’re unsure of the proper amount of watering, ask a professional gardening expert to help you out. You can also follow the tips below to learn how to avoid overwatering your lemon tree.

How to Prevent Overwatering

Generally, your lemon tree should be watered whenever the soil feels dry in the top two inches. You can do this with a garden hose or drip irrigation system. This method evenly distributes water to the entire root zone of your lemon tree, which is the most important part of the plant to protect.

Once your lemon tree is established, you can taper your watering to once a week. You can then reduce the watering intervals further as your tree matures and your lemon tree becomes more efficient at absorbing water.

How to Save an Overwatered Lemon Tree

You can revive an overwatered lemon tree by watering the soil in the pot only when it dries out and by repotting the plant in a larger container with a well-draining potting mix. You can then mulch the soil to keep water from evaporating. If the problem persists, you can spray your tree with copper fungicide.