Hey everyone, I have a Thornless Key Lime that I really want to take a couple of cuttings from and plant them. The thing is, the plant is in the fruiting phase.

Now, the branches I'm looking to cut are relatively new growth and although they have a couple limes on them, I hardly think they're strong enough to support even one.

If I take these cuttings, should I pinch off the developing fruits?

Also, any tips on rooting Key Lime cuttings would be much appreciated. Thanks.

If it was me I would probably just plant some seed instead of using cuttings. The reason is, is because key lime seedlings usually fruit very fast from seed compared to other citrus and by using seeds instead of cuttings if the plant had any viruses by using cuttings they will still have the virus. I think people would be surprised how many of plants have viruses and not even realize it. Alot of viruses are latent on one type of citrus and will cause havak on another (example: Poncirus Trifoliata is immune to tristeza but the virus will kill plants on sour orange rootstock also poncirus is very susceptable to exocortis that causes no harm to sour orange rootstock.)

Key limes root very easy. If you want to root some from your tree, take some hardwood cuttings. Remove any fruit or flowers & all but the top 3 or 4 leaves. Cut the bottom of the cutting at a 45 degree angle and dip in some rooting hormone.

Smh says it is a Thornless Key Lime that is to be cloned.
I was under the impression that seedlings are very thorny and less
desirable than the Thornless variety. Correct me if I am wrong please.

Personally, I would want the thornless cutting over the thorny seedling. Smh, do as you have suggested..... Take your cutting, pinch off any blooms, or tiny fruit and dip in hormone and strike the cutting. Remember the first 3-4 nodes are blind and take the cutting above that point.

Thornless Key Limes are less productive than the thorned variety but either will root very easy.

Thanks for the speedy and informative replies guys.

@Morphinelover, I actually have a thorned Key Lime that I've grown from seed. It's about a year and a half old. I confess I'm getting a little impatient waiting for it to fruit so I just wanted to try my hand at taking cuttings.

@ Everyone else, I currently live in Karachi, Pakistan. As far as I know, rooting hormone isn't available here. In fact, I can't really get big bags of dirt of compost or Miracle-Gro either. We have these makeshift nurseries literally on the side of the road. They have big piles sand and manure that they mix for you and fill into pots.

Back on the topic of rooting, I've read around the internet that aspirin can be used as a rooting agent. Here are a couple of references;

http://www.ehow.com/how_2123119_use-aspirin-around-house.html

Number 2 on that page.

http://www.plantea.com/plant-aspirin.htm

And a little more than half way down that page.

It says that the salicylic acid in aspirin can help cuttings take root. I've also heard this about willow water. Anyone care to put in their two cents?

Smh,
Willow based hormone, yes, that is what I plan to try next year (rooting Stevia R. and quite probably citrus), no direct experiance yet.
http://www.ehow.com/how_172766_make-rooting-tonic.html
http://www.weekendgardener.net/2007/05/make-your-own-rooting-hormone-with.htm
http://www.bluelotusblankets.com/press_info/Veggie%20and%20Herb%20Propagation.pdf
http://www.stevia.com/SteviaArticle.asp?ID=8077
"Steve Marsden's recipe. Harvest a handful of willow branch tips and remove the foliage, then liquefy in a blender with twice the volume of water. Dip cuttings in this mixture before placing in the rooting medium.
"

@Ivica, Thanks a lot for those links! It seems simple enough but unfortunately the only place you'll find Willow here is in cricket bats . I wonder if that might work... But that wood is probably far too processed.

I will however try it with a couple of crushed up aspirin when I get a couple of more pots.