Just an FYI, the USDA zone for Queens (and most of Long Island) is 7a. Brooklyn and interior areas of Suffolk county are 6b. There is no place in NYC proper that's in zone 5.

Look at my user name and you'll know how I know ;)

Thank you. I was told by someone its 5 but its good to know.

So it is safe to repot? And also to do bare root? But how would the propagation be done?

Mike would be acceptable to mix potting mix + gritty mix? Also since the lemons are still green and still growing you do mean I should repot after this comes to an end correct?

Also can I use the miracle gro citrus soil? For repotting?

I wouldn't. MG potting mixes just don't drain good enough for container citrus, even their Citrus soil. Too much peat and the particles are too fine, so they tend to pack together and peat stays wet too long.
If that's all you have or can find, you could possibly adjust it's drainage by adding a lot of small bark chips, 1/2'' size or so and lots more perlite, larger particle type if you can find it.

Some people, including myself, have done OK with adding bark and perlite to Citrus Mixes, but I've only used EB Stone citrus mix this way and it's worked out OK, but I have to repot more often as it breaks down quicker. I believe the EB Stone Mix has more fir bark and less peat than the MG mix. Plus I live in a dry arid climate, so I don't have to deal with summer rainfall or high humidity, which makes a mix that stays moister more manageable.

If you live where you get a lot of summer rain, I'd be cautious.

@mike I understand what you mean. It's my first time with tree and being that there are 7 fruits on it I don't have the heart to destroy them yet. Would potting by mid September be too bad? Also is miracle gro citrus soil work well? I don't think I have a space for such a large amount of 5-1-1 mix. I was also planning on repotting in a 15 gallon container for the orange and lemons and my fig tree. Also would air layering allow me to grow a meyers lemon tree that whill grow and bloom in a year?

Does it also take time for new growth to show up?

So I guys I have not yet repotted the Meyers Lemon plant yet. It's in full sun 6+ hours a day. I don't see any new growth, I don't see the lemons getting bigger or yellow. The plant looks really healthy just not sure why it's not growing growing. Any help please?

Citrus grow in spurts or flushes, not continuously. Mine have about 2-4 growth flushes a year depending on the kind, in between those times they don't grow. Also the fruit take quite a long time to mature compared to pome or stone fruits. Some kinds of citrus can take up to 12 months or more. Lemons typically take about 6-9 months to fully mature.

Your tree looks very healthy. You just need patience. ;)

Thank you so much. As for the leaves. It just seems I don't have enough. Is there something wrong? Also I should mention the nursery I bought this from had it in the greenhouse if that matters much.

This mornings photograph

That's typical for a young citrus tree. If you want more leaves when it does flush, take off some of the fruit. I'd leave only maybe 2-3 on a tree that young.

Maturing the fruit does take a lot of energy, leaving little for new growth. The tree will favor ripening the fruit over growing more leaves. Best to keep it to very small crops of less than 6 or so for the first two or three years, especially if you've not re-potted into a larger container.

And of course, keep up with your fertilizing program.

So what I decided to do is listen to your advice and took of 6 of the 7 lemons and right when I took it off I see a small white bulb like thing... its a flower :D but I guess it's too late I took off the other lemons so the tree would grow stronger and more leaves and 1 remaining lemon and new bud. I really hope this will encourage growth!

So here are some pictures of the plant you requested Mike. I'm using the mix it has come in. Not yet root bound, it's from Monrovia. I do plan to repot and I was thinking about Miracle Gro Citrus mix. As for winter I plan on keeping it indoors with a humid water tray under the plant. Also have it in the brightest space I have and also use a grow light. The rooms are always around 70*f.

You might be able to get away with that soil mix for now, but I find that the mix many trees are sold in are only meant for temporary plantings, and if not traded out for a fresh mix can be problematic during the cooler months of the year.

I would not use that MGCM you are thinking of unless you mix it well with half and half perlite..Make it a porous as possible without comprimising moisture in the mix so it dries out rather quickly, will not hold salt deposits and neither bugs sujch as gnats.

It is a constant source of light that will keep your trees healthy and a night time drop of at least 5 to ten degrees..If you are going to keep your trees exposed to a constant 70 degrees without a drop at night, your trees will probably loose their leaves and branches eventually. They will also be susceptible to pest such as mites. Your goal is to keep them as healthy as possible without active growth during the winter months. It's ok if your trees rest during the winter months and in fact healthy.

I would also encourage to loose the sticks and rope that hold them up and let which will encourage them to gain stronger trunks. If they are too top heavy, trim them back a bit during this active growth time and it will encourage lower growth along with good trunk development.

If you plant on leaving them in that mix, or using just the MGCM right out of the bag, I would watch out for salt deposits over time. Stop fertilizing once fall comes if you want to avoid spindly weak growth meant only for pests.

Mike

Hey all. As per your suggestions I removed 7 of the 8 lemons. Now I have had 3 blooms and all 3 are growing into lemons now. But no real signs of new foliage, is this normal?

Anyone have any idea what I should do?

I'd leave them and dare I say you were given bad advice on removing the fruit.

To those that suggested that, you are aware he lives on/by Long Island New York? He needs to keep his tree a manageable size and he also needs to encourage low growth. The fruit do that by bending branches down.

In in my opinion people like us have different goals than those that can plant in the ground. Or even keep them outdoors 11/12 months a year. Everyone has their opinion and opinions are never wrong per se. But some are more appropriate to specific circumstances.

@pip313 thank you so much. I guess I can't really blame anyone. But thank you so much for clearing this for me. I do plan on repotting in a 15 gallon ceramic pot with miracle gro citrus mix. With osmocote slow release 4 month feed. I plan on doing so at the end of the month to get it ready for the indoors from the winter.

Ivan if you do decide to use the miracle Gro I highly recommend you add perlite (not vermiculite) to the mix, something like 30 to 50 percent perlite as this will really help it drain a lot better and not hold to much wetness around your trees roots :-)

So 2 bags of citrus mix + 2 bags of perlite and has anyone used bunny poop for their citrus?

If that's what you need to end up with a 50:50 mix then sure, and not with citrus but I know a lady who raises them and uses it for her peppers and they grow great. It's considered a 'cold' manure as it won't burn plants like overfertilizing sometimes can, but I'd still just start out with a little if you do decide to use it, and see how the tree responds.

Would using normal potting mix with extra Perlite also be okay?

That or the citrus mix should be okay, the perlite is just to loosen them up and get that nice aeration and drainage.