Software
Houzz Logo Print
kpham124

Container Key Lime, Blossoms but No Fruit

8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago

I have a key lime tree that I've had for a little over 2 years now. When I first got it, it was flowering and gave me lots of fruit. Since then, I've had lots of blooms, but the fruit never develop. I saw that it had a lot of scale on it and thought that might've been the reason. It's been a year since then, and it is now scale free looking happy and healthy with lots of new growth and blossoms that smell fragrant. No fruit developing still though. I've attached a picture of it, would love any advice.

Comments (5)

  • 8 years ago

    Not a citrus tree expert here, but I'll just leave you a comment until one happens along.

    I have a potted Meyer lemon, which I've grown for at least the past five years or so. I get over a dozen fruit off it per year, but I'd probably get more if I took better care of it!

    So here are my two cents. Inconsistency with watering can cause baby fruits to drop off, which also seems to happen naturally to some extent; it's as if the tree decides how much fruit to support. Are you seeing any tiny shed fruits around the tree? If so, is it possible that your watering and fertilizing practices aren't up to par? (Your tree does look slightly chlorotic to me; from appearances I am thinking it could be low on Nitrogen. What are you using as fertilizer?) I fertilize dilutely every single time I water with Dyna-Gro Foliage Pro, but I'm sure there are other options out there, including citrus-specific fertilizers. The Dyna-Gro is a bit pricey, but it was recommended to me years ago on the citrus growing forum on here and I can say it does the trick for my tree.

    Another thought is that the flowers may be going unpollinated. I have my lemon tree outside this time of year, and the bumblebees are currently taking care of that task for me, but when it makes early blooms in late winter (still indoors) I hand pollinate it. Otherwise the flowers seem to just drop off.

    Hope that helps!

  • 8 years ago

    Try asking this over on the citrus board, there are a lot of indoor citrus people there that can help. All my citrus is in ground which is a bit different, though I can tell you feeding too much Nitrogen can cause citrus not to fruit.

  • 8 years ago

    Thank you! I do use a balanced fruit tree fertilizer, but maybe can invest in something more citrus specific. I fertilize 3 times a year since I like to use non-liquid organic fertilizers, but maybe I'll start upping it. All suggestions welcomed. Thank you for responding!

  • 8 years ago

    Give your key lime more time. Mine seems to have a larger crop every other year.

    kpham thanked Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
  • 8 years ago

    dave is yours in a container ?