Help With Flowering and Fruit Set
Flowering and fruit set is why we grow our beloved citrus trees. Either or the sweet aroma of citrus blossom or that great taste of fresh citrus that is hard to beat. When it comes to flowering and fruit set a healthy citrus tree is going to produce more. Optimization if the tree is done via fertilizing and care. Here are a few tips that may aid in ultimate results of flowering and fruit set.
Citrus trees flower and produce fruit in response to environmental stresses. Generally stress is considered bad, but in this case stress is natural and good. What is meant here is that a tree coming out of dormancy in the Spring is a good stress as the tree is doing what Mother Nature intended… Getting ready for a new year of growth and fruit production. Outside trees will be easy to produce flowering and fruit set as they are working in conjunction with the weather and seasons. Indoor citrus trees may need a little help and that is why it is always suggested to keep container citrus in a bright sunny place. The days and warmth are a good indicator to the citrus trees on what they should be doing.
Fertilizing right in the spring is always recommended as the tree is coming out of dormancy and going right into the growth and production stage. If your tree doesn’t have the food needed it will likely have a hard time producing. Another thing to consider for increasing bloom (which in the long run is fruit set) is added nutritional elements that citrus trees crave. Nutritional treatments right before bud set such as Calcium and Boron can aid the tree in getting what it needs at just the right time. Different micro-elements are needed by the tree for different things. Calcium and Boron are elements proven to aid the tree is flowering and fruit set.
sam audia
We have a cat and they are known to be attracted to green plants and may eat some of the leaves. Is a Persian lime tree harmful to pets(cat) if it would eat some of the bottom leaves?
Admin
We replied to your other question abotu this over on fertilizing a citrus tree.
STEVE CRAWFORD
I got a citrus tree from you guys from a greenhouse nursery. Its January and is covered in buds, I have it under an hps 150w light by a window as well. Does the tree think its spring and I should fertilize? Or did you guys fertilize it before it was shipped to them.
Admin
It was fertilized before shipping and the bloom is normal as you may have an ever-bearing tree. What this means is that you are set for fruit. Give it a good micronutrient feeding and make sure to keep it watered well. You should be good to go. Here is a link for you: https://mycitrustree.com/citrus-tree-flowering-and-fruit-set/
Gayle Price
I have had my lemon tree for 2 winters. I live in NC. It produced growth this summer being outside, i brought it inside as freezing nights approached. It flowered in Dec. and all the blooms feel off , but no lemons. I don’t think it suppose to bloom in winter.
It did the same thing last year. I purchased it in November in SC and it was blooming. the blooms feel off and no lemons then either!
I put it outside in March and leave it all summer.
Help please
Admin
Your almost there on blooming. What we would recommend is getting the tree feed up with micronutrients and an additional bloom time spray. It will help with cell wall development when the fruit is coming on. Also know that by the sounds of yor tree it is a variety that is ever-bearing which means blooms and has fruit throughout the year. Here is a good link for you: https://mycitrustree.com/citrus-tree-flowering-and-fruit-set/
Laureen Naylor
received a Meyer Lemon for Christmas gift….in Pennsylvania, sunshine is so limited in the winter….it’s in a WEST window….the best we have in our house…..leave don’t look very lush, flowers dropping (which i guess they would now??)….smells pretty tho! Does it need a grow light? or do the leaves need to be spritzed? hoping i can keep it alive and thriving! thank you, LN
Admin
Spritzing the leaves with water will help with moisture. Make sure you are watering well. If leaves are frooping it is because of to little or to much water… Here is a link on watering: https://mycitrustree.com/watering-a-citrus-tree/ and here is a link on feeding: https://mycitrustree.com/fertilizing-a-citrus-tree/
Clair Long
If I just bought the tree, do I need to apply citrus fertilizers immediately or wait 6 weeks from the day I bought it?
