Wow, Mike, I just love rescue stories! Your little baby citrus trees look fabulous! It is criminal that you're somewhat allergic to citrus, my gosh. You deserve to be able to sample every one of them. I wish I had before and after photos of a couple of the citrus trees I inherited with our new home. Nothing on drips, only occasional hand watering. Three were unrecognizable. I can now identify them as being a Palestine Lime (see my Mystery Tree ID message), a Eureka or possibly Ponderosa Lemon and an orange tree, probably Valencia.

Patty S.

Nice, Mike! I love the tiny citrus trees!
Also, "Rosa" is looking mighty fine with a full load of lemons.....
Remind me again, is the Ponderosa a cross of Meyer and Citron??

I'll take some pics later today.

Josh

Here we are! I'm back with some pics to illustrate the harrowing tale of my Ponderosa Lemon....

The Tale begins in January when I received a rooted Ponderosa Lemon cutting from Meyer Mike.
I promptly put the tree into an informal gritty mix, using screened bark, gravel, turface, and perlite.
From January 7th, back when the tree had all 5 leaves ;-)

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The Ponderosa then joined my other citrus in my outdoor cold-frame.
Well, it was a wet and windy Winter, and it so happened that my cold-frame was blown over during a storm.
The poor Ponderosa was knocked flat and half-uprooted from its container. So I tenderly re-buried the roots,
making sure that there were no dry/open pockets around the roots. After a few months, I suddenly noticed
some small buds developing from the trunk, just as Mike said they would. Right after I took the pics, however,
a wild Spring storm knocked the buds off and we were back to square one. Just couldn't get a break!
Buds - May 24th:

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After the loss of the buds, the tree didn't do anything for nearly three weeks. Finally,
I noticed some new green growth emerging from several low nodes. I was so excited to actually
see some progress that I took another picture - June 10th:

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Alas, the growth was not to last! The night after taking the pic, slugs or earwigs ate the new growth!
I couldn't believe it....I wanted to kick myself! So I sprinkled Sluggo-Plus in the container,
and I also added a copper wire around the trunk of the tree to discourage pests. All the while,
I was wondering if there would be any energy left in this poor tree?!

Yes, there was energy! Another two weeks passed and I noticed new nodes were activating.
I don't want to get ahead of myself, but I'm really hoping that the tree will finally be able
to make and hold onto new leaves....which it needs, since it only has two leaves left!

These last three pics were taken today. Two crappy pics of the new growth, and one of the tree.
I added the Jade (Crassula ovata) as a cold indicator. I figured if the temps were warm enough
for the Jade, then the Ponderosa would be warm enough, too.

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Josh

All look very good, Mike!

I read somewhere that you were using less FP and using more Dynamite CRF? Is that so? How is it working out?

I'm getting ready to place an order for a G of FP.

Beautiful, beautiful trees, Mike.

Your pond caught my eye. Nice waterfall, too. Did you put that in yourself? Love your hardy water lily. How do you over winter it?

Greenman, you're doing a fine job with your ponderosa. It looks happy and healthy dispite its mishaps.

Mike, so sorry to hear about your shattered heel!
Man, this is going to be a rough summer for you...I know how you love to stay active.
Get plenty of rest for the time being, and we'll chat soon so I can hear about the fall from the ladder.

Last night, some of the new growth disappeared from my Ponderosa, but most is still left.
I'm pretty sure earwigs are the culprit. I murdered about 40 of them that were hiding beneath the pot.
Now I'm going to spread some diatomaceous earth in the container....

Get well, buddy!

Josh

Oh man Mike, so very sorry about your heel. OUCH! That must have hurt! Take care so it mends quickly.

At least you have your pond to recuperate by. With your great smelling citrus. And the soothing sound of your waterfall. You'll just need to add the beverage of your choice and chill out.

I have a 100 gallon horse trough container pond, and 2 other very small container ponds. Nothing nice like yours, but it gives me great joy. There are 5 goldfish (in large tank) and some plants-hardy water lily, tropical water lily, and more. This is my 2nd summer with my water gardens. For the sound of running water, I have a separate fountain.

