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william_meister

How should I be pruning this ponderosa lemon?

10 years ago




I have a ponderosa lemon that I purchased last year when it was very small. I live in Connecticut so I have it under a set of T5 lights and its been growth spurts on and off since last spring. When it gets leggy or shoots off in one direction, I have been snipping it. However, I still can't get it to branch well at the base. If you look at the picture its very top heavy . Am I going about pruning wrong? Is there a certain time of year I should be doing it? Where should I be pruning this plant at -- the main stem or the branches? I have it in a 6 inch pot. The plant is 28 inches tall. Thanks!!!



Comments (18)

  • 10 years ago

    don't prune. It will take care of itself over time and balance out.

  • 10 years ago

    Frankly, if you want, you can cut it off right above where the second small branch comes out to the right. You will see profuse growth in all the nodes below that after. Only do this before good weather though. It has worked for me in the past, but remember, the new wood is unlikely to bear fruit for a season at least (assuming this plant is grafted) and it will take time to fill out. But if the conditions are right, you will get a LOT of bushy growth.

  • 10 years ago

    Thanks for your comments... if/when you prune is it possible to do anything with the clipping? like replant?


  • 10 years ago

    You could try rooting it. I personally have never done that, because I don't have the space.

    Take the advice of others before you prune the way I suggested. Most knowledgeable boarders here prefer to let the plant grow freely. I, on the other hand, do undertake some pruning time to time to shape my tree.

  • 10 years ago

    Looks like that tree is facing the window. If so, turn it once a week or so, otherwise you will always have a lopsided tree. Not bad, if you plan on planting it in a corner of the yard.

    my tree?

    Clip that entire branch, plant the clipping. Repot bigger, not clay and straight. Check the ph, the verigated leaves are an indicator.

    it is growing nicely though.

  • 8 years ago

    william_meister

    can we see how does it look now. Thanks

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Ponderosas can get quite large. If you want your 'tree' to have a single trunk, I'd remove the lowest down side shoot, and stake the plant more upright. It should fill out next season. If it doesn't and you want it to branch lower down, then cut the top 1/4 to 1/3 of the plant off.

  • 8 years ago

    Hey guys, I just joined the community after researching for months. What do you guys think of my new tree? I've had for just over a month and the great weather in


    Toronto lately has caused it to grow much bigger than when I originally bought it. I also have one of those cocktail tree.... Key Limequat and Meyer Lemon.... I bought them looking unhealthy.... they dont look the best but have a bunch of blooms and a few fruits.

  • 8 years ago

    Dave, What kind of tree is that?

  • 8 years ago

    Looks like a Ponderosa? Great looking fruit on it. I am jealous mine is a tiny rooted cutting right now. I wonder how the OP's is doing.

  • 8 years ago

    Lol.... I'm a fan of Gin and Tonics so the more lemon juice the better!! It is indeed a Ponderosa. I think it's going to bloom soon.... I see little purple dots forming on the branches! I think it's really pretty too, the leaves are massive.

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    John, I know you make your Myancello have you ever tried a small batch with the Ponderosas? I am sure its not as exciting as what is made with the Meyers but it may be a use for it. I love a tart lemon flavor and used them often in lemonades (my favorite right now is a rose water lemonade), cakes, pies, marinades, marmalade, grilled and squeezed on top of meats and fish, etc but I am sure that only goes so far when you have so many lemons to use. I buy the large bags at Costco and always run out before they go bad. I have some preserved lemons in the fridge now that I made a few weeks ago, though I do believe I used Meyers for those.

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Thanks, Sammers; but I am not really looking for a use for the Ponderosas; in fact I may take out the tree next year, as no one seems to want them. Part of the problem, of course (like my Persian lime trees) is that family and friends have been spoiled by having Meyers year round. There is a vacant lot in our Antigua development that has a Ponderosa; and although they are free for the taking, no one collects them. Sometimes I will collect one and put it in a basket with my Meyers only so that someone will say, "OMG that is the biggest Meyer lemon I have ever seen!"

  • 8 years ago

    When one make pies, cake, and lemonade do any of you add sugar. If if you do then I would say that maybe you don't really like lemons after all.

    Steve

  • 8 years ago

    I was thinking of using the Ponderosa lemon to make a pie. I didn't necessarily buy a lemon tree to produce huge amounts of fruits.... I have to move it indoors during the winter so I want to cap it off at maybe 6' and that might be to tall to carry back and forth. I have a Meyer lemon tree but it doesn't look as good as the Ponderosa.


  • 8 years ago

    I often eat lemons on their own, but as that isn't great for my teeth I try to keep it to a small amount. I don't like sweet things much and always use very little sugar in my food, even with jellies I use no sugar recipes. So yeah, I can safely say I like lemons.

  • 8 years ago

    Sammers. I make very little jams but I caned 6 quarts of apple sauce and 12 quarts of pear sauce all sugar free. I can safely say that I do not like lemons unless they are low acid. I also don't like sweet fruits either. I enjoy the mildly sweet Meiwa kumquats and should like the NZL fruits. My fig tree produced enough figs per day for one day to make fig preserves. I took 24 of them to share at the international fold dance group. They were a smash hit. I have found that I like sour cherries out of hand.

    Steve

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