Citrus Growers Forum

Evaldas · Posted: Thu 10 Jun, 2010 8:08 am

Hi!
Today as my birthday present I received a Calamondin, it's a bit tired, but it's from a nursery I always wanted a tree from, so I'm happy with it. I've decided not to repot it until next spring, but since I've made myself a mental note to repot only to the same mix I got the tree in, I would like to know what it contains
Please help me, here's a picture:

Obviously I see some pine bark, black soil. And I'm not sure what are those long, hay like "strings"? Sphagnum peat moss?
And exposed roots Smile

Am I right? What do you see?

Skeeter · Posted: Thu 10 Jun, 2010 10:46 am

That looks like roots to me. The tree does need repotting, and pine bark appears to be the major part of the mix it was in, the peat moss has probably degraded.

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Evaldas · Posted: Thu 10 Jun, 2010 11:40 am

Skeeter wrote:

That looks like roots to me. The tree does need repotting, and pine bark appears to be the major part of the mix it was in, the peat moss has probably degraded.

Well, sorry, I'm not repotting it, because I have some veeery painful experience with repotting a Calamondin shortly after purchase. I have the result of that standing with NO leaves at all in my balcony.
But, why, in your opinion, the tree needs repotting?

Oh, and I forgot to mention that the "sand" (or whatever it is) around the trunk feels sort of "crusty".

Those can't be roots:

And to me seems like the peat moss takes the bigger part of the mixture instead of pine bark.

gdbanks · Posted: Thu 10 Jun, 2010 12:04 pm

i don't think those long skinny fibers is a major port of the potting mix. i would not spend much time trying to find it for when you do repot the citrus

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Evaldas · Posted: Fri 11 Jun, 2010 10:57 am

I guess when I'll get to the repotting I'll just use 1:1 peat moss/pine bark medium, and a 19 cm diameter pot.

But, Skeeter, why do you think the tree needs repotting now? Just because the roots are showing? I covered them up with some soil. Plus the tree itself is not twice the height of the pot, which it has to be in order for repotting, at least that's what it says in the producer's web page care instructions, quote unquote "In general if your citrus plant is more than 2 times the height of the pot, it should be repotted"

Skeeter · Posted: Fri 11 Jun, 2010 1:50 pm

Yes, the roots look pretty thick on the surface--I am guessing that the roots are pretty crowded and circling the pot--but you can check that by laying the container on the side and just pulling the tree out far enough to see. If the roots are not thick an circling the pot, then I am wrong, but I don't think I am.

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Evaldas · Posted: Fri 11 Jun, 2010 2:21 pm

Skeeter wrote:

Yes, the roots look pretty thick on the surface--I am guessing that the roots are pretty crowded and circling the pot--but you can check that by laying the container on the side and just pulling the tree out far enough to see. If the roots are not thick an circling the pot, then I am wrong, but I don't think I am.

Well I guess the nursery didn't go through the trouble of reptting the trees into bigger pots before selling them, did they Smile

?
Anyways, if I would repot, and now it's in a 15cm(6") diameter pot, which should I choose 17cm(~7") or 19cm(7.6")? The tree's just about 25cm(10") tall.
And now it has 13 mature fruits, is there a big chance of retaining them on the tree after repoting?

Evaldas · Posted: Tue 15 Jun, 2010 9:00 am

I repotted it today Wink

Here's how the roots look:

What do you think?

Skeeter · Posted: Tue 15 Jun, 2010 11:44 am

Roots look good and healthy, but it did need repotting--I would have suggested the 17 cm pot--which did you use?

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Skeet

Evaldas · Posted: Tue 15 Jun, 2010 11:45 am

Skeeter wrote:

Roots look good and healthy, but it did need repotting--I would have suggested the 17 cm pot--which did you use?

17

C4F · Posted: Wed 16 Jun, 2010 1:28 pm

Def needed repotting (soon, ie next several months) to stay optimally vital. Those are some nice roots! Nice work.

You had a traumatic experience previously. Was it repotting (removing a lot of the soil and replacing with fresh) or potting up (moving to next size container, you don't disturb the roots all that much).

Evaldas · Posted: Thu 17 Jun, 2010 11:37 am

C4F wrote:

Def needed repotting (soon, ie next several months) to stay optimally vital. Those are some nice roots! Nice work.

You had a traumatic experience previously. Was it repotting (removing a lot of the soil and replacing with fresh) or potting up (moving to next size container, you don't disturb the roots all that much).

Yes, I have lost my Calamondin tree because of removing ALL of the substrate it came in, it also lost a lot of roots.
But this time I just spread some roots, and left most of the soil. This tree appears to be grown in 1:1 peat moss/pine bark mix, I repotted it into the same kind.

Evaldas · Posted: Thu 17 Jun, 2010 12:43 pm

Is this new growth flush?! Very Happy

jrb · Posted: Fri 18 Jun, 2010 12:51 am

Yes, it looks like many new branches are starting.

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Evaldas · Posted: Sat 19 Jun, 2010 10:54 am

Hm, the new branches appear not to have grown pretty much at all in the past two days Sad

. Is that's how it's supposed to be?