what a difference a couple weeks makes

10 years ago

I found this ponderosa lemon on the discount rack at the local garden store. It was potted in peat and suffering from lack of light. I had an extra $10 and decided to gamble on bringing it back to health.

Potted it up into a gritty mix and new pot. I'm lucky enough to work in the plant sciences and had some extra space in one of our growth chambers. It's growing under LED lights. Intensity is between 600-700 micromoles m-2 s-1. Day temp is 24C. Night is 18C. I'm watering every 3 days or so. Foliage pro (1.4mL per quart) every time.

The plant has responded really well. It pushed out a ton of new leaves and buds. Right now, I'm debating on whether I should remove the flowers to maximize growth.

A couple days after buying. Repotted and under the LEDs.

About a week after buying. You can see some new growth.

Two weeks after purchase. New leaves are expanding nicely.

Today, about 3 weeks after buying. Blooming and smells great,

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Comments (5)

myermike_1micha
10 years ago
Wow, nice job!! Look at what the right mix and lots of strong good light can do! I wish I could have both at the same time, or at least afford to while I wait for spring..NIce
BahamaDan Zone 12b Subtropics
10 years ago
Good for you! That fertigation regime equals out to fertilizing about twice weekly? It is always nice to be able to recuperate a struggling plant, I'm attempting to do the same with a Thornless Jujube. Do you know the EC or ppm of your nutrient solution?
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Monica bf N. Carolina zone 7B
10 years ago
What a transformation! Great job. The tree looks really healthy now. I'm sure the tree is loving you and thanks you very much. lol
ferroplasm Zone 7b
Original Author
10 years ago
BahamaDan, I'm not sure of the EC of the nutrient solution. I'm using a rate just a little higher than the production rate on the Foliage Pro label. I'll irrigate with deionized water every once in a while to keep the salt accumulation to a minimum.
visrow
10 years ago
From what I've read, you should wait til the flowers become pea-sized fruits and then remove them. Otherwise the tree makes more flowers. Some people say let nature do its thing though, and leave all fruit on.
ferroplasm Zone 7b thanked visrow