Shoots from Grafted Rootstock or Not?

16 years ago

These new thin branches at the bottom by the graft location seems to me to be from the rootstock but the leaves from the new branches are variegated lemon. Should I lop these off no matter what? Can anyone with a more experienced eye tell me if these shoots are rootstock or not? If I do cut them off, where should I do it and what should I do to protect the tree after the cut?

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Comments (9)

birdsnblooms
16 years ago
Wow, Lehua, that's cutting it close. It's so near the graft it's hard to say, though honestly, I'd never seen variegated rootstock. Is the growth thorny?
Most stock has quite a few thorns per stem.
Can you see where the graft was cut? If so, is this new growth above or below the actual cut? Toni
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citrange2
16 years ago
The shoots are clearly the variegated lemon, not the rootstock which would certainly be a different variety.
In fact, shoots often appear from the top variety right at the graft junction. i usually rub them out when very tiny. You can leave them to produce a bushier shrub, or prune them away if you want to maintain a clear stem. Cut to almost level with the main stem and with time they will heal naturally.
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rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
16 years ago
I agree with citrange and will add one small comment. Pruning cuts should never be 'protected' with anything (under nearly all circumstances...there are very few exceptions).

Also, I think that you should remove (at least) one of those shoots. They are too close together for normal, healthy development.
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citrusenthusiast
16 years ago
I agree with citrange and rhizo about it not being growth from the rootstock. But I would like to add that the bud union doesn't look very healthy to me. There is a known incompatibility between Eureka lemons and citrange rootstocks. Normally Pink Variegated Eureka Lemons along with other Eureka lemons such as Allen are budded onto lemon rootstocks like Volkameriana or Schaub Rough Lemon. It is hard to tell what was used for rootstock on your lemon but like I said it doesn't look as smooth as you would like it.
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lehua49
Original Author
16 years ago
Thank you Citrus Sages,

Very informative as usual. One shoot hasn't amounted to much but the second one is growing quite well but I will take both off close to the graft point to keep the tree from being bushy. I am worried about the bud union not being healthy. I can ask the nursery the graft stock variety their variegated lemons are grafted on. Do you think the bud union is unusual because of the two shoots forming there? A side question, Should I cover the roots coming out of the rootstock with soil or compost?
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citrange2
16 years ago
If the plant is physically stable do not add soil/compost.
It's always a good idea to keep as much stem as possible away from any contact with the growing medium. Helps to prevent possibility of foot rot diseases.
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pecanman
16 years ago
By leaving both stem the plant is likely to split in a wind storm.
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lehua49
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for the info. The stems have been removed.
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lehua49
Original Author
15 years ago
CitrusEnthusiast,

I checked with the plant nursery and they told me the rootstock was "Flying Dragon" Poncirus Trifoliata; as well as for my Bearss Lime. Thanks for the info.
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