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Oops, I did it again.

10 years ago

Well, for the second time in three years, I left my container citrus trees outside during a cold snap. I think they're still alive, but it's making me a little nervous that they're still bare despite four months of window surfing in my (relatively) warm bedroom, so I thought I'd post a few pictures to see if I'm just in denial. The orange tree in particular was a puzzle; it didn't drop its leaves, but they became paper dry, and while still green, would drop with the slightest nudge, so I ended up just gently removing them. All three trees have some green branches (albeit brittle). Should I turn myself in to child social services?

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Comments (8)

paceyswitters
Original Author
10 years ago
Well, that didn't work out. I'll add a better picture soon.
BarbJP 15-16/9B CA Bay Area
10 years ago
I'm sure some more knowledgeable members will reply, but I just wanted to ask if you can post another pic. This one is very back lite and at least for me, hard to tell anything. If you can move one away from the window and take the pic with the light behind you it will probably show more info.
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paceyswitters
Original Author
10 years ago
Sorry for going awol. They're still bare, but the green branches haven't faded. I've trimmed back a few to check for moisture/stimulate growth, but the results haven't been encouraging. I'll post better pictures layer today. All three are in high drainage Pro Mix, so I've ramped up the watering from once every two to three weeks to once a week. Poor guys.
meyermike_1micha
10 years ago
No, don't turn yourself in just yet...lol

If the branches turn brown, then do so. But I would put them outside in warm sun if you could. Not sure where you live and I would watch the watering...

I just pray that the grafted portion didn't die and that the only thing that survived was the root stock..Did the pots freeze solid? Or just the top?
How cold was it and for how long did they get exposed?

Mike
paceyswitters
Original Author
10 years ago
It's tough to say, but I think it was a top layer freeze, as I don't remember them being more heavy than usual when I brought them in. The exposure was probably 2-3 nights with temps dipping into the low 20s, but the trees were within the curtilage of the house, so they probably enjoyed 5-10 degrees of ambient heat and daytime temps of 40-50. I'm hesitant to be optimistic now that they've been (hopefully) dormant for so long, but all three have green branches five months later--will dead limbs remain green, or does the pigmentation fade away? I'm tempted to scratch the bark away somewhere on the navel orange tree's trunk, as it's by far the most robust (three years old and no prior abuse, as compared to the 3 year lemon that was somehow both neglected and overpruned, and the 1 year lime that was still just a baby last fall).

I learned my lesson about giving up last spring, when I assumed that the lemon was dead and left it in a corner of the yard. It sat there through July looking decrepit, then suddenly started coughing up leaves and flowers. They're hardier than I gave them credit fo
paceyswitters
Original Author
10 years ago
Good news! Well, maybe not so much.

Just picked up my lime tree to lug it outside (high relative humidity, given the season) and was a bit too enthusiastic: I lifted it right into the ceiling, taking off a nice big branch (big for this squirt, anyways). Remorse turned to jot, however, when I saw the wound. It's alive!
paceyswitters
Original Author
10 years ago
As an aside, I've tried uploading pictures from my phone several times, and each time it appears to upload but never shows up. I'll try to get it sorted on my laptop.
meyermike_1micha
10 years ago
Awesome!!!

Now, we will have to slap you with a wet noodle if you freeze it again...lol

MIke

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