Millet! Thank you for your quick reply.
I understand that it's very difficult to to get an accurate node count. So I can change my question a little bit. What are the levels of that flowering Clementine and Page branches with flowers?
P.S. What I mean when I say a "level" of the branch.
A branch of the first level grows right out of the tree trunk, the second level branch grows out of the 1st level branch and so on. Hope you understand me...
P.P.S. I've read somewhere that citrus seedlings have mainly their fruits on 3rd, 4th and 5th level branches.
P.P.P.S. Millet! Can't you post here photos of your blooming seedlings?

Ingen, I am not much into cameras, or electronics. I did received a digital camera for Christmas 2007 but have never used it. I will have my son take a picture of both trees and then have Laaz post them on this thread. - Millet (1,409-)

Thank you, Millet!

Millet's Clementine seedling.

The "Clementine" shown in the thread above is 2-1/2 years old. It was grown from seed in a year around tropical greenhouse in Colorado. These are the first blooms the tree has produced. To insure that the bloom set fruit, I sprayed them with a 10 percent Gibberellic hormone spray. Gibberellic acid artificially "pollinates" the flowers. Thanks to Laaz for posting the photo. - Millet (1,02)

Millet:
When exactly do you spray the blooms? When they first appear? just before they open? or after they open? I am new to citrus and am trying to get the blooms on my container Ponderosa lemon to fruit and stay. I bought it about 2 years ago. So far all I got is 2 lemons and every time it blooms, the flowers/fruits eventually fall off.
Also, do you just spray the blooms or the entire tree with GA3?

Sorry for asking questions that may be obvious but I am very new to citrus.

Thanks.

Robert

Thanks for the pictures, Millet (and Laaz). Very nice seedling tree, and it looks like more blossoms than I would have expected for a first time bloom. I hope that the fruit is exceptional. Barbara

Thank you Barbara, as one of this forums long time members, I thank you for your interest and your membership. The "Clementine" shown above, received over 800 chilling hours this past winter, which should have helped greatly with the quantity of flowers. Because of the high chill hours that I provided this winter, all of my trees are currently blooming heavily. u397, I try to spray the blooms with GA3 just as soon as the flowers are fully open. This is to reduce any accidental pollination by another citrus variety. All mono embryonic citrus varieties "pollinated" by Gibberellic acid will be seedless, if they are not crossed pollinated by another citrus variety. If you do not have a local supplier of Gibberellic acid, you can purchase a bottle of Ferti-lome brand Tomato & Pepper Set II. You should be able to find it at almost any good garden center. Ferti-lome Tomato & Pepper Set II contains both Gibberellic acid and Indolebutyric acid, and works quite well "pollinating" all citrus varieties. Just spray directly into the face of the bloom. You do not need, nor is it desirable, to spray the entire tree. Gibberellic acid will help your tree retain much more fruit. In fact it normally works so well, that in most cases some fruit thinning is later required. The best of luck to both of you and your trees. - Millet (1,402-)

Wow Millet. I find that amazing it is only that old. That inspires me to grow some citrus from seed to see if it will come up something good and new. I never bothered before though because Ive read it could take many more years for a seedling to get to that stage.

Musaboru, you are correct, it can take many years (up to 15 years) before certain citrus varieties reach maturity and begin producing fruit. Lemon, grapefruit, and orange are examples of citrus that take many years. Mandarins, normally mature in approximately 5 years. A Key Lime can begin producing flowers in just a couple years, and a Procimquat often blooms from seed in one year or less. Citrus trees growing in tropical countries mature in approximately 1/2 the time as citrus in temperate locations. This is because a tropical citrus tree grows 12 months of the year, whereas a tree living in a temperate zone, such as Florida, only grows for 6 months. My "Clementine Mandarin" was in my tropical greenhouse, and due to the warm environment, was able to produce up to 5 flushes per year....thus a much shorter maturity period . - Millet (1,401-)

Millet!
Thank you very much for photoes of your blooming "Clementine" seedling! It looks great!
Millet, you write

Quote:

The "Clementine" shown above, received over 800 chilling hours this past winter, which should have helped greatly with the quantity of flowers.

What is the temperature range of that "chilling hours"? 50°F? Lower? Higher?

Ingen, any temperature below 68F (20C) qualifies as cooling temperatures towards the differentiation of buds into flower buds. The cooling hours are accumulative over the winter months, and do not need to be successive. Take care. - Millet (1,397-)

Thank you, Millet!

Millet, how do you make your greenhouse tropical? I have a cold greenhouse for extending the season, but it only lasts so long. I have befriended a local plant store owner and he said he uses oil heaters to keep his plants warm, do you do the same?

My greenhouse is 70-ft. long, 32-ft. wide and 11 feet high. It is heated primarily with a 250,000 BTU Modine heater, that is backed up by a second 200,000 BTU Modine heater. Also the greenhouse has two (rarely ever needed) 125,000 BTU Infrared heaters that are controlled by a pilot light. These can be used when the electric supply fails. However I do have a large generator which is capable of suppling electricity the entire greenhouse and my residence. The greenhouse also has exhaust fans capable of completely exchanging the internal air every one minute. - Millet (1,397-)