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6 ft Dwarf Eureka Lemon outgrew container

5 years ago

Currently in a 14" deep by 16" wide/15 gallon fabric pot. Roots have covered outside bottom of pot and has dropped 1/2 its leave. I'm having trouble finding a pot just slightly bigger for repotting. The best I could do would be around 21 deep and 19 wide. I don't know if there is such a thing as container being too big for dwarf tree or not. Any info would be appreciated.

Comments (17)

  • 5 years ago

    That sounds like a perfect jump in size. Go with it

    Steve

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    Not sure what you mean by fabric pot. But honestly too big a pot will stop top growth while the plant sends out more roots generally plants that flower like to be root bound. There have to be many pots just a bit bigger go to any garden center and you will find tons of choices. I would like to see the plant to give you some idea of how tall the planter should be since the proportion is important IMO. How tall is the plant ?

  • 5 years ago

    It is 7 feet tall by3 foot girth in a 30 gallon container.

    Seed grown Fukushu kumquat with 2 kumquat fruits.

    Steve

  • 5 years ago

    Beautiful tree and good info. Thanks

  • 5 years ago

    Your other option would be to lift and root trim the lemon tree, trim the top, and repot in fresh soil if you love the pot and want to keep it. The tree will resume growth.

    https://www.gardenzeus.com/4812-2/#:~:text=To%20keep%20citrus%20alive%20and,same%20pot%20with%20fresh%20soil.


    Of course, you can also go with a larger pot if you prefer that. :-) While growth may pause a bit while the roots fill in depending, it'll certainly resume once the plant has settled into its new, larger pot.

    I kind of like the size of the tree as it is in its present location, so I'd be tempted to root trim, neaten a bit, and keep the same pot. But that's just me and just my opinion, and the fact that I couldn't move a much larger pot outdoors very easily in summer.

  • 5 years ago

    The photo of the tree posted belongs to another member, is that not correct? Just want to avoid confusion :)

    I would also recommend root pruning. That is an excellent way of maintaining the tree - however big it is now - to a manageable size and in a manageably sized container.

    btw, the idea of a flowering plant grown in a container preferring to be root bound is another gardening myth. The same plant growing in the ground would not be root bound and would likely grow perfectly well and flower and fruit if given the right conditions. There is nothing about container culture that alters that concept or makes being root bound preferable. In fact, often quite the opposite.

  • 5 years ago

    Here's my tree. I cut it back a few months ago because it was infested with leaf miner and whatever else. I am more concerned about going from 16 inch width to 19 as height can be controlled to any level.


  • 5 years ago

    Oh, well, that's nice, too. :-) Yes, you can control height from bonsai to monster (although larger pots are usually required for monster unless you're happy with a tuft of leaves up top and not much else; BTDT with a hibiscus but lowered it).

    You can certainly go to 19 if you want. Just transplant it, check for girdled roots (root prune if necessary and check any good guide on the Internet about that), take the opportunity to refresh the soil if it's a little old, and enjoy.

    19 wide and 21 deep isn't too big for a "dwarf" citrus which can reach 8 feet tall. If that's 16" wide, then your tree from the soil base is already 4 pot units tall, or about 5 feet. 19" wide is not too large for that and adding 3 (1.5" each side) is not too much and not a "challenge" the plant can't meet.

    The only minor suggestion I'd have is not to overwater initially as the water capacity of the pot will be much greater and the roots will sit in more water than they're used to as the soil retains it better (there being more soil than there was).

    Moist, yes. Soaked, no. Step it up as the plant grows in. And if you make a mistake once, no big deal, just try not to make a habit of it. Citrus just don't like soggy soil, and a large pot will, at first, tend to give you a soggier soil that the plant won't like as much. As roots fill in, it won't stay soggy as the larger, thirstier plant sucks up the water faster.

    Of course, follow the occasional flushing the soil rules as necessary. That's not a problem.

  • 5 years ago

    What does it mean when someone has pro written under there pic like Patricia consulting does? How does a pro not know what a fabric container is and why would a pro give false information?

  • 5 years ago

    Anyone can sign up as a "pro"....all you need to have is a business. Or say you have one :-) Just having a professional profile does not make one any more "informed" or knowledgeable than anyone else. There are a lot of so-called pros out there that don't know bupkis! And a great many non-pros that are extremely knowledgeable.

    It also makes a difference under just what field one considers to have a professional knowledge base in. Being a professional house flipper or a kitchen designer is hardly a ringing endorsement for gardening advice!

  • 5 years ago

    hey Steve


    Please let me know the height by width of your 30 gallon pot. Thanks

  • 5 years ago

    No pic of tree, any circling roots/out of hand roots need trimming? Opportunity to root prune and stay the same

  • 5 years ago

    6 foot tall tree for me indoors is too big....I would trim and down size on a bearing grafted tree

  • 5 years ago

    Pot is 18 inches deep and 24 inches wide.

    Steve

  • 5 years ago

    Thanks for quick response.

  • 5 years ago

    18" by 24" is a little shy of 30G.......more like 26G (liquid) or 22G (dry).

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