Mike, I wish I had some advice to offer you, but I have never had any luck with growing a Meyer Lemon either and think I have killed six or seven over the years. Perhaps someone out there can offer you some advice. Toni may have some suggestions if you can get her to respond to this posting. Since you have had so much success growing other citrus varieties in containers, it just doesn't make sense that Meyers should be causing you so much anguish. As for me, I have given up on Meyers until I retire and move to a much warmer climate. What puzzles me is that Meyers have the reputation of being an easy citrus to grow in a container in cold weather climates. That's not been my experience at all. I have had much better success with kumquats, limes and oranges over the years...

Good luck to you and hopefully someone will respond to your plea for help!

Jerry

Mike, I'm so sorry to hear about all your meyers. We need to get you turned around otherwise you'll have to change your screen name :-) I know there will be lots of folks that have very specific instructions. I haven't gotten that technical with mine. While inside, I water it once a week, have it in an east facing window, and don't fertilize until before I'm ready to take it back outside. I do get some of the yellow leaf issues you describe, but they're always on the leaves that were damaged by mites. Those little bugs are difficult to see but they sure do damage the plant. Are you sure they're not hitting yours and killing it? Alana

Mike has an eagle eye out for mites, so I doubt very much that this is the problem. Right, Mike? But it's a mystery to me as to what the problem(s) might be. You've become a pretty good plant detective, so I'm thinking that you'll figure this out.

By the way, when your plants die, do you do examine the roots and below the surface plant parts carefully?

Okay. Here's how I treat (mistreat?) my Meyer's (and, in fact, all the citrus and kumquats--all except the true limes which need it warmer in the Winter). I grow them outside from April until mid-/late November. While it is outside it gets direct sun from about noon until sunset. I water it on average every day when I hose down everything else. It sits on the side of a large black tar driveway so they get a lot of heat. Sometime in late November/Early December it goes into a sunny, cold (but frost-free garage); January temps this year averaged between 38F and 55 F.. Probably relatively humid in there because of all the other plants (mostly Citrus, semi-hardy palms, and cycads, oleanders, and other plants). In the Winter, I water the Meyer's about every two to three weeks (I don't feed in the winter). It lost no leaves, has no bugs, and has so much fruit on it (12 full-sized lemons or so), that it's incredibly top heavy. Being March (though still cold), I need to water about once a week or so now. It started flowering in February and is currently waiting to go outside. PS., I don't even try to bring the Citrus into the house anymore (too many issues with bugs--especially scale and spider mites). Hope this was helpful. Good luck!

Ok njoasis,
Please send me a picture of that! "mikerno_1@yahoo.com"
Please...If what you say is true, not to doubht you in any way, but I will start putting windows in my garage as soon as next weekend. Please send me an added boost. I will do your exact system next winter...We will keep in touch.
I can't believe that you can give "lemon meyer" of all citrus, this kind of treatment, and have such beautiful trees by spring! It defies what everyone is saying to grow them like.

Rhizzo, how well you know me. How are you? You are right! I would know the bugs, those darn mites, more than I know myself sometimes!...You know that..lol
But I never check the roots before tossing. What a great idea! The only one I checked a few weeks ago,by accident, was one that I tossed into the barrell, and when it hit the ground because of a bad miss, I noticed the roots never developed when I picked it up, after a whole summer and fall and up till now! They looked horrible. NO white root! What's up with that. They were still the small roots I saw when I potted it up last year...
Maybe I am growing poor roots sysytems. Is there anything to do to develop stronger healthy white roots? Is there a special fertilizer to encourage root growth, over top plant growth. Maybe this is the problem. Who knows.

All I know is that, this is the only citrus I have had a hard time with for years. Even my pondorosa lemon trees are growing rapidly and never a problem. Thanks for the idea. If my last one does not make it, I will examine carefully and let you know. It might die within days from now.;-(

Thanks so far, everyone. Please don't leave....

MeyerMike, is your garage attached or detached? If detached, temps get significantly colder than attached!!! Mine is detached and big. I have kept a small space heater on in January and February (and a fan). Temp range for January went from a minimum of 32 F to about 58.. It dropped to 32 on one morning when it dropped to 4 F. outside. Also, keep in mind that your winter zone may require more heating. We also get a lot of cold but sunny winter days which may make a difference inside a south facing garage with a lot of glass on the South side.