Admin
You can apply a good control-release fertilizer at any time as it is a slow release and continuously feeds. Other fertilizers such as water soluble ones are a good one time shot and only feed for a short time. Here is the one we recommend: https://www.growscripts.com/shop/trivium-18-5-10-control-release-fertilizer-nutrition/
Jacqueline Kuetbach
I have two indoor citrus trees, one is lemon and one orange. they were purchased at a reputable greenhouse in Sept. The lemon tree completely lost its leaves, while the orange one did not. We purchased a grow light in December as we were told they need more light in the winter, especially. I also mist them and give them plant food occasionally. Will the lemon tree start to produce leaves again? Also, will both trees start to flower in the spring? The orange tree has about 8 small oranges I would say are ready to pick. Would appreciates anything you can tell me about growing indoor citrus trees. Thanks very much!
Admin
Make sure to read over the tutorials on this website for additional info in growing citrus. What you will find is that in winter many times citrus can loose some leaves as because of the shorter photo period. Make sure you are watering and feeding micronutrients as that is what citrus love. Have you checked out this fertilizer and micronutrient package? https://www.growscripts.com/shop/essential-2pc-citrus-tree-fertilizer-micronutrient-packet-for-small-trees/
susan Heenk
i just got my meyer lemon plant today in the mail it looks great. the info paper said to polinate with a brush if being kept indoors but didn’t say what to use and when. Also I live in oregon so planning on keeping it indoors how often do i water it? thanks!
Admin
Here is a good link for you on watering: https://mycitrustree.com/watering-a-citrus-tree/
Pollinating will happen with air movement and you can tap the tree / bud to help juggle the pollen into the blossom. Watering will depend on the environment so give a read on the tutorial page to see how to do it.
Alie
I have been growing my Meyer lemon tree for about a year now. It has had remarkable growth over the last year and has recently been blooming like crazy. Since the tree is indoors for the winter, I have been pollinating it as instructed. I have purchased the GrowScripts bloom time kit to provide the tree with micronutrients and have applied those as instructed. I water the tree every 2-3 days depending on how dry the soil is. I have been noticing over the past few days the tree has been dropping flowers with mini fruit and those without. Is this a normal occurrence? If so, is there anything I should or shouldn’t do to help prevent this?
I’m assuming the tree is shedding the ones it thinks it cannot support or it simply has too many to support. But I am not sure.
Admin
You are assuming correct. How is the tree doing now?
L McDermott
HI! I purchased on of your meyer lemon trees from a local nursery a few weeks ago (end of february). I have it set up in a glass hallway with quite a bit of good south/west facing light. It is loaded with blooms and looks like it’s doing great. It has a great shape. However there is an abundance of green growth at the top since I’ve brought it home. Should I snip the new green growth to encourage fruit set? Also there is fertilizer in it (little green balls) but should i get something else to encourage fruiting? Thanks!
Admin
Always fertilizer. The little green balls are the fertilizer used at the nursery and YES you need to fertilize the tree. We like once every quarter or so in order to keep consistent feeding. Snipping the tree will cause the new growth to fork. SO tip it if you wish; it may not help with fruiting though. Know that the lemon you have is probably everbearing.
Mary Suggs
I have my lemon tree for 2 years now. The first year 2016/2017 it produce around 5 lemons. Brought it in during the winter and it stay health. Put it outside 2018 and it produced around 12 lemons. This winter I brought it inside and it strive at all. All the leaves fallen off on the floor. I water it just like always do. Gave it fertilizer, talk to it. It is now March 2019 and nothing. Please help!!!!!!
Admin
Go ahead and send us pictures so we can see what is happening. Many times there can be shock involved. Did it get to cold. Was it placed in a different location. Was it fed like last time? Etc. We can’t really tell what has happened but would be happy to look at a pic to help diagnose.
Jack DiMaggio
I have an orange and lemon tree, both have blooms, can I spray the tree with a Micronutrient Nutritional application while the tree has blooms.
Admin
Yes. Go ahead and spray away.
Karen Stapleton
I just bought a Cocktail tree [ key lime & meyer lemon ] . I live in Florida and have it outside in it’s pot. My neighbor has a key lime tree which is plentiful but I wanted my own. He was told to put “Hi- Yield” systemic insect control granules in it every 6 weeks. Should I be treating my plant also ? The only thing I have is Ortho Rose & Flower insect control plus …. can I use this?