Schizophrenic Lemon Tree

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

My husband bought this (supposed Meyer Lemon tree) at the end of last spring. It lived outdoors all summer.

Everyone helped me in fall when I asked about bringing it indoors and how to make that transition and lighting as this is my first time overwintering.

It has been doing well, (I think) and formed blossoms that have bloomed. I may even have little pollinated fruit. I’m not sure yet. It is potted in 5:1:1.

So randomly one stem has started to grow a new type of leaf. It has morphed in to a totally different looking plant And I’m not even sure what it is at this point. This branch has not had any blossoms. I read that sometimes suckers from under the graft on a grafted tree show signs of the other type. But this is happening on an existing “Lemon” branch. The new leaves are very glossy and large and round rather than matte and pointed like the rest of the tree. The lemon portions are also thorned and this portion is not. I did not prune this tree or anything but the stem does show some scarring of some sort... the last photo shows that this branch is the lowest branch on the trunk.

Any thoughts would be great! Thank you in advance.

Featured Answer

johnmerr

8 years ago

Looks to be a rootstock sucker; I would cut it off where it comes off the main trunk.

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Comments (10)

Dee
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
That stem is coming from the soil line so it is below the graft and should be removed.
Cassandra H thanked Dee
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Cassandra H
Original Author
8 years ago
Okay, thank you both. That’s what I figured must be happening I just didn’t realize that it could start out looking as a lemon branch and then morph in to whatever the root stock is. I’ll remove it!

Thanks again!
Laura LaRosa (7b)
8 years ago
Before you cut, can you post a closer picture of the trunk? I have trees that have leaves that have grown like that when indoors for winter. The leaves get bigger (even from the same branch) because of lower light levels. I also have some with bumpy leaves like that which have grown inside. It may be a sucker or rootstock, but let’s verify a little more before cutting. I can show you pics of a lemon seedling that has leaves much like yours.
Cassandra H
Original Author
8 years ago
Hi Laura,

I tried to get it from multiple angles. The branch in question is the lighter green one. It is the only branch that this is happening to even though the whole tree is under grow light. The tree is also in a south facing window. When my husband and I cut off a leaf from the lemon portion and it smells of lemon. When I cut off one of these leaves it smells faintly of citrus but more vegetal.

Thank you again.
poncirusguy6b452xx
8 years ago
I would be inclined to remove it.
Dee
8 years ago
Even if it is part of the lemon tree. Do you want a multi-stemmed tree?
Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Almost looks like part of the trunk near the soil line got damaged and that sprout is popping out as a result. I really can't tell if it's a grafted plant or not.

In my region, Meyer lemon is usually sold as a rooted cutting and not grafted because it's not expected to be growing in the ground.... but I have no idea for your region.
sunshine (zone 6a, Ontario,Canada)
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Your tree's graft line is very low. Where do the roots start on your tree? I would do some gentle exploring without damaging the roots :) When you cut that soil line branch, your tree will have wound, remove the soil a bit around it to not get infection at that level.
Laura LaRosa (7b)
8 years ago
It’s hard to tell. It seems the consensus is to remove it and it won’t hurt to do that. Also, it may improve the shape of the tree as Denise said. I suspect that is a cutting.
See the stem on mine? Probably bc I did not cut it ;). It does not bother me, but it does make the tree a bit lopsided. I know it’s hard to tell from the pic bc of all the other stuff in front, but it is a large tree now...over 6’ in container.