I found this poor ciitrus tree , almost dead , but the rootstock was alive , and sent out a shoot , but the leaves are different from trifoliata (if I remember well) , although may look like one.

can anybody identify it , I could take it as rootstock for a plant , si very old and very thick

Looks like Trifoliata or Flying dragon to me.

I have a couple of them but the leaves look more like a citrus leaf and not more of a flower plant


Citrus rootstock (Poncirus trifoliata)

new pictures , I'm trying to save him



also , if anyone can tell , is it better to let the rootstock leaves and pinch the head to encurage the bud to grow more?

I'm thinking that now in winter I should let the rootstock shoot in place and remove it once the spring has arrived.

thanks

In the last pic, it shows the bud scion is still alive, producing Citrus leaves at the top, and the rootstock has sent up a shoot from just above soil level.

Yes pagnr , you're right .

But questions were

what is the rootstock above ?

is it safe to leave the shoot there until spring ?

thanks Pagnr

Of course it is safe to leave there. I would remove the rootstock shoots or they will drain energy from the scion.

Laaz , unless there is the word "until spring" .....they are opposite

on one hand "i should leave it there" on the other "it drains out the scion"

am I right?

danero2004, here is what I'd do:

The goal assumed:
Rootstock is of my main concern, I want to save that.
I'm still uncertain about scion, need more time to decide on that.

The tree looks reasonably well to me to support following chain of actions:

Action, now:
Pinch off the top of the new scion growth.
What is left (when hardened) is enough to be used for propagation (grafting) in the spring.

Action, spring:
Cut the trunk below the graft line.

Meanwhile:
What is that card hanging on the tree?
Can manufacturer (nursery) be identified ?
If so, contacting them could answer the question what the rootstock is.

thanks Ivica , I will consider what you have said , about the label , someone on purpose have cut the label with the nursery from where they bought it.

It is a plant shop , and maybe they were affraid that I could find the nursery and buy from there avoinding them.

But still , why to pinch the scion shoot ? It is like digging a hole and cover it and than make another hole exactly in the same place or maybe 2 inches away.

Since the scion from the grafted plant is alive , shouldn't I live it alone , maybe a new canopy will be made ?

Maybe I didn't understood right !

I'm confused here. So you don't want to save the scion ? If you want rootstock, why not grow a tree or two & you will have a endless supply of rootstock ?

no Laaz , you didn't understood , at the begining I was looking at him as a good rootstock , but once I looked closer I saw that there is a new shoot from the point above grafting line, the orange plant.

Maybe my english is bad , but what I want to ask , is :

The shoot from the scion above graft line isn't to big to sustain itself and obviously the rootstock(whit those trifolate leaves) is feeding the tree more than new shoot does.
So by cutting the shoot from the rootstock I might cut the food to the new shoot above graft line.

I also agree with you that leaving the rootstock shoot will at some point could be harmfull to the fresh shoot .I simply don't know when to take action , I don't want to be too soon , or too late either.

Now is at 8C so it is "dormant" right now , so no more moves allowed until spring .

I hope it is more clear this time

Ok, with the new growth from the scion it should be fine. You can remove the trifoliata sucker any time, it will not hurt the rootstock. The new growth from the scion will be enough to make it until spring. You will be surpised what trifoliata can withstand.

Very well then , I will remove the rootstock shoot asap.


well one thing I've discovered , trifoliata does not like the roots to be on the dry side , at least not with me.

I will try to root the cutting , at the end , what could be ? 100% trifoliata or 50-50% chances of a flying dragon ?