#citrustrees

Citrus Fertiliser: Keeping Lemons, Limes, and Oranges Growing Well

Citrus plants are generous growers when their nutrition stays balanced. Lemons, limes, oranges, mandarins, and grapefruits all share similar needs, but they’re also quick to show when something is missing. Pale leaves, weak new growth, poor flowering, or fruit that drops early are usually signs that nutrition has slowly drifted out of balance.

Most citrus issues don’t start with pests or disease. They start underground.

Over time, nutrients are used up. Pots and raised beds lose fertility faster than expected. Regular watering, especially in warm weather, washes nutrients through the root zone. The tree keeps growing, but the supply quietly falls behind demand.

That’s why citrus trees respond best to consistent, balanced feeding rather than occasional heavy doses.

Why Citrus Plants Need a Purpose-Built Fertiliser

Citrus plants are heavy feeders compared to many ornamentals. They hold their leaves year-round, push regular flushes of growth, and often flower and fruit at the same time. That puts constant pressure on the root system to supply nutrients without interruption.

A good citrus fertiliser is designed around those demands. Instead of pushing excessive leafy growth, it focuses on the balance citrus actually needs: steady nitrogen for healthy foliage, and higher potassium to support flowering, fruit set, and fruit development.

This kind of nutrient balance works well across:

Lemon trees (Eureka, Lisbon, Meyer)

Limes and Tahitian limes

Oranges and mandarins

Grapefruit and other citrus varieties

Used regularly, citrus fertiliser acts as a baseline that supports the whole plant, not just one stage of growth.

The Importance of Calcium and Magnesium for Citrus

Even when NPK is right, citrus plants can still struggle if calcium or magnesium becomes limiting. These nutrients are easy to overlook, but they play an important role in leaf health, root development, and fruit quality.

Calcium supports strong cell walls and helps fruit develop properly. Magnesium is essential for chlorophyll production and efficient photosynthesis. In fast-growing citrus, especially in pots or sandy soils, these nutrients can fall behind even when the main fertiliser program looks fine.

That’s where cal mag nutrients can be useful as a supporting input. It isn’t a replacement for citrus fertiliser, but it helps stabilise growth during periods of heavy demand, flowering, or fruit load.

Feeding Citrus Without Overcomplicating It

Citrus plants don’t need complicated feeding schedules. They need consistency.

A simple approach usually works best:

Feed regularly during active growth

Water after feeding to move nutrients into the root zone

Reduce feeding when growth slows

Adjust by season, not by panic

When nutrition stays stable, citrus plants become far more forgiving. Growth evens out, flowering improves, and fruit holds better on the tree.

This article explains How to Grow a Citrus Tree like a Genius. This includes lemon trees, oranges trees, mandarin trees and more. If you are interested in planting one of these, check out this post. The main points discussed in this reading include: Location, Soil preparation, Planting your citrus tree, watering your citrus tree, How to fertilize citrus plants, How to fertilize, Best fertilizers, What is the best time to trim citrus tress in your yard, How to trim a citrus tree and How to replace a citrus tree.