How do I save this lime tree?
May 8, 2017 10:24 AM Subscribe
My young (container-growing) lime tree is simultaneously half dead-looking, leafless, budding, and growing new branches. I'm totally lost. What should I do?
In the course of this poor tree's 6 months with me, I've overwatered it, underwatered it, and generally not known what the hell I'm doing. I've recently discovered that I actually CAN take care of plants, and I want to do better.
Recently, half of the tree has gone brown (but the branches are still green inside), new shoots have started to grow from the trunk, and the other half of the tree has flowers that are starting to open. I'm inclined to repot it in something bigger, and read that I should maybe cut off the new shoots, but don't want to stress it out further. Please tell me, step by step, how I can help this poor thing thrive, if it's not too late.
In the course of this poor tree's 6 months with me, I've overwatered it, underwatered it, and generally not known what the hell I'm doing. I've recently discovered that I actually CAN take care of plants, and I want to do better.
Recently, half of the tree has gone brown (but the branches are still green inside), new shoots have started to grow from the trunk, and the other half of the tree has flowers that are starting to open. I'm inclined to repot it in something bigger, and read that I should maybe cut off the new shoots, but don't want to stress it out further. Please tell me, step by step, how I can help this poor thing thrive, if it's not too late.
Plants are very specific. If you still have the original tag, or can find it, get the exact variety of lime from that. If you don't have that info, it's perhaps worth connecting with the seller/store and asking if they know.
Then, research on the web specifics of caring for lime trees in containers, and, if you can find it, about that particular variety.
There will be sun/water/soil requirements, soil pH recommendations, diseases and other ailments to look out for, pests to watch for, and other information. Don't freak out about the quantity of info. The tree is still alive, after all! However, more information will help you here.
A larger container will help a lot with regulating moisture.
posted by amtho at 11:07 AM on May 8, 2017
Then, research on the web specifics of caring for lime trees in containers, and, if you can find it, about that particular variety.
There will be sun/water/soil requirements, soil pH recommendations, diseases and other ailments to look out for, pests to watch for, and other information. Don't freak out about the quantity of info. The tree is still alive, after all! However, more information will help you here.
A larger container will help a lot with regulating moisture.
posted by amtho at 11:07 AM on May 8, 2017
Not an expert, but I do have a couple of container grown citrus trees. It's putting out flowers and not leaves because it is stressed - I think this is usually too much/not enough water or too much/not enough fertilizer. This is what I would do:
- Plant in much larger container, maybe 10 gallon? At least the size of the other containers in your photo. Make sure there are lots of drainage holes. I just use regular potting mix, but there might be citrus-specific options available.
- Citrus trees need lots of sun, at least 7-8 hrs/day.
- Water maybe 2x weekly in summer, or when leaves start to wilt/soil is dry. A moisture meter might be useful. Once or twice weekly soakings are better than light watering every day.
- I use this liquid fertilizer once per week in summer, less in winter.
I would re-pot and fertilize, you should start to see results in a couple of weeks. I personally wouldn't cut anything until it starts to produce new growth, but I am always nervous about trimming plants so this might be bad advice. The flowers are very unlikely to become fruit, I would remove most of them to save the plant energy.
Good luck!
posted by Shal at 12:39 PM on May 8, 2017
- Plant in much larger container, maybe 10 gallon? At least the size of the other containers in your photo. Make sure there are lots of drainage holes. I just use regular potting mix, but there might be citrus-specific options available.
- Citrus trees need lots of sun, at least 7-8 hrs/day.
- Water maybe 2x weekly in summer, or when leaves start to wilt/soil is dry. A moisture meter might be useful. Once or twice weekly soakings are better than light watering every day.
- I use this liquid fertilizer once per week in summer, less in winter.
I would re-pot and fertilize, you should start to see results in a couple of weeks. I personally wouldn't cut anything until it starts to produce new growth, but I am always nervous about trimming plants so this might be bad advice. The flowers are very unlikely to become fruit, I would remove most of them to save the plant energy.
Good luck!
posted by Shal at 12:39 PM on May 8, 2017
Those new shoots look like they are growing from below the graft (that bump about 3-4 inches up from the soil), which means you'll want to cut them off because they're coming from the root stock.
If this is a seed grown plant, then I'm incorrect, but it really looks like a grafted tree from a nursery, so those lower little shoots need to go.
Are those buds on all the rest of the branches? If most of the branches have buds at the ends, the tree could be worth saving. If the green branch with the flowers on lower right is the only live branch, I'd toss the tree and start over.
posted by Squeak Attack at 12:45 PM on May 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
If this is a seed grown plant, then I'm incorrect, but it really looks like a grafted tree from a nursery, so those lower little shoots need to go.
Are those buds on all the rest of the branches? If most of the branches have buds at the ends, the tree could be worth saving. If the green branch with the flowers on lower right is the only live branch, I'd toss the tree and start over.
posted by Squeak Attack at 12:45 PM on May 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
Plant in a larger container or in the ground, feed with citrus tree food, cut the shoots that are coming off the lower trunk, and then cut all the branches back. I've saved citrus trees by cutting them back radically. It stimulates them to grow and you'll get leaves coming back (eventually, it can take awhile and the tree will look dead).
posted by quince at 3:05 PM on May 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by quince at 3:05 PM on May 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
Get it out of that pot, inspect the root bulb for nasty grubs, get some citrus-specific potting mix and citrus-specific fertiliser (pellets or juice) and some perlite (citrus like well-drained soil) and a bigger pot, repot it, ensure it is position to receive sufficient sunlight, water it well, give it an epic prune, and wee on it from time to time (citrus plants love wee).
posted by turbid dahlia at 8:44 PM on May 8, 2017
posted by turbid dahlia at 8:44 PM on May 8, 2017
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posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 10:31 AM on May 8, 2017