I received a mail order lime tree today - it's taken about two weeks to get here, presumably much of that time spent sitting around in some mail sorting depot.

Most of the leaves have fallen off, and those that remain are very pale, almost colourless - unsurprising really given the long transit time.

The root ball seems to be encased in dense clay, from which some long roots are protruding.

How should i treat the plant to ensure a full recovery? I am concerned that it is in clay, what would be the best way to remove this without damaging the roots?

Thanks for ANY advice!

Photo 1: showing roots emerging from dense ball of clay



Photo 2: showing dying leaves (they look bright green here for some reason, but they're actually very pale and blotchy!

Wash the roots with a hose or something like that if you say it is that bad.
A picture would have been very helpful. After that you can pot in a aerated type of soil. Search the forum.
Keep the tree in shade for a week or so and gradually after that move it to a sunny location. The foliage will grow back in a month or so.

Thanks Covrig. I've now added photos to my original post.

Besides the regrettable delay in transit time, I would also be concerned with the quality of cultivation by the nursery that sold you the tree. If I received that tree, the nursery would be receiving a telephone call from me, detailing my concern of their product. The root ball, and the foundation branching is very sub par. Citrus can be very resilient, and when treated correctly many times will recover. If you wish to remove the old medium, take all the time needed in doing so. Remove it very slowly, with the up most care, even if it takes two hours or more. Watch so that the small feeder roots do not dry out. Slowly sloshing the root ball up and down in warm water often helps dislodge the medium without damaging the roots. - Millet (920-)

Thanks Millet, sloshing it about a bucket of water worked a charm. I've attached a picture of the resulting clay-free rootball. How do healthy do the roots look in general?



For the moment i've packed the roots loosely with some moist multipurpose compost, but when i do properly pot it up:

- Can/should the roots be pruned (as can be seen, they're very long)?
- If not, does it matter if the roots are somewhat coiled/folded within the container?

Thanks again

Act fast! Do not leave the bare root plant for long like that.
The more time it spends with no soil the more time it will need to recover.
It was a mistake to wash it before you had the replacement soil ready.
Find a fast draining soil (anything is better than what you had..CHC, commercial citrus soil, for a while you can use anything until you will find the solution that works for you).
Do not prune any roots (they look great). The more root, the better. That is my experience.
Do not use a bigger container than it needs because you will have water related problems.
You have a PM from me.

Despite the long time that it took to reach you , the roots are looking quite good , and I agree with covrig on leaving the roots out such a long time and not having the soil ready.
Take care of him and it will recover quickly.

Succes

Thanks everybody for taking the time to respond.

I repotted in a specialist citrus compost a few hours later. I'll be repotting it once i receive the CHC i have on order, as i don't think the specialist citrus compost provides adequate drainage.

It may be my imagination, but i think the leaves are beginning to regain their pigmentation, so fingers crossed!

Do you think there's any risk in fertilising it now, rather than later/once health improves?

Specialist citrus compost usually can hold a LOT of water. I recently repotted some of my plants in a 5 liter pot using citrus compost and watered it afterward. I had to pour in about 2 liters of water before water started to run out of the draining holes at the bottom. At first I was worried about this, but the plants are currently in excellent condition, producing lots of growth and flowers.

See also my thread on this...
link

@Marc

Thanks, i noticed that too, it's very absorbant! I used J Arthur Bowers' compost, which may be explained by the wetting agents it contains...

Quote:

2. COMPOSITION/INFORMATION ON INGREDIENTS Chemical characterisation of active components: Peat, bark fines, sterilised loam, wetting agent, and nutrients, including potassium nitrate, sulphate of ammonia, mono ammonium phosphate and trace elements.

(Datasheet: http://www.william-sinclair.co.uk/files/uploads/file/Gardening/COSSH%20PDFS/composts/Citrus_Compost.pdf)

The roots look good to me.


You should NEVER fertilize a plant that is already stressed!!

That is quite important!

I would follow covrigs recomendation to pot it in good potting soil, water, and keep shaded. I would keep it shaded for 2 weeks and then gradually move into the sun. And I would give it sun only in the morning, not full sun all day long.

I've received plants in hot weather and plants in bad shape, this advice always works for me!