Hello Everyone...

I want to share my story of the "Ponderosa....AKA ROSA"

Someone who is a great person sent me a baby "Rosa" a few weeks ago...i will post pics when i get home tomorrow night.

But i do have to say that those trees look so happy and healthy! I just hope my tree is half as healthy as yours MIke!!!

I love my new "Rosa" and i cant wait to share it with you all...it has been repotted the same day that i received it into the gritty mix and it is a very happy tree!!!!

Thank you again, Mike for the wonderful gift....you are a wonderful person!!!

Tell Sissy to be watching for the postman.... : )

Take care..

Laura in vb ill post pics when i get home from this trip.... see ya!!!

CHEERS!

Mike,

I'm so sorry to hear of your foot troubles!!! Seems like we all have had some issue lately....i hope the second half of the year will be a better one that the first 6 months...we all def need a break!! I hope youu are feeling better soon...ill be thinking of you...

Josh...your tree looks wonderful, all of the new growth should make you very happy...thanks for all of the great pics....

Take care..

Laura in VB

hello Everyone..

here is the "Rosa" when i received it..looking very healthy.....then i repotted it in the "gritty Mix" it really likes it!!!

Thanks again Mike....

Laura in VB
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Laura!

You are something! My mom just found a box on the porch with goodies you were too kind to send her.

She LOVES them. I will be back to post these lovely plants she just put outside. Thank you so very much. Wow.
She was unwrapping them like it was Christmas, like a little kid..

Many hugs to you from us both!
By the way, your tree looks so happy. The mix looks great and, well of course the environment looks just perfect! I wish I had the same view that little tree does. What a fine job you did with it. I love the name of yours too!
That plant will be so happy in your care, I just know it:-)
Thank you for your kind words and beautiful posts.
I will write you very soon.

Josh: Wow man. I can't believe all the challenges your trees have had to bare! Thank goodness they have you to get them through their trials. They had better flower for you as a reward.
Sounds like you have a plan for those earwigs. Nice. It should work.
So far I am finding this rest to be gratifying. I just have to let go of the wondering mind that feels it has to keep up with everything, and I will be ok.
It looks like it is healing good. Now my big challenge is to see my trees through the summer through the care of someone else with my direction.

Citrusnut: Thank you for the uplifting words. I need that. You are right, I can sit back and enjoy for a while. I will make the best of my situation.
Sounds like you have yourself some great sound effect ideas too. You have to love the sound of trickling water, not from a faucet of course..lol
Good work!

Thanks again all!

Mike

Laura and Mike, thank you both!
Laura, your re-potted cutting looks excellent in the new mix.

Heya, Mike, glad to see you're back. Remember to stay off that heel...
I know you'll want to be gettin' out there with your plants, but take it easy!

As far as the challenges for this Ponderosa....yeah, it's had a rough go of it.
The tree is finally pushing out leaves, so that tells me that the tree has established roots.
Now, if only I can protect a flush of leaves long enough for the leaves to make energy,
the poor thing might survive ;-) We have a long growing season yet to come, and I have
faith that it'll pull through.

I sprinkled diatomaceous earth in the container and I move the container at night.
Another trick to trap earwigs is to use rolls of newspaper, cardboard tubes,
pieces of bamboo, even sections of pvc pipe. Wet the inside of the tube in the evening,
and go around in the morning dumping the earwigs from the tubes into a bucket of water.

Josh

Josh, do you remember this???How's you tree doing these days? Hoping you are well,

Hey, Mike! As you know, the tree turned out to be a Meyer lemon...! And it has really come a long way in the years since. It's full, bushy, and about to bloom again. I will get an updated pic in a few minutes. Stay tuned!

Josh

Great, will do Josh!

Hey John, always a pleasure..Hope you are staying nice and warm where you are and that your trees are flourishing! Love the story..That one made me laugh@!

Citrusnut, Laura and Patty, you are all missed very much. I hope Houzz sends you this in your e-mail!

Alright, here's an updated pic for ya, Mike.