Citrus Growers Forum

brianPA2 · Posted: Sun 05 Jan, 2014 9:26 pm

So what's the downside to this approach vs maintaining 55F and some sunlight? Less growth in spring?

What about unripened fruit on the tree?

Millet · Posted: Mon 06 Jan, 2014 4:28 pm

The down side is 0% growth as long as the light is withheld from the tree. Besides no growth, the tree is not producing photosynthetic starch (the tree's food/energy source). Much of the starch production over the cooler winter period is stored up, for use in the spring growth and flowering. - Millet

brianPA2 · Posted: Mon 06 Jan, 2014 8:58 pm

Millet wrote:

The down side is 0% growth as long as the light is withheld from the tree. Besides no growth, the tree is not producing photosynthetic starch (the tree's food/energy source). Much of the starch production over the cooler winter period is stored up, for use in the spring growth and flowering. - Millet

I suspected this might be the case, but does this simply waste the potential growth of the winter months and otherwise resume as normal? Or will it have irreversible effects like dropping fruit or ruining fruit quality?

Sylvain · Posted: Tue 07 Jan, 2014 5:02 am

In winter I store my citrus in a very dark place and the fruits ripen just as if they were in the sun.
I mean the fruits that have reached their normal size or near.

Karoly · Posted: Sat 18 Jan, 2014 9:34 am

After 7 weeks in a closed box:

No leaf drop yet!

Karoly · Posted: Sat 01 Feb, 2014 10:17 am

After 9 weeks:

Some white mold appears due to no aeration (closed box) and high humidity. I need to water a bit the aurantium seedling.

citrange · Posted: Sat 01 Feb, 2014 3:23 pm

Yes, the C. aurantium does look a bit droopy.
What have the temperatures been?
You said before that it had reached 12C. I suspect that is a little warm for C. aurantium to stop all processes.
Interesting experiment.

Karoly · Posted: Sun 02 Feb, 2014 5:58 am

Week 8 the temperatures was 3C to 16C. From last week we have a cold spell and I must to move the box in a heated room where I'm keeping a part of my citrus trees at 4 - 5C.

Karoly · Posted: Mon 17 Feb, 2014 9:21 am

After 11 weeks:

During week 10 the temperatures was between 4C & 5C degrees.
During week 11 the temperatures was between 2C & 14C degrees.

Karoly · Posted: Mon 03 Mar, 2014 2:36 pm

Imageshack no longer free! Crying or Very sad

After 13 weeks:

Temperatures was between 4C & 14C.
C. Aurantium has been thirsty again.

brianPA2 · Posted: Thu 06 Mar, 2014 10:54 pm

I highly recommend imgur.com as a free image host.

Karoly · Posted: Sun 16 Mar, 2014 11:24 am

brianPA2 wrote:

I highly recommend imgur.com as a free image host.

Thanks Brian! I've choose photobucket! Wink

Karoly · Posted: Sun 16 Mar, 2014 11:30 am

Last photo!
After 15 weeks spent in a closed box, only 1 leaf drop on Aurantium seedling:

Spring is here so they are going out. Wink

Sylvain · Posted: Sun 16 Mar, 2014 6:40 pm

Be very careful. Don't put them out on a sunny day.

Scott_6B · Posted: Tue 18 Mar, 2014 1:56 pm

To go along with this experiment, I have some related results for my Thomasville citrangequat, which I planted outside last year. It has been held in complete darkness inside a protective structure with no heat since mid November 2013 and still looks great. As long as the trees are not actively growing, I believe that they can tolerate being in complete darkness for quite a long time.

Here are some pictures of it after being in the dark for just over 16 weeks:

The Thomasville (taken a few days ago):

The enclosure (taken in early March)