Real Growth After 60+ Days in the Ground
I planted my Brite Leaf Citrus Nursery trees on March 5 (feel free to read my original unboxing review). Today is May 12, so we are sitting at just over two months in the ground. I finally pulled out the unboxing photos from the day they arrived and snapped fresh shots this morning. The side-by-side comparison shows exactly how far these trees have come.
Right around the ten-day mark after planting I noticed some light discoloration on the leaves. Nothing dramatic, but enough to make me pay attention. I am growing in a bark nugget and peat moss mix, so magnesium deficiency seemed like the obvious suspect. Two weeks after transplant I worked in Jobe’s Organics Granular Garden Fertilizer, and the problem started clearing up within a few weeks. From there the growth really exploded. New flush pushed out strong on every tree and the foliage returned to that deep, healthy green I saw when the trees first showed up from Brite Leaf.
I also spotted a few pests making themselves at home. There were some fine lines and marks under the leaves plus a little curling on the newest growth. It hasn’t got out of hand, but I wanted to stay ahead of it. I mixed up Bonide Captain Jacks Deadbug Brew concentrate in a spray bottle and misted the trees every three nights for a short run. You can grab the ready-to-use spray version if you prefer not to mix, but the concentrate lasts longer for multiple applications. Within a couple of weeks the signs disappeared and the trees kept pushing new leaves.
Updated Pros and Cons After Two Months
Here are the before-and-after photos so you can see the growth for yourself. The unboxing shots show the healthy arrival straight from Brite Leaf Citrus Nursery. The current pictures from today show how much vertical height and leaf density they have added in sixty-eight days, especially once the Jobe’s fertilizer kicked in.
The tall skinny citri-pots they ship in really do set these trees up for strong root systems once they hit the ground. Even with the minor nutrient dip and light pest pressure early on, everything bounced back fast. That tells me the stock Brite Leaf sends out is tough and well-grown from the start.
Pros
- Strong new flush and visible size increase once fertilized
- Healthy root establishment from their greenhouse method
- Quick recovery from early nutrient issues with Jobe’s Organics
- Easy to treat minor pest pressure organically
Cons
- Early magnesium-type discoloration in my soil mix (fixed fast with fertilizer)
- Light pest activity under leaves that needed a short treatment
What I Would Do Differently Next Time
Maybe test the soil mix for magnesium levels right at transplant and keep a better eye on pests, though I think I did a decent job overall. Small lessons that will make the next order from Brite Leaf even smoother.
I will keep these same trees on the same schedule and drop the full 90-day report in early June. That one will include exact height measurements, and the exact soil and fertilizer schedule that locked in the explosive growth phase.
Ready to start your own citrus trees? The original Brite Leaf Citrus Nursery review with full unboxing details is right here on the site, or head straight to their current lineup at briteleaf.com.
Products I Used in This Update
Jobe’s Organics Granular Garden Fertilizer, 4 lbs Bag – Cleared up the early magnesium deficiency fast and triggered the big growth flush I am seeing now.
Bonide Captain Jacks Deadbug Brew, 16 oz Concentrate – Handled the light pest activity under the leaves without any harsh chemicals.