I have a Meyer lemon tree but it's planted in the back yard and produced huge beautiful lemons. Maybe they are not meant to be so constrained. Anyone know?

There is a container gardening forum that you could try asking also.

Hi Thyme, I had a Meyer lemon in a pot for about 4 years and about two years ago I decided to plant in the yard. It was never a huge producer while it was potted but gave me several lemons a year.

You might want to check your potting soil...Citrus likes a soil that drains well, maybe your soil stays too wet especially towards the bottom of the pot? Some of those bagged potting soils retain too much water, it would be best if you amend the mix...try adding Perlite and or very small pieces of Pine Bark, maybe coarse sand...something that would keep the mix moist and not soaking wet.

Besides the Container forum that Cynthia suggested there's also a Citrus Forum and many members there grow Citrus in pots with great success...Good Luck!

Here is a link that might be useful: Citrus Forum

I wish they would stop selling these so-called "cocktail citrus" combinations. Meyer Lemon actually gets to be a pretty good-sized tree (for a citrus) and should not be planted right on top of anything else.

The "key lime" in these combinations is usually a "Limequat", a cross between a lime and a kumquat (Fortunella species) that is only vaguely reminiscent of a real Key Lime. I frankly don't know how they legally get away with calling it a Key Lime. You don't say where you are in Florida - a true Key Lime will not stand any freezing temps at all. The limequat will probably stand some crowding. In my experience they grow slowly and don't get much beyond a bush, but are among the hardiest of citrus-type plants (I'm in Gainesville - YMMV).

In any case, Meyer Lemon is NOT a container plant unless it has been grafted on to a dwarfing stock (which is not recommended). I would try (if you are able) to separate them and get them in the ground about 10-15 feet apart.

Better still, contact a *reputable* dealer (not a home improvement store) and buy the real thing. I have had excellent luck with "Just Fruits and Exotics" (link below). (I'm just a satisfied customer, no other connection BTW)

-Rich

Here is a link that might be useful: Just Fruits and Exotics Citrus

We rent the house we're in which is why I was happy to see a potted citrus "tree" that stated it could be grown as such. It was in a much smaller pot, think it was only a 1 gallon pot, but I replanted it into a large pot that has to be at least a 10 gallon pot. I used Citrus soil that is sold at a garden center. Then fertilized it with a granulated 4-6-8 citrus fertilizer that they recommended.

Yes, the "key lime" is a limequat. I'm originally from Northern Indiana, so am new to citrus plants, and (unfortunately) don't know anyone to ask. I tried the garden center, but couldn't find anyone that was willing to help a customer that day. I live in east-central Florida in Brevard County.

I've taken the mulch out of the pot, and am looking for a few bricks to set it on to raise it off the ground a bit. Hoping that will help with drainage.

I appreciate your responses!

You know, I was thinking about this and it occurred to me that maybe the branches are not strong enough to hold the lemons. Our Meyers were huge-almost grapefruit-sized, and our tree was leaning over from the weight of them. Is it possible that this little tree's branches just could not support them? Just a thought.

I have a couple Meyer Lemons in pots on dwarf rootstock and even when they were tiny would hold 12 lemons to maturity.
First, I would check the bottom of your pot to make sure there are plenty of large holes for good drainage. I do not just use the plastic pots as is for drainage on my citrus I make a few extra holes.

If your drainage holes are sufficient then I would make sure I wasn't overwatering, if not then you probably need to pull it out of the pot and check the roots. Just lay the whole pot on its side smoosh the sides of the pot a little (if its plastic) and slide the citrus out of the container. It helps to have someone help you with this. If your tree is so rootbound that it is clogging up the holes, you will need to put it in a larger pot or do a little root pruning.

What kind of potting soil do you have the tree in? I use Lowes jungle growth (walmart has it too now and it is cheaper) and some Miracle Grow for ROses (acidic and citrus are from China and do like acidic soil even though they will tolerate many soils even very alkaline). I also mix in some perlite to lighten the soil and let air in. Different people do their soil mixes differently but this is how I do my potted citrus and have good results.

When you fertilize make sure the tree has been watered very well and wait about a half hour before applying the fertilizer. THere are a few different ways to fertilize. One you can do it with a liquid fertilizer Miracle Grow etc. or you can use the granular for citrus. The MG you would do more often and in smaller quantities. The granular you do about 3 times per year.

With your grafted citrus, you want to locate your main graft line on the main stem. Make sure there is no growth coming from underneath the graft line. It will typically be thorny and vigorous and will try to overtake the tree.
If you have a lemon and a grapefruit grafted onto the tree watch to make sure one is not taking over the other. Grapefruits can be especially vigorous. You may need to trim one or the other back a little to keep them in check. Knowing where your graft lines are will be helpful.

I keep all my potted citrus in full sun on the sunniest side of the house. Make sure you are checking 4-5 inches down when you water to make sure the soil is not still wet. You will get yellow fruit drop if the roots are sitting in too much water. Citrus loves water but doesn't want to sit in it.

NO Mulch...but if you do use it just make sure to keep it pulled away from the base of the tree so the trunk does not rot.

One other thing about citrus, especially young trees: They can abort up to 90% of their fruit and only grow on 10% this helps the tree maintain enough energy for growth and fruit.

Hope this helps. I have many different potted citrus varieties as well as some of the hardier ones in the ground. I am in NE FL so had to learn to grow them in pots. I grew up in a area where we had all our citrus in the ground and they are much easier that way lol.

I believe that Sultry is correct that I am probably overwatering the plant. Now that the mulch is completely out of the pot, I can feel more clearly how much water was staying in the soil... and, I was watering every day to ensure it wouldn't dry out.

It is in full sun and the pot is held above the ground with bricks supported the edges of the pot. This should help with the drainage.

I'll give this all a try and see how the plant does from here out. :)