Gorgeous tree Atheen! Really impressive. Would you say your tree roots stay warm over the winter? I have found that to make a massive difference for my indoor success.

Sadly I don’t have anything inside yet. I am trying to choose who gets to go inside under lights and on heat mats and who goes into cool storage in the garage for the winter. My tahitian pomelo and key lime are for sure going inside - I am hoping I will be finished up by this weekend.

Pac, yes, most definitely. The trees winterize, for all intents and purposes, in my dining room-slash-converted-greenhouse in the winter. They completely take over. House is set at 68 at night, 70-72 during the day. It can even go warmer when I use the oven or the fireplace. And when I water indoors, it's always lukewarm.

I'm hoping to keep em outside for another couple weeks. It's a lot less work. ;)

The pic is from 2017, but you get the idea. The trees are bigger now, and I have even more lamps (I have 4, now, 3 for the "mutant", one for the "runt". Might have to get a second one for the runt, this year). They will end up kicking us out of the dining room completely.... Might have to get a second lamp for the runt, this year). They will end up kicking us out of the dining room completely...
.
Atheen

Atheen,I am so so sorry about the fuss they caused for a 90 year old lady and yet...Oh boy, don't get me started ha. I hear you. Please let me know how things turn out even if you have to email me, ok. Facebook?

You reminded about those lights I have sitting in my basement. Last year I did not use them inside stuck all my trees on a very cold porch. I think I will take my favorite one and stick it in a sunny window with a few of those lights just to keep it actively growing and smell good when it flowers. Thank you and what a great job too)

Doesn't that green in that beautiful kitchen add so much character to it? I love the looks of what you did and I am sure it must bring you some sense of joy and looking forward to seeing your trees and going home after the stress you deal with in life. Good for you my friend. I can't BELIEVE all the fruit on that tree. I remember when you were- a newbie at this. Proud of you)

Mike, thank you, it means a lot coming from you! I would have ended up with a rotted trunk of a tree and given up long ago, if it weren't for you and a few others on this board. But don't kid yourself, I'm still a newbie. I'm just a newbie with a riddiculous crop, lol.

I'm going to need to do some MAJOR pruning on that tree, once I pick the lemons. Its COMPLETELY unbalanced. Also, most branches are on one side of the tree, and I don't know how to encourage it to grow limbs on the other side. I wonder if I should have the weak side towards the lamps, this winter, or towards the window light. What do you think?
.
God bless,
.
Atheen

My newly acquired Meyers, back in April 2015...

Yes and Yes

Erm... Can you be a little more specific, Steve? :D)

Turn the week side towards the window and at sunset turn the plants so the weak side it towards the lamps.

I can't do that. I don't have the room, or the back, to turn them every day. I have to pick one for the winter. I guess I'm wondering if the best side is the window or the lamps.

lamp side for longer light duration. Put your tree on roller plant dishes.

Steve

Thank you, Steve. Xoxo

Atheen, your trees are gorgeous!!! You have so many lemons! Enjoy them and any baked treats ;). Mi e are still out by the way. I’ll keep them out as long as possible.

Laura, thank you! It looks like we have another week. Next week end might be the cut out date if the forecast holds. :(

Atheen, hello!!)

Time to bring them inside for me starting Saturday, looks likie for you too( So bummed out about that.

Maybe we'll get lucky and things will shift this week, but I agree, if it doesnt, it looks like it's this week end... :(((

We still have some time before frost, but I wanted to take advantage of the weekend and get mine moved inside

Haven't had a frost yet, but the weather people are predicting a freeze Thursday night for us, here in southwest Arkansas. But I have had mine in for two weeks already, simply because I hate to feel rushed.

Hey guys, I've been finding a couple of these on my trees, they fly away when I spray, but then come back and they're 2 not stink bugs, what are they?

