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Winterizing problem for Meyer Lemon and Calamondin trees

15 years ago

I have a Meyer (no fruit/bloom) and a calamondin (loaded with fruit and blooms) and I'm wondering about winterizing and lighting. Somebody help please because I would love to see what the calamondin oranges taste are like. I'm not even sure if my Meyer will make it; it has a couple of yellow leaves on it and sparse. I think the pot is too big for it despite the fact that I repotted both of them at the same time. The calamondin just took off! It's luscious and loaded with fruit. Can someone help me with these issues, please.

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Comments (3)

birdsnblooms
15 years ago
Howdy Nellie. Since you're in Tn, your Meyer and Cal will have to come indoors during winter.
Calamondin are bitter tasting. The fruit is mainly used to make jelly/marmalade.

Are your citrus outdoors now? If so, keep them outside until temps are in the 50's. Some people leave out till temps dip to 40F, but IMO, that's a tad too cold for a citrus to adjust, especially after bringing in a warm/hot house. It's a shock to plants, more chance of leaf drop.

Place citrus in the brightest south or west window. Keep away from a heating source, like vent.
Keep soil on the dry side during gray days..In other words, water thoroughly, but don't water again until soil is dry.
If your Meyer is in too large a pot, and you didn't use well-draining soil, this 'may' cause problems, including root rot. How much larger is the new pot from the old?
If you used a well-draining soil, there's less chance of overwatering.
Once the air in your home turns dry, invest in a humidifer. Daily mistings and weekly showering (in tub or sink) works magic.
Withhold fertilizert until days lenghten or you see new growth.
That's about it.

There are many reason leaves yellow..over and underwatering, insects, and deficiency are a few.

Whenever a new plant is purchased, it should be inspected for insects, so give it a look-see. Over and under leaves, between stems, in soil.
Do you know what to look for?

BTW, remove yellow leaves. Good luck, Toni
gatormomx2
15 years ago
Winterizing includes water , fertilizer and light needs besides just temperature factors .
For in ground citrus trees here in Florida , we do not fertilize at all between the months of October to Mar - give or take a few weeks .

Problems associated with over-fertilization can be avoided by applying controlled-release fertilizers, commonly used for potted citrus and other woody ornamental plants, and need be applied only once or twice a year.

Let the Myers lemon rest . It may take months for it to recover . By Spring it should be showing new growth . Even under ideal conditions , Myers trees planted in ground take years and years to grow .
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John also lives in the Shangri-La valley. He has spring weather 24-7-365.25 along with perfect humidity balance. blazeaglory : -- John has always emphasized the important need of heavy feeding for Meyer lemon trees. The 2 real big advantages I have going for my tree are: I have mastered growing in an over sized pot with out the wet root problems associate with such. Second, I provide the tree with high quality light during the indoor season of my zone 6a. I take it you do also share the same success by maintaining a growing medium chock full of nutrients be it a potted or in ground tree. Would you share a picture of your tree with a detailed description of your growing practices. What kind of feed do you use. Thanks for the compliment on my well fed tree. The picture below shows my 3 sweetlee's at 1 year from seed with the light grow box they reside in for 5 months each year. The link gives a very good description on the trees and the box they grow in that allows them such good growth. Steve . Here is a link that might be useful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaASoeaBErs This post was edited by poncirusguy on Wed, Aug 20, 14 at 13:19
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How often are you feeding it? I read that too frequent feedings/certain nutrient proportions could result in too much quick vegetative growth with less energies going into fruit development/production and quality of growth (quick and leggy) vrs. stockier and sturdy... but I just got my 1st meyer lemon baby and have only newly embarked on the adventure, there are a lot of experienced lemon lovers on here who can share their practiced knowledge, I look forward to reading their insites myself as a lot of info I've gathered seems to contradict the last source... I have however experienced the negative results of over feeding in a limp and leggy jade plant which while appearing otherwise healthy and happy, was not actually growing as strong as it could have, it's survived but will forever be a straggly specimen... I'd love any tips on keeping my lil'lemons until fully developed. growing on 5 days now, no leaf loss or signs of dismay under massive domed skylight recieving all day slighty filtered light and partial grow light exposure x16hrs, 100% indoors 74°-80° w/ceiling fan 24-7. ~greenirene circa '95 "When life gives you lemons, be grateful!"
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Steve, you crack me up...lol Just put aluminum foil around the buckets and you will have shiny ones too) Rene, now that your trees are outside they will grow back leaves suited for summer. You gained leaves that are use to lights not the sun and that is why you shedded the darker older ones. They should grow back. Becareful though not to put your trees right back into the sun right away or they will burn off. They actually look pretty good for being held up indoors for so long. Hope you are not in stoe for another winter blast like we are here in good ole New England( As for the bugs, I use Neem oil mixed with a bit if natural soapy water and drown/suffoctae the buggers. Not sure whay they are, too hard to tell. Did you use outside soil, or a bagged sterile mix? What kind of soil is that?
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phalnellie
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks...appreciated the information.

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