Potted Limequat - Pruning advice.

10 years ago

Hello,

This winter i`m having difficulties with citrus. Climate zone is 5-6, having 8 hours natural sunlight at the moment and plant already starting new grow flush pushing out +blooming too. Past 2 seasons citrus haven't bloomed and eventually new grow flush started at end of March or beginning of April.

I`m using 2 additional lights: CFL 5W and 12W LED. They not produce enough light for citrus plant indoors with 64F to 69F temperature. Having slow leaf loss due low light levels and high temperature. Last week i`ve replaced old soil with new one. And planned after a month to prune it.

Can i prune it, when new growth and blooms are coming out? Scared that new branches wont survive with current conditions

What is causing that plant acts so strange?

Whole plant look. Last time i pruned it 2 years ago. It will be my 2nd time to prune i`m still figuring out how should do it properly to get a good shape.

In this photo marked few branches that i want to remove: One is crossing, and others too low. Can i remove them totally? Or i should leave some?

It is possible to remove totally these old branches without harming the tree?

Where i should do cuts? Branches marked

Any pruning advice would be appreciated

Thanks

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Comments (4)

mksmth zone 7a Tulsa Oklahoma
10 years ago
I have been growing citrus in containers for 7 or 8 years and I honestly never really prune. Even in a perfect climate people only prune for a few reasons. Let your tree grow for a while. cut out all rootstock growth, vigorous water sprouts, dead, diseased and damaged branches. Just keep in in balance.. Remember the more you cut off the less opportunity for fruit.
clip3 thanked mksmth zone 7a Tulsa Oklahoma
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Original Author
10 years ago
Thank you for comment.

The big problem i expierence now that plant is active blooming on every branch and some new branches also growing. Its 1st year then my citrus blooming. And i don`t if it is safe to prune at these conditions?

I would like to remove branches that barely can hold theyr leaves as you can see in my 1st photo left side of the plant goes in wide not in height. And branches that have lost theyr leaves during winter period. Just want to form some shape for the tree :)
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poncirusguy6b452xx
10 years ago
You will be fine without pruning. It will take a good month before the fruit starts putting a load on your tree's resources at which time it will be outside finished with is acclimation to full sun.

Leave the stubs on and the tree will form it's healing collar and you can simply snap the dead part off in a year or 2. This is the natural pruning method of most trees. There is no risk of rot because the stub are of such small diameter.

My guess is that the limequat is a bush and will always tend to sprout from a lower place on the trunk. I would bee hard to fight this growth pattern. I lost both my seed grow Meiwa and Nagami kumquat trees forcing then to grow as trees.
clip3 thanked poncirusguy6b452xx
clip3
Original Author
10 years ago
I forgot to mention that citrus is always indoors in a flat. :(( i wish to get it outside but impossible.

Thank you for advice, i wont prune it this year. Since its already recovering everyday i notice more and more growth :)

It`s first year my citrus blooming. Its already 3rd time this winter its blooming, i`ve cutted many small fruits already after 1st and 2nd flush, i though it won`t bloom this year again. I don`t understand why limequat is blooming again 3rd time and with it it`s growing new branches,leaves so early its still January? Last 2 seasons it started growing new branches,leaves at end of march? Can someone explain ? is it normal?