Caring for a myrtle leaf orange tree (Citrus Myrtifolia)

February 13, 2023 4:01 PM

I received a small, potted myrtle leaf orange tree in December. I've been keeping it indoors near a window and also trained a SAD light on it. It has a single trunk which is about 21" high at the moment. It recently blossomed and appears to have grown almost 2" since Dec. I've read various online care guides for this plant. They recommend "pruning young plants to encourage branching after flowering." Does this mean lopping the new growth off the top? How much? Any other general advice for caring for this guy would also be welcome.
posted by Larry David Syndrome to Home & Garden (3 answers total)

Two inches is not that much, and it probably doesn't need to be trimmed. Now it's hard to say without a picture, but the recommendation for your plant is probably referring to a lot of long, straight branches, possibly with large gaps between the leaves. Most people (but not all) consider this somewhat negative, and it doesn't achieve the look they want in a houseplant.

As for general advice about houseplants, about mid summer take a look at the roots and see if it needs to be put in a slightly larger pot would probably be the best thing you can do.
posted by ockmockbock at 8:18 PM on February 13, 2023 [1 favorite]

Check out the book Grow a Little Fruit Tree. Includes pruning advice for growing a VERY little fruit tree.

If you can’t keep increasing the container size, you do want to keep the top proportional, and that’s easier done with planning ahead.
posted by clew at 8:40 PM on February 13, 2023 [2 favorites]

Long time professional gardener here. I would just pinch new growth tips where I want to encourage branching. If you don't want to do this this season or on a particular branch, that's fine. An overall trim with clippers usually isn't necessary.

here's a pretty comprehensive guide to citrus in containers.

If you prune it "after flowering" you won't get any fruit. For baby citrus, thin fruit to keep the tree robust and prevent branches breaking from the weight.

One other thing to watch for: growth below the bud union where the tree has been grafted. Remove all growth below that point whenever you see it.

One other very important tip about citrus: they can't take up iron from soil if the pH is too high/alkaline. I normally am not a fan of marketing, but using soils and fertilizers specifically for citrus is actually helpful.
posted by oneirodynia at 2:02 PM on February 14, 2023 [2 favorites]