In Annapolis I see a low of 39-40, only one day, so mine are staying out! They’ll need to toughen up ;)

box elder Beatles. harmless

Thank you, Steve! Xoxo

Sadly, this week end is "it" for me. The forecast is pretty cold. :(

Atheen, me too. I am so dperessed about that! Did you see the temps out west? 0 dgrees already, yes, 0! I can only imagine what is going to happen if that jetstream decides to dip on our side. I am so scared of that. Last year, all my perennials and trees froze in their spots before they could even die back. I lost so much. Now is the time to start making room for all my trees. I actually have been having dreams of how to do my set ups and I figured a few. lol I actually work in my dreasm and no wonder I am so tired. I thought of the perfect idea for my porch. All I have to do is stuff my citrus trees in there and a few orchids. That's all. I also have to wrap the porch one more time with thick gauge plastic so that it's double insulated. I pray it's going to be a mild winter. I can't handle the sub 0 ones with lots of snow.

My temps are showing the same as yours, funny.

Let us know how you do my friend!!Hoping things have been better for you and Mom ))

TODAYOCT 30Rain60°56°100%ESE 5 mph91%THUOCT 31Rain58°28°100%WSW 18 mph84%FRINOV 1Sunny49°30°10%SW 6 mph57%SATNOV 2Mostly Sunny49°28°10%WSW 11 mph63%SUNNOV 3Partly Cloudy50°33°10%SW 6 mph59%MONNOV 4Mostly Sunny59°38°10%SSW 10 mph56%TUENOV 5Partly Cloudy59°34°20%SW 8 mph67%WEDNOV 6Sunny51°33°10%WNW 7 mph58%THUNOV 7Partly Cloudy50°34°10%W 6 mph55%FRINOV 8AM Rain/Snow Showers49°33°30%WNW 6 mph61%SATNOV 9Partly Cloudy49°33°20%E 7 mph62%SUNNOV 10AM Showers49°35°40%S 6 mph64%MONNOV 11Partly Cloudy51°35°20%SW 8 mph64%TUENOV 12AM Snow Showers52°36°40%S 7 mph63%WEDNOV 13Mostly Cloudy54°37°20%S 8 mph66%

I caved and brought them in tonight. The 10 day forecast shows freezing temperatures this weekend. Now to setup my lighting and humidifier!

Have observed here for a long time and I am really impressed with the knowledge and encouragement here. Just brought my Myer in as it will be 28 here tonight and have a satsuma ordered. Wow, the fun begins!

All you have to do is find a space for them and hang a shop light or two over them good to go even if they are in sunny windows. In winter, there is not enough sun here to give off more light than a flashlight and most days are just dark and cloudy. Let me show you a difference.) Got yo find the pics

Here you go. Look how dark this room is even facing south in a 4 season porch with all windows on all sides at this time of the year. This is at 11:00 a.m! It's digusting! Look at the diference with one hanging L.E D light! My plants are loving it. Going to put more.

So now I am working on the porch bottom picture.
After

Before

Mike

Will do with the lighting and again thanks for your consistent support for any that need it Wishing you a great indoor growing season!

Curse ths weather forecast, we had a frost advisory for tonight, another for tomorrow... So I neemed one last time, gave the soil a really good rinse, and had the husband bring em in when he got home from work. I'll do a Neem soak when I water.
.
I slightly changed the winter setup. The runt used to get the small window and one light, the big one the big window and 3 lights. They are now both by the big window, with a wall of grow lights surrounding them. I'm hoping the reflection of the lights in the glass will also help. As per Steve's advice, the bare side (the one I want more limbs growing) is facing the lights.
.
Timer is set from 7am to 8pm.
.
Any suggestions are, as usual appreciated.
.
God bless!
.
Atheen

lights should be on 7 am till 11 pm.

Steve

Thank you, Steve, I'll change it in the morning! :)

I finally brought my Meyers in last night. All my citrus went in, except for my citrulmellos, PTs, and a red lime I'm leaving planted outside. Most will be going back out today when It warms up. I'm going to leave some inside a utility room room with lights this winter, and some I'm going be taking in/out of the house with no extra lighting. There are really not many days of the year here that stay under 50f, maybe 15 or so. The daily in/out has worked well for the last few years.

Aphids nightmares, omg... :)))

Mine are in the garage (with a bunch of other tender perennials and my 2 mini sweet pepper plants) because of the pouring rain, high wind and rapidly dropping temps to 30F on Thursday. I decided to leave them until tomorrow, when nights will be above freezing again for a few days. Then I need to decide whether to garage them again for the few days after that when it is forecast to be unusually cold again, or cover them, or bite the bullet and bring them all in.