I am not sure what you're referring to when you say that my methods defy logic or go against what everyone else says. My trees get full sun year round, get watered depending on temperature, sun, rainfall, etc., and get fertilized for at least six months of the year. Yes, based on circumstances they do have to endure temps somewhat colder than I would like, but they are kept frost free. Most citrus are actually subtropical (rather than fully tropical) and can tolerate cooler and drier conditions for a limited period of time. I used to try to grow Citrus in the house (kumquats and Calamondin are easist in this regard and will succeed.) Everything else would ALWAYS die that's when I thought I'd turn to the garage for overwintering purposes. PS. I'll post a pic of the citrus and kumquat collection as soon as everything is out of the garage. Enjoy the weekend!:)

Hi njoasis!

How are you? Bet you can't wait to leave yours outside for awhile like me...

What I meant by defy logic is that, every greenhouse person I know around here tells me to never let my meyers get so cold.To keep them in a warm enviroment....
Your keeping them in the cold is definatley a no no to these people. But I have done what they all say, and I would say, it hasn't worked so far. The only thing that confuses me thus far, is why is the local nursery still selling some meyer from last season, and they still look so healthy. Those are kept in warm conditions all winter. Maybe because they get alot more light than ours ever would...

You know what? Maybe I am still overwatering them who knows. I am still trying to get use to Al's suggested soilless mix.
Once I do, I think I will be able to grow meyers.
Maybe I am letting them dry out to long, or not long enough. I am starting to think that meyers are not as forgiving as the others. Sort of like gardenias. I won't even go there..lol
I think I may have planted a few into the gritty mix incorrectly, and now I am paying the price...
I wish I would of done it right the first time when I was just learning how to grow in it.
I will have to ask him if what I think I may have done wrong can be corrected.

Update:
This meyer here that was loosing though,
I took it out of the grtty mix, and transplanted it into what I only had on hand.
I had cocopeat, perlite, crushed granite, and bark. I used equall portions in all. This little guy has fully recovered and seems to be very very happy now...It actually looks fantastic in such a short time!
I am keeping my fingers crossed...
I will have to figure out why later.
But I would like to store them next winter as you suggest if it works...

Please send me some pics and I will send you some of all the goergous other citrus I have...

Take care..:-)

I keep forgetting!
No the garage is not attached to house....
Thanks..

"No the garage is not attached to house...."

Unfortunately, this really does matter. You will need to work harder in your zone to keep it mild enough for the Citrus. I just get away with it here. I would have an easier time with a smaller/attached garage but I love the space I do have. January is the hardest, and I manage to keep minimums just above 32 F (maximums this January where only in the upper 40's on many January days this year). It's a large, two-car, loft garage and I have limited financial resources. All I have is a small "ceramic" heater and a fan. I did insulate with plastic wrap. February minimums are usually above 40F in the garage (50's day), and this is when many of the Citrus start coming into bloom. Meyer's really can deal with a limited season of relative cold. December is not really too cold and February is springtime for them. PS. I can't wait to get everything outside and start to smell those Valencia orange blossums when I get home!! Peace out.

So how is the Meyer coming along? I want to get one so bad, but I havn't had any citrus plants yet and it seems that they give the best citrus growers difficulties. Do you have any other varieties of lemon growing right now or any experiance w/ others in the past? I am determined to make a lemon tree grow but you (along w/ many others' opininons) have made me realize that I am no where near ready to get a Meyer. Mike, I'd like to thank you for saving me $38+shipping and probably some grey hairs!

So far, just comparing Meyer's to Eureka, I personally find the Meyer's to be more free flowering and fruiting. Having said that, my Eureka is currently in bloom. Aside from issues of blooming and fruiting, I like the form of the Meyer's more (more squat and compact), also, as I recall, the Meyer's flowers are more aromatic. Good luck!

Mike, you're having problems with Meyers? Seems Meyer's is the easiest and less finicky in the fruit world..That's the reason I have three. lol
Orange and grapefruit are difficult, Buddha's Hand, I might as well toss in the trash if I get my hand on one. But Meyer's..
My first experience with citrus, (serious growing) was with a Meyers and Calamondin orange.
If you want an easy-to-care-for fruit, try Kumquat..they produce profusely, year round.

