My Calamondin is really not very well. It's leaves are very droopy following a period of falling off. It is a small tree only about 24" tall, in a pot. It's not been over or under watered and the roots are okay. The tree has been removed and repotted in case it's infestation, but there was apparently none. However I notice there are still little black flies in the soil. The leaves are looking very dry and sorry for itself. It's in good sunlight. Any suggestions?

I use Peters Professional mix for acid loving plants, or MirAcid. Both are widely available. I mix about a half teaspoon per half gallon and fertilize every two or three weeks during the winter, spring, and fall (less in the summer, since I am away!). I agrees with Hopeful that sunlight is important. Your Calamondin should set fruit reliably, without any need for pollinators, so the fact it hasn't suggests it is somehow unhappy. The most likely cause is poor watering. Watering before the tree gets stressed is crucial, since stress can cause fruit drop. My Calamondin, like some of my other citrus, shows early stress by slightly curling its leaves (from the edges in toward the center, so the leaves almost begin to look like they are trying to turn into cigars). When I see this, I know I have gone at least a day too long between waterings. Temperature should not be an issue: trees in citrus groves endure extreme variations in the spring months, and still set fruit reliably. Light intensity may also play a role. And possibly the lack of pollinating insects, but I think Calamondins set fruit relatively reliably indoors. Good luck! Don

Hi Jerry! I have known Toni for a long time and the funny thing is, after talking to her all this time, it never occured to me to use the stuff..lol. I will tell you though, Toni has helped me many times over since I have joined here. She is a gem to these forums!! The sick plant I am refering to is a Corky plant..It is a rare tropical that I have only had a short while...I transplanted it a few weeks ago, and it hasn't done well ever since...I thought it was the bare rooting process that I had done to it.But No.. Toni told me that this particular plant is a spidermite magnet! Yes..Everyone on these forums knows me as the paranoid pest member..lol I have been bug free this far...But it NEVER occured to me to examine this one...Gues what? It was LOADED with mites..ARGGGG!!! So I treated it tonight and had to seperate it from all my other plants, including my citrus..I pray to GOD that just one day in my plant room, it didn't infect the others.. Now I won't know if the ST works, since I have no other sick plants..But I am getting some anyway, to keep it on hand just in case..Some swear by this stuff, and others not. Guess I will have to see for myself when in need. I wonder if this stuff is good for just an additive with fertilizers..? Hum.. How are your citrus doing? have you a favorite yet?. Take care... Mike..:-)

Oh yes, it will survive and probably come back even bushier than before with a thicker trunk. You'd be surprise how good a tree reacts to a hard cut back, or should I say 'chew' back. Make sure to thank your dog a year from now when it's full in all its glory after keeping it in a very sunny window, in a well draining mix, watered properly kept clean of pests. Without these needs , it will look worst than it does now) Mike