I usually leave them out, with night time covers, until overnight temps are consistently below freezing - usually mid November.

I've gotten the windows in their indoor spots cleaned, but still need to get the floor protection down (I use large plastic underbed storage boxes and their lids) Helps confine water splashes and dropped leaves/blossoms.

I still need to spray them, too.

The last two Novembers have been prematurely COLD here in NJ.

Just got everything protection before the ridiculous. premature cold.

Here’s my gorgeous weather. Up and town up and down. Like January then November. They are blaming it on the snake jet stream and the ice polar melt. What ever the cause I’m done early again.
By the way,
Atheen, great job. Great job to all. So sad to see the weather not consistent anymore . These temps don't even reflect the wind chill. 0 by Wednesday morning and the teens by Tuesday night. The thaw freeze is on, what killed half my perennials last year.

Mike, Yeah, i hear, you. :( The temps are all over yet place.

After my last post, they did go out for 2 more days of sunshine, soil cleaned of fallen leaves, and sprayed. Then I brought them inside for good. I left the other tender perennials in the garage with a heater for the next couple of nights when it got below freezing again, and finally got them all inside yesterday before the polar freeze got here. The pomegranate took a hit from the colder temps - I always forget that it is more sensitive than the other plants; I am debating whether to nurse it along (once again!) or just toss it. It still has some leaves but most are yellowed.

The only problem I had with the citrus was that I knocked several key limes off while first, getting it in and out of the garage, then, carrying it inside and upstairs to its winter spot.

I hadn't collected enough leaves/straw yet to bank against all my potted apples, pears, & plums; only the bush cherries, peach and hardy kiwi are well protected- so my fingers are crossed that this very cold snap (high of 24 today, low of 14 tonight) won't do too much damage. And I forgot to dig my cannas - hoping this snow cover will protect them until it warms up again in a few days.

Crazy weather all around! I think this is the third year in a row here in the East featuring very warm/hot early-mid falls, then SUDDEN WINTER COLD (and snow). Deciduous trees and shrubs have gone from green green to brown and crisp overnight. And "Autumn" used to be a relatively long season at the Jersey Shore.

Seems like only yesterday that my mangos, papaya, coconut, and bananas were outside. Now we are dropping to 23 F. (tying a record that goes back to 18... whatever!) Glad all my tropicals and subtropicals got protected in time. (Citrus, tropical guava, papaya, loquats, avocados, and dates, and hardier bananas overwinter in big, detached garage, but coconuts and more tender bananas go into basement near the furnace. And though I hate the cold, I am good to go once we get to mid January. For me, it's more about the LIGHT/DARK than the cold, and by mid January it is often quite bright and sunny (especially with any snow cover!).

Come on Spring!

We are supposed to hit 14 tonight/tomorrow. This morning we hit a low of 17 that damaged my Seville sour orange trees. My US 897 orange tree was undamaged.

Steve

Yup. There was a time when perennials had time to die back and get cut bank. A time when I could take before the snows or freeze and when the trees in my back yard would’ve lost their leaves by now. Now they just stay frozen on and turn from green to brown. The perennials freeze solid before they can rest and the roses will grow new growth just to freeze solid before they can even turn yellow. It’s not normal and a huge concern in my landscape. It sucks. Everything dies instead Of going dormant and has to be replaced each spring.
So while we freeze the tropical rain forest burns and the impeachment process goes on. Messed up world and not good for my trees. Lol

The low was 10F this morning and my US897 sailed right through with no damage.

Steve

It's 24 damn degrees right now. This is riddiculous.

Atheen, the kitty didn't go out? LOL

We are freezing up here :)

Hey you all!

It's only going to get worst. MY long range forcast shows only the 30's for day after day after Thanksgiving! What even happened to our winters getting warmer? Seeems to be getting colder!

Mike

Here we go. Depressing and it’s been cold since August.

Oh, man, this sucks. Its cold, but sunny here, atm, although we've had a nasty Saturday with tons of rain and wind.

Mike, please message me your email, or email me at gattosocial@gmail.com. I had it at some point, but cant find it again.

God bless,

Atheen

We are about to harvest some from our tree:

Beautiful!