Citrus Growers Forum

dec11ad · Posted: Mon 30 Apr, 2012 11:32 am

hi, I'm new to this forum.
i recently purchased my first citrus tree, a Meyer lemon tree from hirt's garden on amazon and i expected/wanted more of a tree-like shape
so i'm thinking of pruning off a major branch and also use it as a cutting.
here's a side view of the tree.

i wanted to take off the longer branch sticking out to the right side allll the way at the botom
which leads me to another question...here's another photo showing the lower branching system. i can see a sudden change in appearance on the bark, is that normal? or was it grafted at that place? Rolling Eyes

where would be the ideal place to cut it off?

basically what i wanted to do is take of that one branch to the right and try using it as a cutting instead of throwing it out. so do you have any suggestions and instructions i could follow through? all suggestions are appreciated! Smile

finally, while i'm still in the question mood....could you also point out what this tree is asking of me? i got it about 3 days ago so it could still be possible that it's still in shock from shipping..

Laaz · Posted: Mon 30 Apr, 2012 12:05 pm

That is a rooted cutting, very common with lemons as they do great on thier own roots.

Yes you can remove the branch & root it as well. I try to keep the sticks i'm rooting under 12" long. What you do, is cut the branch & trim it to the length you want to use. Cut the bottom @ a 45% angle & dip it in rooting hormone. Then remove all the leaves except the top three, stick it in a good soil & keep it moist...

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dec11ad · Posted: Mon 30 Apr, 2012 12:21 pm

after successfully rooting the branch will it bear fruit? or does it have to mature like a newly started seedling?
that one branch is about 2ft long so could i make three cuttings from it? Surprised

thanks

Laaz · Posted: Mon 30 Apr, 2012 12:42 pm

Yes you can make three cuttings, and yes it is a muture branch so it will noramally start fruiting within a year or so.

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danero2004 · Posted: Mon 30 Apr, 2012 4:34 pm

Mine started to flower after a month or so Cool

jrb · Posted: Mon 30 Apr, 2012 4:58 pm

dec11ad wrote:

i can see a sudden change in appearance on the bark, is that normal? or was it grafted at that place?

Yes, it is normal. This is the boundary between two different growth flushes. The green upper part will shortly turn brown like the lower part too.

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Jim

jcaldeira · Posted: Mon 30 Apr, 2012 5:56 pm

dec11ad wrote:

. . . i recently purchased my first citrus tree, a Meyer lemon tree from hirt's garden on amazon and i expected/wanted more of a tree-like shape so i'm thinking of pruning off a major branch and also use it as a cutting.. . . .

The natural shape of a lemon tree, and most citrus, is to have multiple trunks that begin near the soil surface. A lemon tree can be trained with a single trunk, but you will need to prune off the suckers that will occasionally appear on the lower trunk and roots near the main trunk. Training to a single trunk is contrary to its natural shape.

John

dec11ad · Posted: Mon 30 Apr, 2012 10:30 pm

here's how to tree looks after cutting that one branch.

planning on repotting and straightening it and maybe make a second cut closer to the stem, and that would be ok, right?

Sylvain · Posted: Tue 01 May, 2012 7:09 am

Yes a closer cut will be better. You can also re-pot your plant to put the trunk vertical.(bad English, I know. Smile

)

Sven_limoen · Posted: Tue 01 May, 2012 12:39 pm

I hope it works out for you! Wink

By 'a cutting', do you guys mean to make it a rootstock/new plant or for grafting?

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growing (at least trying): C. sinensis, C. latifolia, C. limon, C. mitis

Sanguinello · Gest

Cut/plug means to cut a piece of a plant and make it a new one by rooting it.
That plant is a cut itself so no rootstock.
Yet Meyer makes also a good rootstock.