Too Old to Bear Fruit?

16 years ago

Hi, folks. I have a calamondin orange that I was given as a birthday present when I was about twelve years old (so, about 40 years ago). Over the years it has produced fruit prodigiously, and I have made many happy batches of wonderful marmalade from them. I received it as a potted plant, which I'd put it out in the summer, and take back in every winter. Over the years I transplanted it into larger pots perhaps three or four times. It is after all a dwarf tree, and mostly it seemed pretty happy with this arrangement.

But...about three years ago, the tree started to look pretty sick, and even though I had heard that they like to be pot-bound, I decided it was time to re-pot once more. I did repot it (and yes, it was extremely potbound), but since that time I haven't been able to get it into a fruiting cycle. I had a high-potassium fertilizer that used to work very reliably at producing blossoms, then fruit (Scott's Fruit, Shrub and Citrus Builder), but although the plant now has very large, healthy-looking leaves, it's never blossomed since the repot.

FYI, I did not cut away at the root ball when I repotted it; perhaps I should have, but I never did before, either, and it seemed to do fine. Then again, the other times, it might not have been quite as badly potbound.

So, my question is, Can a citrus tree simply get too old to bear fruit? I'd hate to lose my old friend, but it seems that perhaps it has entered "citripause"! I have poked around all over the web (including GW), but haven't been able to find anyone addressing this question.

Or, maybe someone has some other insight as to why it's not producing fruit.

Thanks!

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Comments (8)

evaldas
16 years ago
Sorry, for not answering your question, but I'd love to see a 40 year old potted calamondin picture! :)
citrange2
16 years ago
Certainly not too old.
I have seen plenty of potted citrus in Europe that are several hundred years old and still fruiting. You can see details on my website - link below.
I would give your tree another chance. Perhaps you have over-fertilised a bit, so that it has produced an excess of healthy green leaves rather than flowers. Also, make sure you are providing cooler conditions during winter, so that increased light and warmth in spring encourage a burst of new flowers.

Here is a link that might be useful: Old Italian potted citrus
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meyermike_1micha
16 years ago
Buddingherbalist,

That is amazing! To think you did that for that many years and in New Jersy for that matter.

Would you please post a picture of it here. I would LOVE to see what it looks like. Is it grafted? Was it from a seed? Was it from a cutting?

It is great to see that a calamondin can live this long and that you certainly know how to care for it..:-)

If you wouldn't mind, could you share with us your technique and cultural habits with it?
Like, how much sun did it get during winter?
What kind of containers do you use?
What kind of mix?
When do you bring it indoors and outdoors?
Where do you normally grow it? The same part of the yard every year? Full sun? The same spot in the home? A south window...?
Do you provide artificial lighting, or just a sunny window?
Have you ever dealt with pest's with it? How did you rid them? What kind?

I think a lot of us could take some info away from you and be encouraged, whilst you get info from us and get enlightened..

Thank so much.

Welcome...:-)

Mike
buddingherbalist
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks much for your responses. I want to follow up, and will soon, but I how have some houseguests. BTW, I wanted to correct something in my original post: The fertilizer I said had reliably worked to produce blossoms in the past was high PHOSPHORUS, not high potassium (i.e., hi-P, not hi-K). Also, in the meantime, I was doing some pruning on it a couple of hours after the original post last Saturday, and discovered to my delight that it actually does have two tiny, nascent blossoms, and one cery small set fruit. Makes me wish I had asked sooner! ;-) I'll give more details of its feeding and other parameters, soon.

I will be happy to take a pic of it, and answer your questions, Mike--soon as I can take a breath! Thanks again.

-BH
Lana Chapman
8 years ago
I have a "cocktail" citrus tree(lemon,orange,grapefruit) that was planted in 1973,still blossoms,and produces mainly the lemons now. The fruit is "knobby"(?) that make sense ? :) not smooth like most outer skins. Any suggestions? Should I try some major pruning,or just time to get rid of it?? The previous owners sculpted the tree into a round ball shape making it very difficult for the blossoms,or even the fruit to have space to grow. We're pruned many times attempting to give the limbs more room,not crowded as its been. Thoughts, anyone?
johnmerr
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
BH,

Too old? Never. The Mother orange tree in Riverside is over 150 years old and still bears fruit every year. Most likely cause, you potted it up into a significantly larger pot; so the roots have some growing to do before it will make fruit again.
Parker Turtle
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
There were some orange groves and I remember being told the orange trees begin heading downhill after they reach 60-70 years of age. Not that they stop producing fruit but they produce less fruit than they did before so that they are no longer considered commercially viable (although their flavor is excellent).

I would imagine that, if a citrus were grafted onto dwarfing rootstock, the lifespan would probably decrease even more, and certainly being in a pot all its life doesn't help. This is true with all fruit trees, being on a different rootstock cuts short lifespan, especially the more dwarfing rootstocks.

I'd imagine your tree just got very rootbound and is now experiencing transplant shock. Likely your tree can recover in another few years but may not be as vigorous as it was before.
poncirusguy6b452xx
8 years ago
Lana

I believe people missed your question. If the tree is healthy keep itIf you like any one of its fruit more than prune out some o the other branches. Citrus trees can live a long time