Your Meyer lemon is at least 2x the size of mine and I got 26 lemons off of mine last year. Some people here will tell you to leave them and let nature drop what the tree feels is necessary and some will tell you to thin. In my experience, Meyers can ripen a lot of fruit on a tiny tree. The lemons may be smaller, but very juicy. If you leave all the lemons on like I did, it will slow or hault new growth. Like I said, mine is small and haven’t let it hold fruit to focus energy on growth this year (I subsequently had over watering and salt build issues, unrelated to lemon production).

So the question is, do you want yours to to get bigger faster? If so, remove some lemons. If you’re happy with slower growth, let it be and make sure to fertilize regularly.

As far as repoting goes, I’ve repoted with flowers and fruit without a problem. Just be gentle. Of course it’s not foolproof, the tree could go into shock after transplant, but risking root rot is probably worse. Advice based on my experience, I’m no expert...

If you want your tree to grow, I would thin any clusters to no more than 3; later to 1 or 2 depending on the strength of the limb; ultimately I would leave no more than 10.

Thanks, I don't have any clusters larger than 2, I will see how they develop and probably thin a bit to let the tree grow. I will also re-pot soon, because soil is staying soggy awfully long. I also tried mix of what I have (soil conditioner with a lot of bark, nursery "organic soil" that is very heavy and kind of like compost, and perlite to mimic 5-1-1 mix) on our Australian finger lime (that had more severe pest issues with scale) that is not bearing any fruit this year.

Considering the time of year, I'd lean towards removing most of them or even all. Will you be summering the plant outdoors?

Producing fruit is a drain on the plant's resources. Because growing conditions are not currently optimal and because you plan on repotting into a better mix, I would want the plant to direct its energy toward "fattening up" so to speak and storing energy. Transplanting it inevitably stressful on a plant as many of the fine feeder roots and the root hairs which are responsible for water absorption and nutrient uptake will be destroyed. The plant will have to expend energy to grow new ones. A plant whose energy reserves have been depleted by fruit production may have a much harder time doing so compared to a plant that has had time to create some energy reserves.

Btw, though I'm sure you already know this but on the off chance you don't, when you repot into a better mix, remove ALL of the old potting media.

Your tree looks lovely. How your plant will respond to your repotting will depend on what you do. If you bare root it into a completely different medium like 511, it may go into shock. If you just upgrade it into a larger pot, lightly loosen the roots and add fresh growing medium, I don't think your tree will drop too many fruits. Maybe none because your tree will be happier. It may even drop some fruit naturally in the future because it can't support them all. Fruit drop may occur when you put it outside and something triggers it to drop some more for whatever reason. Meyers bloom all year if the growing conditions are right. If you lose a few with the repotting, you may get more blooms later after it settles down. Don't put so much emphasis on keeping the fruit, but rather on the health of the tree. I would repot it now and let it settle into its new environment. Spring is almost here and soon you will put it outside. New blossoms will be sure to be forthcoming then.

I repotted my 15 year old Meyer lemon 2 weeks ago. It was severely root bound and blooming as well. I pruned 2" of roots off the bottom and even removed some around the sides. It has shown no adverse side effects. I admit that I live in middle GA and did this when we had a 2 week warm spell. I have also been taking my tree in and out of the house for some sun and fresh air since the repotting.

Nina, johnmerr has a Meyer lemon tree plantation and so is very knowledgeable about Meyer lemons. Silica is also very knowledgeable. I would listen to both.

As to whether or not to repot now, many on this forum recommend waiting until spring. I have repotted a few citrus in winter with adverse consequences. Silica is correct: removing all soil will shock the tree. But if you want to repot into 5-1-1, then you must remove all soil and I would probably wait until the spring to do that to give the tree the best chances of survival.

1 fruit for every 30 leaves

Indoors fruit growth is stunted from lower sunlight, lower soil temperature, and lower water uptake. For fruit to develop you need a lot of water but that is impossible indoors with your current set up. Most of the moisture in the winter will go to the leaves to keep them from overheating. A lot of catch 22. Indoors a citrus will flower really well but fruit development is really hard. I agree with people saying thin. Save some energy for the leaves.

I grew a lemon tree from seed and I live in the northeast, it is growing healthy leaves and branches but has not fruited yet and it is 2 1/2 years old is this normal?

HU Pictures please.

A lemon tree grown from seed might not make fruit until 10 years.

I'd leave about 5 - 7 fruits or so.

Alanna, you got 26 lemons off of a 1-foot tall tree???

Josh