Curious for Key Lime

13 years ago

Okay, after all the great information I have gotten lately regarding my citrus plants, I find myself seeking more wisdom. I brought in my Key Lime tonight since temps are going to be dropping down to 42 tonight and 39 tomorrow night. While looking it over to see if I brought in any pests or anoles with it, I see that flower buds are starting to form on it. I plan on watching my weather tomorrow and as soon as temps rise to about 50 I will move the bush back outside, since I have not yet properly weened it off of the sunlight. I will then bring it back in tomorrow night after the sun goes down. But I'm kind of at a loss with the flowers forming. Now that the season has come where I am supposed to cut back on watering and halt fertilizing, my Lime is getting ready to flower and fruit!

My house is not the best for southern windows. 3 of the southern windows are under the lanai or carport and the other two are in my bedroom. One of the bedroom windows has my wife's reading chair in front of it and the other has my night stand. I can probably move my night stand and let the bush sit there, but even there it won't get a lot of sun as that window doesn't get hit by direct sunlight until about 11 or 12 thanks to a Live Oak just south of me. So should I just let the flowers come and go, avoiding any pollination and cutting off any fruit that do happen to form, or should I take steps to ensure a healthy crop by springtime?

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Comments (7)

keithdphan
13 years ago
I find it odd myself to see flower buds forming on my grapefruit tree at this time of year. maybe the mayans' were right and the world is coming to an end in DEC 2012.
johnmerr
13 years ago
I live in Guatemala... the Mayans have a different concept that is a new beginning, not the end... come to Guate and experience the new era for yourself...

John
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Michael AKA Leekle2ManE
Original Author
13 years ago
Not to completely sidetrack my question, but I believe the Mayan calendar theory has been disproved. Something about how the Roman calendar and the Mayan calender don't exactly match up and how the inclusion of our Leap Years means that the day 'predicted' by the Mayan calendar has actually come and gone. They also found older Mayan calendars back in May or so that continued their count long past the one that has been used to fuel the "End of the World" scenario.
Ryan
13 years ago
John the Guatemala sales man.... Anyway, I would not worry about the key lime flowering, let it do what it will, no need to remove, pollinate if you want. Mine is flowering too, not many just a few, If your lucky you can pick a ripe lime in early June. BTW- 12/12/12 is approaching beware beware.....ok really its agoing to be 13/13/13 ok, never mind I mean 14/14/14 well, .....actually 15/15/15....
hoosierquilt USDA 10A Sunset 23 Vista CA
13 years ago
Leekle, limes and lemons will flower periodically, and more frequently year 'round than other citrus. Key limes are actually pretty prolific trees, so just enjoy. My two Australian Finger Limes are blooming. Again. And, I found several blossoms on my Chironja and my Ortanique as well. Of course for me, we're having a crazy late and warm Fall. It will again be in the high 70's and sunny today. Damn this weather.

Patty S.
Michael AKA Leekle2ManE
Original Author
13 years ago
So should I could continue with the minimal watering/no fertilizer approach, or should give it a bit more water and maybe some light fertilizer to help with fruit production?
hoosierquilt USDA 10A Sunset 23 Vista CA
13 years ago
Why would you minimally water a citrus tree? There is no season to "cut back on watering" for citrus. You want to provide adequate water all the time. Use your finger to test your medium to make sure you need to water. Be sure you have well draining potting mix (search for "511" mix on our forum), and continue to fertilize frequently. The cutting back of fertilizing during the winter is for in-ground citrus. The thought behind that is to prevent your citrus trees from pushing out tender new flush during winter, when you may risk having some frosts or even short periods of temps below 32, which would damage tender new growth. Container citrus that are moved indoors during the winter are managed differently. I would recommend DyaGro Foliage Pro. Used quite a bit on this list for our container citrus folks.

Patty S.