So you're still battling with mites? That's terrible. Mike if you don't have a small fan in your plant room, invest in one. On warm days, 50F and up, open a window. You have to fight and beat those brats. Toni

So,

Other than njoasis,

Is there a plan I can follow or copy from someone else that can tell me exactly what I could do to be sucessful at keeping my meyers alive for the winter, just incase I can't store them like njoasis?

Anyone who is getting their meyers through the winter with no problems, please tell me how you are treating them, and share ideas..PLEASE. I beg you....

You too toni, since you have 3 doing well..lol What is your secret?

Take care....

Mike no secret..Meyers are grown similar to citrus. Bright light/full sun, (full sun, HA!) dryer soil in winter, no feritlizer in winter, humidity, once a month Superthrive, misting, showering/hosing. A dose of Iron 3 times a year, and occassional Epsom Salts.
In fall, citrus get one last foliar dose of Fish Emulsion before their semi-dormant state. That's it.

Most important is ridding insects before plants are brought indoors..if citrus or any plant carry bugs, those little demons have THE winning hand. The object is to rid insects before bringing indoors. It's difficult keeping citrus bug-free to begin with..Toni

Toni,

Are meyers the only ones to go into a semi-dormant stage?
This might be where my problem lies!!
I treat it as all my others. I keep it in a very warm room, under lights and it continues to grow, until it just flops! They just die suddenly!

Is it suppose to be allowed to go into a dormant stage? With less light and cooler temps as njoasis treats his? Are they suppose to rest. I can tell you that I never let them rest.
Do you loose all your leaves when you let it go semi-dormant? Is it a natural process for them to go bare?
Maybe I am stressing my meyers every year by forcing them to grow in very warm bright light conditions......Hummm

That is why I am asking how people treat them. Seems to be, they don't like the conditions I give them like the rest of my other citrus do.

"Do you loose all your leaves when you let it go semi-dormant?"

You must have asked me this same question two times at least already!! I guess you don't believe it. But no, I don't loose ANY leaves in the winter when I grow them under chilly and dry conditions (December until mid-February). I do not keep my limes (Persian or Key limes) in cool conditions (they are much more tropical). Citrus and hot, dry interior conditions just don't go together so I have given up on anything but limes in the house itself. For the rest of the Citrus collection (in the garage), day temps under glass are now in the low to mid 60's even when it's only in the mid 50's outside--that's NOT cold and the air is fairly humid. As I said, my challenge is really just January--the rest of the year is a cake walk. PS. One of the reasons I am anxious to get them out of the garage is that a stronger sun and warmer conditions means that I have to be much more attentive to watering as they dry out much faster now. I wish I could say that I dote over them in the Winter, but I virtually forget about them from about early December until mid-February.

Hi njoasis,

I was directing the question to toni. Reread my post will ya. Too many people are misinterpeting some of my posts. I did start the post with toni..:-)

I already know you don't. I am not that forgetful yet...lol

By the way, I am still waiting for pictures from "you". I have to have a reward set before me to push my friend to build my windows and make it worth my while. So seeing is beleiving...It would be an encouragement to see the actual results..

So toni,
do you hold on to all your leaves as njoasis does? And if so, are you storing them in the cold? I am thinking that this is the only thing that will work. If you are growing them inside in a warm enviroment as I was, then what is your secret?

Thanks

Hi Mike, I know you were looking for answers from toni, but if you're just also looking for another experience... I don't lose leaves over the winter. The time I do drop leaves is in the spring (right now here in NC), when I put the pot back outside. The damaged leaves from the winter that got spotted by mites have just droped off, and new growth will start soon after the flowers are about finished. I've had my Meyer for about 5 years, and not to jinx me, but it seems to be doing fine. I water during the winter just once a week and I pot it in regular potting mix. I get it outside whenever I can (like when the forecast is 40 or better) and make sure I mist it a lot. Let me know if you want more info. Here's a picture of mine (partial anyway) that I took for another thread. Alana

{{gwi:390107}}

From Garden Web Pics

Thanks e36yellowm3,
When I get home and can see the picture,I will get back to you. That was nice of you to help us out.
You will be hearing from me soon..:-)