My meyer continues to do worse The branches are dying back, just curious if I really really should prune the tree back, to make up for the root loss... or just leave it? I trim the branches back as they are dying, but would cutting it back drastically stop the dying off or just make it worse? I'm just hoping that the tree isn't a lost cause.

The main trunk is very much alive and very green as are a couple of lower branches.

Unfortunatly, we lost our little heat wave, sun... and went back into winter temops so the trees have been inside with heat. All are doing great except this one meyer. Even my smaller meyer is doing great with 3 lemons on it growing well.

I have decided, even without ever tasting a meyer that I dont like them so much. All the others are putting out new growth at a rapid speed and in just 3 weeks, my limequat has grown 5 inches or more in some areas. my calamondin has 20+ fruit on it, all that are 2-3 times bigger that when I got it.. in 3 weeks, new growth as well, with what I think are new flowers starting. Its just this meyer... and it breaks my heart as it was the last tree I picked out and I took such care to pick the meyer that looked best

Any advice when it comes to pruning it back... GREATLY apreciated!

It certainly sounds like the Meyer lemon has had root damage. I would only cut off the bown dead branches. If only one of your trees is having difficulty, and all the rest are doing well and showing new growth, your actually doing very good. More people have trouble with meyer lemons than any other citrus. Some people say it is only because there are more Meyer Lemons grown by citrus hobbist. I think it is because they are a finicky tree. I had a Lanes Late Navel Orange that had root damage and died all the way back down to the bottom 12 inches of the main trunk, before it started to put out a lot of new growth. So don't give up. Take care and good luck. - Millet

I'm amazed at how well I'm doing too. My smaller (now larger ) meyer is putting out new growth, I'm thinking of removing my 3 little lemons to allow it to grow more before fruiting. Its just so hard to pull those fruit off. I think I'll wait just a bit until I can get them outside and see how they are doing.

Just killing me that the meyer is doing worse and worse and worse. as long as I can see green on the main branch I have hope. It did get BAD root damage, I admit... I broke the plant. I just hope it can recover. theres not a single leaf or well.. it looks dead. Sad sad looking tree.

I'l hopefully replace it someday.. but meyers... not impressed with this one.

I have two Meyer lemons that's acting just like that. I just can't figure out the reason why. 2 years ago, both of my meyers started to lose leaves and branches dying back. I ended up cutting the branches one at a time until almost all small branches were all cut off. But then it is as if from sleep it started to wake up and put out new buds and now they have all brand new leaves and all green and it has few flowers which I will not clip. I am going to let them grow to fruition if it can.
My other meyer is also a very controversal plant. It would flower and bore lots of fruit but never never new leaves or buds. For two summers it was like that. I would just harvest its fruit. Then last winter I remove all her fruits even when they were not ripe. Now, this spring it started a few new buds and new flowers. I am going to leave it alone
I've been telling everybody that meyer lemons are very finicky citrus, the most temperamental citrus of all. And lots of us have the same experience.
Benny

I'm just scared it wont bounce back. I dont want to lose one of my first trees.. heck, I dont want to lose ANY trees! I'm sure, in the end it might stay alive... the main trunk is still very green and healthy, plus a couple of the lower branches are doing good still. I just wish I had the heat and sun outside so they coud go out. I'm sure its the sun, light, outdoor conditions it needs. but we are still getting tooo cold of weather. around 30 last night and no more than 55 all day. shame, just a week ago we were up in the mid 80's. my plants were SO happy! then poof, back to winter. I know its usually the middle of may before we stay with decent weather. sure be nice to get them all outside. soon... very soon.

Just keep everything crossed that the tree starts to put out new growth soon.

Betty

You've got to be patient with those Meyers Betty. I almost toss them to the garbage can because I did not see any changes for a long time 8 months I think. It was that long. It was just showing barely 2 or 3 leaves and green stems. But you should see them now. I am going to post a picture when I can. Like I said be patient. I ignore them as if they don't exist and put them where I couldn't see them. Then like ababy that just wake up, all new buds all at once came out.

I'll put it where it'll still get the water and light it needs, but where I cant see it as much. It really hurts as its looking wirse and worse by the day. I'm almost sure it'll bounce back. Its not bugs or disease messing it up, just damaged roots. whats it catches up, this should work out again.

Keep it in your thoughts!

Benny I have a potted Meyer that is just like yours. It is grafted to Volk rootstock. It just keeps on flowering & fruiting but very little foliage growth. I'll take some photos of it this weekend. I also have a Meyer I grew from a cutting inground in the front of my house. It is now two years old, about 5 ft tall & wide & loaded with about 1,000 small fruit. This one also fruits blooms & fruits most of the year, but also has a great foliage growth flush every month or two. Cross my fingers, but I have never had a problem with Meyers... They grow like weeds...

Betty i would prune it back a few inches past where the dead wood is. Most citrus can take quite a bit of abuse & bounce right back.

Benny, when I was visiting Laaz during the 2005 Citrus Expo, I seen the Meyer that Laaz has growing in his front yard. I think Laaz has the magic touch. On the other side of his front yard, he has or had when I was at his house, a citrus tree that he planted in a container that was WAY OVER SIZED for the tree, AND it was potted in just plain old hard DIRT. However, the tree was growing like crazy when I seen it. If I tried anything like that I would have a dead tree. Laaz HAS the golden touch for sure. - Millet

Hi Millet. The over potted tree is a seedling Lisbon. It is now over 6 ft tall. I was thinking about doing a JoeReal with it & graft a piece of all my various lemons to it. The problem I have now is how the hell I'm going to change the soil when need be... It is a mix of clay, sand & regular yard dirt. I can just imagine trying to remove the soil around the rootball... That is one heavy pot of muck... Lol

Just for the record Most all of my potted citrus are in 10+ gallon pots, from seedlings to large trees & I have never had a problem with any of them. You really need to pay attention to the watering & you shouldn't have a problem...

Laaz and Millet:

Here’s the Meyer that did not grow for two years but would just flower and fruit again once I harvest the ripe lemons



And here’s the other one that I had to prune it drastically because of branch die back.



Both of them appear to be OK now except like it seemed like ages I have not seen any blossoms until now. And I clipped all of its flowers a week ago thinking vegetative growth is in order. But I am letting them flowers again.

Here's the same lemon that did not grow at all but just flowered and fruited. Picture taken on Dec 31 2005.



The one on top is a satsuma and on the bottom is a melogold.

I thought I answerd your response of the above but I guess I did not click the submit botton.

So what I was saying " Yes, I believe that some people have that 'green thumb' because I have seen them myself. They do the least of care to their citrus and yet their plants look so healthy and green. When I asked them what were their secret, some say just add fish washings when they water or some say just hang egg shells on top of your plants or something weird. Yet some people go way out of their ways spend a lot and buy all the fertilizers they can get hold onto and they usually come up with a troubled plants.
weird isn't it?
Take care guys.

Benny

And here's the picture of the same lemon on Nov 14 2004.



It is regressing is it not? First it fruited at normal size and last year it becomes smaller and last March it looked it would become smaller again I clipped them all off. But after maybe one week outside they all turned yellow and I was able to make some lemonade. I like the taste because they are not very sour compared to Eureka.

Well.... I think I may have some great news!!! My poor little meyer..... stopped dying on me. No new growth yet, but its stopped dying. I cut back the branches that were dead, and even cut them a tiny bit further... it seems to have done the trick. no browning, all branches green and healthy... just no leaves or anything starting. I just keep hoping, looking so much more hopeful now.

thanks for all the messages about this, they helped

Betty:
Remember, they are slow. Just be patient.