Help needed with citron tree care

9 years ago

Hello,

I could do with a bit of advice please. Bear in mind that I live in North England, so this is going to be mostly indoor advice, as it's too cold to grow citrus outdoors here for most of the year.

I've been given a citron tree that a friend grew from seed, and has now grown too big for his kitchen. It's about 6 feet tall...

Not sure why it came out sideways. Please turn your head to the right to see it properly!

It's planted in normal houseplant potting mixture, and was sitting in his kitchen, which he described as warm. He watered it pretty generously, every day from what I understand.

As you can see, the lower part doesn't have any leaves, but the upper half has plenty. Despite his attempts to get it to branch out, it mainly refused, and so has only one point where the main trunk splits into three.

Any advice on how to get this to grow well? Bear in mind it's going to have to stay in the house most of the year, so I need to keep it less than ceiling height!

I would like to try and get it to bunch a bit more, but am reluctant to cut it back in case it doesn't grow back afterwards. Although he gave it to me, he's quite protective about it, and asks me regularly how it's doing! I'll be in trouble if anything goes wrong with it!

Any advice welcome. Thanks

Featured Answer

sunshine (zone 6a, Ontario,Canada)

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

You can air layer it at 30 inches height when the really warm season arrives and you will get two trees.

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Comments (6)

O J
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Your question is quite common. The solution to your citron tree's growth problem is really quite simple. Just top the tree at about 28 inches tall, and your tree will rather quickly branch out. It is the apical dominant bud that is preventing any lower growth.
Laura LaRosa (7b)
9 years ago
I agree with OJ, it needs a pruning ;-). Good luck!
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myermike_1micha
9 years ago
Providing much more light will help it to grow more compact and force growth at places that are bare...You will only get the same elongated growth if you can not do that..
Yossu Bonkers
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks to all of you for the replies. I was just a bit worried about pruning until I knew it wasn't going to damage it.

If I prune it at 29 inches (from the soil level I assume?), then it will be left with about 5 poor looking leaves. Will it recover OK from that?

Also, is there any way I can replant the bits I snip off? I know with many houseplants, you can just shove them into a pot of mix and they will root. Will this do the same? There is some lovely growth there, and it seems a shame to waste it.

As for light, it's actually next to my best window for growing plants. It faces south, gets enormous amounts of light, and most things that I grow there take over. When the weather warms up, I could put it in the greenhouse, but in the UK that won't help for long!

Thanks again for the replies. Any further comments would be greatly welcome.
Yossu Bonkers
Original Author
9 years ago
Anyone?