Lime Tree Leaves Dropping

Question

We have what seems like a healthy lime tree – 4 feet tall and perhaps 3 feet in diameter. Fluid is leaking from the base of the leaf, coating the entire surface and dropping unto the floor. Eventually the leaf itself drops off. It flowered like crazy, but has lost essentially all the fruit. The tree is in a large pot, and we water it carefully. Humidity runs in the mid-30% range. We don’t see any obvious indication of critters of any sort.

Answer 1

Look for scale insects along the stem and on the leaves. That is the number one problem with many indoor plants. If scale is not the problem, you may have spider mites feeding on the leaf undersides. Look for little webbing on the leaf edges. Mist the foliage with distilled water at least three or four times a week. Neem oil is aso effective. If this doesn’t stop the dripping, you may need to consider getting rid of it. In the meantime, an old sheet or tablecloth under the leaves to protect your floor. For help in dealing with these pests, here are some articles that you may find helpful: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/scale-bug-how-to-control-plant-scale.htm , https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/spider-mite-detection-and-spider-mite-natural-control.htm , https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/problems/pests/neem-oil-uses.htm