I just bought a new tree and would like to get some advice. It is an Improved Meyer Lemon from Monrovia that has several lemons on it and appears to have been heavily pruned to obtain/maintain a compact shape. I will post a link to some pictures below:
http://newmeyerlemon.shutterfly.com/pictures/8

My questions:

Should I re-pot now and if so, would a 5-gal Rootmaker be large enough?

Should I play it safe and try to build a potting medium that closely resembles the Monrovia mix or do you think its safe to go ahead and convert to a faster draining mix now? Any ideas on a "recipe" for Monrovias mix?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

John
Maryland/Zone 7

The tree certainly needs re-potting into a larger container. When a tree becomes root bound, it begins to shoot straight up, like tooth past being squeezed out of the tube. The trunk becomes very elongated, with a smaller than normal amount of foliage production on top. The tree is also showing some signs of a magnesium deficiency. You can see this on the older leaves (green delta shape located on the center bottom of the leaf blade, with the remainder of the blade a chlorotic yellow). Since you mentioned Root Maker, you might read about the "4-Inch Rule" when transplanting on Root Makers web sight. Welcome to The Citrus Growers Forum. - Millet (553-)

The little bugs you see on that leaf are ladybug larvae. They aren't harmful to your tree.

I don't know if that tree needs re-potting. The crown to root ratio is as it is unbalanced. That root system can hold a crown 5 times bigger than that. But if you decide to re-pot I would suggest to choose a slightly bigger pot and use a potting medium that closely resembles the Monrovia mix because you will not need to water it every day. Citrus will easily adapt to most soil types. I had Citrus trees in every type of substrate, from CHC to soil with 90% clay, and I never killed a plant. The owner and over/under-watering will kill it. Try to keep it somewhere with a nice airflow.

Your biggest problem now is to adapt your new plant to your home. The plant seems healthy enough and may I say good-looking.
Regards,

I don't mean to sound rude but did you pay $100 for that tree? I have put up some big bucks on trees myself.

John, I do not know what the exact recipe for Monrovia's potting mix is, but I can make a guess that would be very close. World wide, the number one mix used by commercial nurseries for potting soil to be used in container tree culture is 3 parts bark, 1 part sand and 1 part peat moss. This has become the most used blend because the ingredients are inexpensive, readily available in large quantities, and will provide reasonable growing conditions for a period of approximately one year. Most all reparable nurseries follow the rule:....Sell the tree in the first year, or transplant into a larger container, or throw the tree away. - Millet 552-)

Thank you all for the advice. Millet: I had read previously about the 4-inch rule and had hoped to find a rootmaker container that would work but the largest I have on hand is the 5-gallon in the picture. I'm going to call rootmaker to see if they can suggest a distributor that will sell me the material to make a 15-gallon. I'm reading up on using epsom salts to correct the magnesium deficiency. I'm still undecided about the soil mix. We can get some torrential rains here so I know the fast draining mix would be better but I'm concerned it would be too much of a shock right now. Do you think I should wait on that until next spring and just get it into a larger pot with the same soil mix for now?

Marc: Thats not ladybug larvae. Google "Brown marmorated stink bug" and look at the pictures. We had them really bad last fall and it looks worse this year. I'm finding them everywhere...

Chris: I probably would have paid $100 for it but it was marked down to 75. They only had two left and I was shocked to see them since they aren't normally carried in our region. I had planned on buying some citrus from fourwinds soon, which is why I have the rootmaker pots already, but I wouldnt have been able to get a tree like this one shipped from CA.

Another thing about this tree. I dont see a graft line? There was a tag on the trunk with the word "Carrizo" on it which I understand to be a type of rootstock but so far I havent seen any graft marks.

Thanks again,

John

Carrizo is a variety of citrange (Poncirus X Sweet Orange) often used a a rootstock.
It is possible that Monrovia have used a fairly high graft to produce a 'standard' shaped tree with a clear trunk. Your photo #2 may show the graft point, although it's difficult to be certain.

John Sr. Root Maker manufactures a product called the Root Builder-II Expandable Container (RB-IIEC). The RB-IIEC comes in a 100 foot long roll, either 18-inch high or a 34-inch high. Any size container up to 300-gallon plus can easily be made from either size roll. I have both the 18 and 34-inch rolls, and have made many different size containers. The largest container that I have made, using the 34-inch roll, must be somewhere near 100 gallons, and has a Chandler Pummelo tree growing in it. - Millet (550-)

Here are a few pictures of the graft area...

A box container is exactly what is use on the citrus collection at Versailles. I've been there and seen the containers. Very nice looking, I'm sure your wife would be very much please. Look up the citrus collection at the Royal Palace in Holland. The containers in the Royal Dutch collection are also very decorative. -Containers can get very expensive. Whatever you make, put a picture on this forum, the membership would love to see it. Millet (550-)