Need some Meyer lemon advice
I received this Meyer lemon in May for my birthday, it had tons of flowers and has since produced quite a few baby lemons I would say at least half drop on their own which I take as a sign that the tree is only keeping what it can succufully carry. I now have one lemon that is much larger than the rest and finally starting to yellow, but it's getting cold outside and I want to move it indoors but I don't want to sacrifice the fruit it spent all summer growing. What is the best way to move the plant in and keep the fruit on the tree? It's on my patio facing west and will move directly in the house in the same position. I'm concerned with light level as winter comes. A few pictures of the tree and the spot it will be during the winter. Not sure if the heating vent will be harmful but it's the only spot with a window it can go.
Comments (9)
myermike_1micha
7 years agoRelated Discussions
Some yellow meyer lemon tree leaves - new tree
Comments (17)Vegas, organic gardening is certainly not a crock and luckily, many hundreds of thousands of growers are willing to go the extra mile to produce organic fruits and vegetables. You should know, though, that you will have to study up on the nutritional requirements of citrus in general...and figure out how to provide them,organically, within the confines of a container. You are going to have to provide everything that your plant needs; citrus have some specific micro-nutrient requirements. I see nothing in the Jobe's product that disturbs me too much, though it does not have micro-nutrients, also called miner elements. Fish emulsion could assist in providing some key elements, when used in conjunction with your Jobe's. HOWEVER! It really isn't intended for container culture. There are no directions that I see on the label as to dose and frequency. Another aspect that is troublesome is that I can see how repeated use of this product would muddy up your potting mix....fill the so important pore spaces with fine particles. If you were looking for a product with a high Nitrogen analysis, you'll have to go with something other than your 'organic' products. Lots of container hobbyists resort to the commercial soluble fertilizers, while still using using organic methods for the rest of the plant care. I'm not saying that you should, but just be aware that you will have to keep up with the fert. in order to provide your citrus with what it needs. Another factor in the yellowing 'may' be the potting medium. Again, container culture is entirely different that growing in situ. Garden soil or compost added to a perfect good potting medium can result in a mucky, slow-to-drain mixture. Roots can function in that kind of environment, which is why we have learned to provide a potting mix that remains coarse textured and porous. I may not be the only one that would love to see you re-pot your plant entirely. I'd also like to warn you that moisture meters are notoriously inaccurate. Most of us have learned to rely on the most sophisticated digital equipment we have....our fingers. ;-)...See MoreNeed some advice on a meyer lemon tree
Comments (2)In what part of Oz land do you live? Can you put your Meyer in the ground? They are much easier to deal with when planted in the ground. Pictures would help, of course. If it is in a pot now; and you are going to plant it in the ground, you only have to dig a hole a little bigger than the pot; carefully take the tree out of the pot (for me I always choose to destroy the pot to preserve the rootball) and put it in the hole. Back fill with the dirt from the hole , water it in well and wait. When it begins to make new growth you can begin a regular fertilizer regime; but not before; the absence of nutrients encourages the roots to grow seeking food and water; and with citrus, first the roots grow and then leaves and branches....See MoreNeed Advice on Meyer Lemon in container
Comments (3)I grew one in a 30-35 gal container. It put out a lot of fruit after the 3rd year(I think it was). I had it outside in Southern exposure. Had to give it away,it got too big. If you get even 1 fruit,save the seeds.The,1 seed can grow 3 or more new plants.they have several embryos per seed. The plant I grew in a pot to 8+ft. tall is in a guys backyard at 30x as big. Seeds were from grocery store seeds. Once they grow a tree they really are easy to grow/keep alive-outside here in S.Ca. where we have no real winter.Coldest it gets is a week at most of 30+ degree temps. Not enought to kill them. Smoke...See MoreMeyer lemon tree needs some resuscitation.
Comments (5)Your tree looks good except for the spider mite damage but it is really OK. As for repotting, you should do it now. Remove it from the pot. Be sure to hold it by its trunk and support the rootball with one hand under it. Then remove all soil in the rootball by soaking it in a bucket for about 30 min. Then, while holding the trunk and with one hand under the rootball, gently dip it in and out of the water. Use a pencil or scewdriver to remove adhering soil by untangling the roots. Be sure to keep the roots damp at all times. Remove the stake. If the tree bends then tie it loosely to the steak to allow the wind to blow it around a bit. This strengthens the trunk....See MoreSammers510
7 years agolast modified: 7 years ago
Laura LaRosa (7b)
7 years agoSammers510
7 years ago
johnmerr
7 years ago
Nancy(Alabama 8A)
7 years agoSammers510
7 years agoThanks John, I will move it to the shade and spray it a few times over the next two weeks then move it inside. I am willing to be extra cautious to keep it as healthy as possible.
I've been out of town and didn't get a chance to pick my lemon yet but its yellowed beautifully and a smaller lemon has yellowed as well. I am picking them tomorrow and make a VERY tiny batch of lemon curd to sample my efforts.
You can't tell from this photo but the first lemon(right)is roughly the size of a Persian lime and the second one (left) is the size of a key lime. They are both fully ripe and I wanted to know is that normal to have such small meyers?/variying sizes on the same tree? is there something I can do to affect the size of the fruit?
Laura LaRosa (7b)
7 years ago
johnmerr