some pictures of fairly old container citrus

13 years ago

I've been asked to post some pictures of some of my trees. These are of an approximately 25 year-old Meyer lemon, a Calamondin orange of about the same age (a boxed gift citrus purchased at Disney World), and an orange I have grown from a seed started when I was about 8 or 9 years old, which makes it about 38 years old. All my trees spend May through October outside here in West Hartford, Connecticut, hooked up to drip irrigation (I'm usually away for at least a month without checking on them).

The pictures can be found here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/59488693@N08/?saved=1

Here is a link that might be useful: Link to my pictures

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Comments (8)

mksmth zone 7a Tulsa Oklahoma
13 years ago
Don your trees are very inspiring!! Your ability to maintain their vigor in your climate is for sure remarkable. And the story of their beginnings is great.

Thanks for the pictures.

Mike
don_in_ct
Original Author
13 years ago
I'm trying to post the pictures to this page directly. Not sure it is working!

The 38/39 year old orange:

.

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The 25 year-old Meyer Lemon:

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The 25 year-old Calamondin Orange:

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Here is a link that might be useful: Link to my pictures
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It was originally planted in the ground years and years ago. I don't know if there was any amendment to the original soil. When I potted it I did my best to keep the root ball in tact. I amended with compost and a slow release "citrus" pellet fertilizer. I made every effort to get a good blend while not totally destroying the root ball. I have also supplemented with a liquid compost tea type fertilizer I don't recall the make or balance. I suppose I could try repotting, its pretty large and I do worry about the root system. If I were to re pot I would likely use my home compost and a mixture of commercially available big box store type potting soil. Thoughts? I believe I've fixed the picture link, hope this helps anyone checking this post out. Thanks Mike
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Mike, thanks for the compliments, you yourself are another great citrus poster that I have read many great advice and posts from on the forum, I appreciate it. And yes, I am lucky in the fact that I get to plant my citrus in the ground here in the desert. Not so lucky in the summer time when its 115 degrees outside. It was consistently in the low 80's to upper 70's all of January out here and in the mid 80's all of February and its supposed to be in the 90's next week, so as you can see our spring is short and warm compared to others. I guess I should be grateful that I am not buried in 2 feet of snow right now. It was so warm this winter I don't think we had more than a few days below the mid 30's at night out here in December. That tree I cannot ID has really taken off this year, I removed a Texas Ranger that was over grown next to the Citrus and I think it was hindering its growth, seems to be much happier now. Thanks! Evan
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Hi laura... Man that is a huge bummer! Everyone else..WOW Let me start by saying to laura that you will probably get a much quicker response if you start a new thread right here on the citrus forum. Like ask.."ANTS, WHAT TO DO IN MY CONTAINERS, HELP!!" There is a member here that is unbeleiably smart baout insects and how to control them, and she has helped a many here! Post it as soon as possible, before those stupid ants present new insects,such as APIDS, or SCALE anda host of other problems to your trees..ok Watch how fast that member will help you. That is a great question, and many ways to rid them, but her advice always works..:-) Now, as for my pics,I will be posting as soon as I get time. We had several more days of cool and rain, and to tell you the truth, my trees never looked so good..lol Think we have had 20 out of 25 days days of cold and rain..sheesh..The coldest and cloudiest and wettest June on record! My trees love ot though. Thank God they are in Al's gritty mix, or they might of all died of rot. Take care, and keep the beautiful pictures coming everyone..Awsome!:-)
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Alex, when you said the leaves were yellow and veins dark green, the first thing that came to mind was a mineral deficiency, but after looking at your picture, I see nothing that indicates this problem. What size pot was your citrus in, and what size did you plant to? If it's overpotted, that may be one reason foliage slowed-down in growth. As for citrus soil, do you know what the mediums consist of? It may not contain any nutrients, therefore, citrus should be fertilized. They're semi-heavy feeders during growing seasons..They also require nutrients such as iron, magnesium, etc. Also, because a soil is marked citrus, doesn't necessairly mean other mediums shouldn't be added..For instance, they sell cactus & succulent soils, but some are too heavy and will drown plants..they also sell house plant soil that's too heavy or too light..if too heavy, in either soils, Perlite and/or sand should be added. I reread where you wrote the soil is a citrus/cactus mix..Never heard of this combo..I am curious what it consists of. Did you add any other mediums when you repotted? Alex, there's definatly something wrong if your soil is still moist after 4-6 wks..Either you've overpotted, the soil's way too heavy, or both. How many leaves have yellowed? Alex, if it were my citrus, I'd work on soil and pot size. Otherwise, your kumquat will worsen and can die. Roots are staying wet which isn't good. Eventually, they won't be able to take in liquids...can't absorb oxygen. Good luck, Alex.. Overwatering will cause leaves to yellow...the same w/underwatering, insects, lack of nitrogen, lack of minerals..Good luck, Alex..Toni
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don_in_ct
Original Author
13 years ago
Sorry, but the attempt to post the pictures directly didn't work.
puglvr1
13 years ago
Wow Don...those are truly inspiring indeed! I don't think I've ever seen 39 year old citurs in pots before...just amazing!! How often do you trim the roots and repot them?
Thank you for taking the time to post the great pictures.

I've posted them directly here for you...

Your 39 Yr. old Orange...
{{gwi:569665}}

Your 25 yr. old Meyer Lemon
{{gwi:569666}}

Your 25 yr.old Calamondin
{{gwi:569667}}

To post the pictures directly...click on the photo...go to
"Share This" and go to where it says "GRAB the HTML/BBC Code" and copy and paste the "code" directly on your post. Hope this makes sense?

Again...those are AMAZING that you've had them in containers for that many years. Congrats!!
don_in_ct
Original Author
13 years ago
Thank you for posting the pics puglvr!

I'll try the directions out on my artichoke thread!

As far as repotting goes, the Meyer lemon was in a 12 inch pot for about 15 years (including the years I harvested 33 and 25 fruit from it), and I never trimmed its roots during that time. I put it in the larger 15 inch pot (which you can see is not completely utilized!) two summers ago. The Calamondin and my old orange were also repotted two summers ago, and before that I had root-pruned the old orange several times (every 3 to 5 years).

I just use a decent name-brand potting soil (whichever is cheapest at the big-box store). The large saucers are one key to success, however, as the larger trees require up to two gallons of water at a time, and you need to make sure some of it flows out in order to make sure you've watered the entire root ball. If too much comes out, I use a sponge to soak up the excess, but I'm pretty good at avoiding that, by watering each plant in stages!
don_in_ct
Original Author
13 years ago
These are close-up shots of my Meyer Lemon and orange tree's trunks:

Meyer Lemon:

{{gwi:569668}}Orange:
yaslan
13 years ago
Your citrus trees are very nice, healthy and lush! I, too, think it's impressive and inspiring that you've had your containerized citrus for a very long time. And not to mention you started one of them from a seed. Wow!

-Bo
meyermike_1micha
13 years ago
Don: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great job buddy! I had no idea your trees were that old> I just love them!

You said how you summer them, now if you could share how you winter them? What kind of light and how much sun? When do you put them out and bring them in?

Your trees are amazing and I too am very proud of you being able to care for them up here, since stories like this are very rare:-)

Thank you Don and hey, pray for a speedy spring, will ya?

Mike:-)

some pictures of fairly old container citrus

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mksmth zone 7a Tulsa Oklahoma

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some pictures of fairly old container citrus

Comments (8)

mksmth zone 7a Tulsa Oklahoma

don_in_ctOriginal Author

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