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Indoor Lime Tree Fruit Drop: Bloom Fungus and Water Consistency

Problem Summary

Mario's 2-year-old lime (New Jersey, indoors winter) flowers well, sets tiny fruit, but all drop. No visible pests/disease. Tree otherwise healthy.

Hidden Cause: Bloom Fungus

Fungus in flowers — invisible but causes fruit abortion. Kathy: "you may have a fungus in the blooms and you will not see it."

Treatment

Neem Oil spray (Dyna-Gro) on blooms — fungicidal + insecticidal
Safe during flowering
Also helps fruit set

Critical Cultural Factor

Consistent watering — no extremes. Never leave pot in standing water >15 minutes (root rot risk).

Why This Happens Indoors

Winter indoor conditions (low light, dry air, stable temps) favor fungal development in flowers. Outdoor trees benefit from natural predators and environmental variation.

Plant Diseases: Key Lime Scale and Greening: Organic Approach with Atomic Grow; Key Lime Fruit Drop: Water Consistency and Pollination Boost; White Birch Buds Fail to Open: Cold Snap Damage; Shade Trees Losing Leaves Prematurely: Weak Vigor Attracts Insects; Cherry Fruit Blight: Bacterial Vascular Blockage and Atomic Grow Systemic Flush; Lime Tree Sudden Limb Death: Fertilizer Salt Burn Suspected; Bearss Lime Sudden Leaf Drop: Transplant Shock or Pesticide Injury?; Lime Tree Leaf Curl and Fruit Deformity: Leaf Miner and Neem Oil Prevention; Troubleshooting Curling Leaves and Poor Fruit Set on a Potted Bearss Lime Tree; Indoor Lime Tree Scale & Pollination: Bath, Oil, and Bees

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