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Key Lime - lack of flowering and fruiting

18 years ago

Hello:

I have been growing a Citrus aurantifolia for many years (about 20) as a bonsai - during the past several years it has ceased flowering and fruiting, although it remains very healthy otherwise - I have only performed cosmetic pruning on the tree from time to time...

The tree is quite pot bound, as I have not gotten around to repotting it for quite some time.

Any info. you could provide regarding increasing flowering activity would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Regards,

Tom Simonyi

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Comments (7)

birdsnblooms
18 years ago
Tom, that's very impressive. Growing a citrus as a bonsai, I mean.
How tall is your tree? What size pot?
It's possible the tree hasn't fruit/flowered because you haven't freshened the soil and/or placed in a larger bonsai pot. The soil gets old after a while, and also turns alkaline. What about feeding? Have you fertilized and how often..even though, of what little I know about bonsai, they're not meant to be fed a lot.
I'm not sure if potting now would be a good idea. You may get more info on the bonsai forum, or perhaps someone here knows the answer.
But, if it were my plant, I'd wait until spring, then work on the entire plant, by repotting, then a small dose of plant food..Good luck, Toni
Simonyi
Original Author
18 years ago
Toni...thanks for the kind words...the tree currently stands 20 inches in height and the width of the crown is 23 inches. The pot is an oval - about 2.5 inches in depth and 22 inches in width. I have not repotted for a very long time - I think that is what the tree is needing - regarding feeding, I am very regular about that - alternating inorganic and organic mixes during the year.

When it last fruited many years ago - my wife really enjoyed the fruit - she is a big fan of fresh lemons, limes, kiwis, etc.

Regards,
Tom
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birdsnblooms
18 years ago
Tom, considering it's a bonsai, how large do the fruit get? I've never tried citrus as bonsai, but I bet it's gorgeous..Do u have a picture?
How many types of citrus do you have growing as bonsai? How do you overwinter them? That'd be a good experiment..I should take a cutting of one of my citrus, root it, and grow as a bonsai..thanks for the idea..LOL..

Yours is in a wide pot..are roots sticking out? Also, how thick is the trunk? I'd love seeing a picture, bonsai fascinate me. Toni
Millet
18 years ago
Flowering of citrus is always a hormonal reaction brought on by the stress situation, either cool weather, or drought. The stress situation in subtropical areas, such as Florida and California, is the cool winter months. In the tropics where it never gets cold the stress is the dry season. In tropical regions citrus flowering begains after the rainy season. I would seriously doubt that the trees non-flowering has anything to do with the container, the soil, or fertilization. The tree's soil must be fine, or the tree itself, would not be in an otherwise healthy condition. Citrus flowering is ALWAYS ALWAYS greatly reduced or completely stopped by any pruning of the tree. If the tree is not subjected to any additional pruning it should again flower the next year following the pruning. However, as the tree is to be kept as a bonsai, pruning could be a constant problem. - Millet
Simonyi
Original Author
18 years ago
Thank you all for your replies...Millet: I think pruning is the culprit - there is a trade-off. I will need to get a mind set to let the tree grow unimpeded for a year or two to see if I can get flowering. I will take your advice.
Many thanks! Toni: I will try to send you a photo in the near future. Please send me your e-mail address to mistermoyogi@yahoo.com

Regards,
Tom Simonyi
birdsnblooms
18 years ago
Tom, all you have to do is click on my name on one of the posts, and it'll say, Email Me. You can go that route or just write to hopefulauthor@sbcglobal.net

I agree pruning can set back flowers/fruit..One thing you can try is after plant sets fruit and ripens, then prune..Since bonsai require pruning, it's a little difficult keeping a proper size and flowering/fruiting. I wonder how ppl who grow Wisteria and Azalia's get their plants to flower, yet remain a certain size.
I've a couple books on bonsai..One is old but I can't recall if citrus were included; I'll check..It may have info on pruning. Toni
tamstrees
18 years ago
I agree with Millet.. continual pruning could be a problem with any citrus and key lime is hard because if the temps drop below 60 degrees it will slow it's production down.. maybe not stop it but certainly slow it down. I've seen key limes almost dead but temps over 85, nice light and a bump of fertlizers will spring it into action. I've also seen citrus skip seasons. I don't even know why but it does.

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