Citrus Growers Forum

Laaz · Posted: Mon 29 May, 2006 1:26 pm

Benny I have all three rootstock plants growing in the back corner of my yard so I can harvest the fruit for seed.

bencelest · Posted: Mon 29 May, 2006 1:44 pm

Laaz wrote:

Benny you should start a plant of each type of rootstock you want. Plant them out in the back of your yard and let them go. That way you can grow your own rootstock whenever you want to...

The way I understand your statement is to plant the seeds on the ground in my backyard so I have rootsotcks on hand once they get to pencil size.
Now that I reread it , now I see.
But I want to have a pencil size rootstock on hand whenever I need it! That's the question. Since I can see in your pictures you have aplenty on hand.
Perhaps I can buy a liner at wallmart cut the scion and use their original rootstock to bud your favorite citrus.
Or maybe, maybe T-bud your favorite on the rootstock itself. But before you do this trim the existing scion so the new bud has a share of the nutrients on hand?
Anybody had done this?

Laaz · Posted: Mon 29 May, 2006 2:22 pm

No I mean plant the trees & let them grow to fruit. Once they fruit you harvest the seed & you have a endless supply of rootstock seedlings.

JohnC · Posted: Tue 30 May, 2006 1:46 pm

Hey Benny have you tried putting a wick in the bottom of your pots? It works really well by bringing the water table down. The Satsuma I bought at Lowes felt dry when I got home but before watering I stuck two wicks in the bottom of the pot, it immediately started draining moisture out of the pot and produced a wet spot on the concrete about 2 foot in diameter.

I make my wicks by cutting an old towel into strips about 5-6 inches long. Then using a coat hanger I push them up through the bottom of the pot about half way. I also use those ceramic pot stands to elevate my pots. These are small kind of 'L' shaped things made from ceramic, you use three per pot. Got mine at Lowes.

bencelest · Posted: Tue 30 May, 2006 2:40 pm

John C:
No I never tried that. But my plant was planted on a CHC so I should not have a water problem. The bottom is wet but not that wet. I think my problem is fertilizer. It is not getting its fertilizer as it should be because all the leaves are pale green. I am going to check the pH though. But then again I transferred my plant to a new medium but I'll check the pH anyway.