I'm happily watching as my Flying Dragon seeds pop up. But there is a mystery. The first and strongest seedling now has another seedling right next to it, about 1/4" away. I'm sure I only put one seed per root riot cube... well almost sure.

Is it possible that one seed has twins? If I count the little twin, I've got 5 seedlings so far.

How do I separate the twins? I don't want to lose either of them.

Thanks!

Suzi

Yes, many citrus are polyembryonic.

Oh no! So is there a trick to separation? Should I let them dwell side by side for how long?

I have twins! YAY!
Suzi

The two seedling trees are not attached to each other, but are separate plants from separate embryos. The seed you planted contained more that one embryo (nucelar embryos). This is very common in citrus. Sometimes there can be as many as 3 to 5 seedlings, and rarely more, from one seed.

You can gently separate them any time you wish. However, If you wait to long the root systems of each seedling will begin to get tangled complicating separating. - Millet

Thanks so much for your answer. I'm really worried because the seedlings are not in loose potting soil. They are in one "root riot" cube, which is hydroponic and great for promoting healthy roots, and I tried to rip one apart that I'm not using, and it's really tough. It's like tearing apart a sponge.

I can see the roots of the first and strongest emerging from the cube.

Had I known citrus seeds would produce more than one, I'd never have used the root riot cubes.

I may have to just plant the cube with the twins in potting soil and wait till there are enough roots for them to survive if I damage some.

This is not a problem I expected to have.
Suzi

So today DH got a knife, and cut that root cube in half, separating the twins. We were both amazed that there is no co-mingling of roots, but plenty of roots for both. We then cut another root riot cube in half, stuck each half next to the two rooted seedlings, and back in the chamber they went. I doubt they will notice a difference at all.

There is another twin emerging, but this time it's extremely close to the other. Unless they are both true dwarfs, the biggest one will get culled.

I wish we had taken a photo, but the separateness of the two was clear.

Suzi