Leave it alone and the tree will take care of itself. The tree chose it growth spots for a reason that you can't know.

Thank you both for the feedback. I shall leave it alone. I’m looking forward to the weather warming up so I can move the citrus outside!

i agree. i only prune dead and damaged limbs. Or the occasional water sprout that goes nuts and root stock growth. Most citrus want to look like a big shrub or bush anyways.

Also, some tangerines (mandarins), eventually begin to bear a heavier fruit crop alternate years. In the 'off' years they seem bent on just producing lots of green growth.

ohhh seed grown, I have heard it takes up to 8 years to see any flowers/fruit!! :O the patience you guys have. Does that container have drainage wholes? nice little tree you have there.

I missed that about it being seed-grown. It will probably need to attain some big size before it can even bloom -- maybe 6 to 8 feet high, or more, which could take another 4 to 6 years.

So, if you want fruit, you need to encourage the plant to put on size, but compact growth. No trimming of the main branches or it will never bear. I would remove the watersprouts and try to get the main branches to grow as tall as possible. The watersprouts have really long internodes and will grow super tall, but not compactly, and they will take longer to obtain the maturity needed to bloom.

Otherwise, it makes a nice foliage plant.

Matt - fruit would be a bonus, but really I grew it as an experiment after eating a tangerine that had about 20 very plump seeds in it. I felt like it really wanted to reproduce! The container has many drainage holes, I take it out of the wicker sleeve when I water it.

Dave, thank you for the advice - I will follow it. (I am quite patient and we have tall ceilings!)