Big Leaves at the top of young Lime Tree

9 years ago

Howdy all! My lime tree arrived in late october from Logee's Its hanging in a window with southwest exposure (~4.5 hours when sunny) and a supplemental daylight spectrum CFL 9W, sitting ~4-6 inches from the plant which runs another 5 hours daily.

Starting in December (when I began to use Foliage pro 1/2 tsp/gal) it put on some new leaves. Initially, the new leaves were all compact and "matched" for lack of a better term the leaves that were already on the plant. I * thought* this indicated that light levels were good.

Right around Christmas the plant threw up a big shoot from the top and 5 new leaves. Obviously I was excited becase limes flower from new growth, right? :) However, these leaves grew rapidly, got HUGE and they are are also more textured or "rumpled" and a lighter shade of green.

The large leaves don't block the light because the CFL is pointed sideways at the middle of the plant not shining down from above, and a lot of the natural sunlight is fairly crosswise since I'm on the 3rd floor.

Are the big leaves something to worry about? Is my plant not getting enough light after all? why did the other leaves match and these don't??? Oh the mysteries of lime ownership. :) This pic shows the top leaves. More pics to follow

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Comments (9)

limeinqueens
Original Author
9 years ago
Lower part of plant showing more compact foliage.
limeinqueens
Original Author
9 years ago
The whole plant.

(why are these loading sideways? Theyare oriented corrected on my computer and my phone)
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johnmerr
9 years ago
You have what is known as a water sprout; it is indicative of the fact that you are treating your tree perhaps "a little too well". I would prune it back to the level of the tree in general and it should revert back to "normal" growth.
limeinqueens
Original Author
9 years ago
Is the water sprout growth detrimental to the plant? Some websites seem to suggest it is only detrimental if it blocks light or crowds other growth. Do you really think it will be for the best to cut off the whole shoot?

Sorry for all the questions, I am just very cautious of pruning it as it is a very wee little tree, it feels weird to cut it back. Of course I've never had the problem of a plant being "too happy" before. :) Usually its rather the opposite (in the past I had a bit of a black thumb).
poncirusguy6b452xx
9 years ago
Your tree looks fantastic. I personally would not trim at all I would aim for maximum size growth till it reaches the maximum size you desire. All my citrus trees have gained there size advances through water sprouts that later branched out.

The black line marks the top of the winter/spring growth. The white box is the watersprout of July/August. The tender shoots at the top started early october. The tree there is 21 months old from seed sprout at 1/2 inch tall.

Your tree will do fine.
pip313
9 years ago
I disagree with the other posters. It looks like your plant is stretching for light that also explains the oversized leaves that occurs when light levels are low. Then add to that te fact that you admit that it gets weak light for a short time every day.

Add more light, 9w is basically like not having anything. I'd at least get one of those y shaped light adapters that turn 1 socket into 2 then fill it with 2 23w cfl's.
calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
9 years ago
When new leaf growth is oversize on citrus, it is often a case of too much nitrogen, just cut back on the fertilizer for a while. Al
limeinqueens
Original Author
9 years ago
Thank you everyone for your input. I really appreciate the feedback! I think I will not prune it back for now, cut back on fertilizer, and see what happens next.
tantanman
9 years ago
Typically, when a tree sprouts much larger leaves, it is because zinc has been added and it corrected a deficiency. Many citrus struggling
in alkaline soil/water will not be helped by adding fertilizer to the soil.

But the foliage application does the trick. Zinc sulfate in a dilute water solution, ~1 teaspoon/gal plus a spreader sticker, can be used along with with other micro nutrients.

Big Leaves at the top of young Lime Tree

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limeinqueens
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Big Leaves at the top of young Lime Tree

Comments (9)

limeinqueensOriginal Author

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limeinqueens
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