Geode? As in the rock?

I found out the hard way that citrus trees only fruit for them selves. They are more self centered than a house cat.

Steve

Is the tree on its own roots or a rootstock? Seed grown lemon trees can take 5+ to fruit. Is the tree indoors or out? What do you mean by you gave it geode?

i don't know how geode got there, that should say fertilizer

The tree is outside and has been outside since I purchased it... not sure if it's root stock or seed, but either way I figured it should at least have some green growth.

No green growth? Where are you located and has the tree been outside in a container the entire winter? Can you post a photo?

I'm in GA. zone 8. It was outside all winter. I'll post a pic in a few hours when I get home

Yes, there are ways to sort of force citrus to fruit, but it's not always the healthiest thing for the plant. Your tree should reach a decent size first (depending on the variety).

Then, after it reaches a decent size, stop giving it fertilizer. Fertilizer typically diverts the plant's energy away from fruit production towards growth of leaves and branches.

Dwarf rootstock also makes it more likely for the plant to fruit earlier in its lifespan. (That's also why citrus grown from seed typically takes so long to fruit)

If you're interested in the unhealthy ways, you might look up girdling.

shye, it's interesting you're in zone 8, GA, and a lemon tree survived for you over the winter outside. Could you tell us exactly what type of lemon, and exactly what city you live in, so that I can look up a more specific zone categorization? How close was the plant to your house?

My sister tried girdling and just end up with a bunch a fat above the waist line. Not good

socalnolympia
I am in Atlanta. I just kniw that it's a dwarf lemon. I ordered it online and it didn't specify a variety.

I hope you got a Harvey lemon on Poncirus trifoliata/flying dragon.

If it was sold as a dwarf lemon (that means it's on dwarf rootstock) you shouldn't have too much to worry about. Just treat it well and get it to a good size and it should start fruiting.

Only give it fertilizer if it is still a small size. If it is a big enough size to start fruiting, then you should not give it fertilizer. That will help force it to fruit, if that's what you want.

Socalnolympia, where did you come up with that fertilizer program vs fruiting? A lack of nutrition does not provide for the advancement of fruiting.

A dwarf lemon left outside all winter in a zone 8 climate and that has no green growth on it?? I would question if it is even still alive! Even in my milder winter climate that is a risky situation and if in a container, a highly unlikely survival.

I agree with silica, fertilizing does not impede fruiting.

Gardengal
It is alive, just no new growth.. leaves are vibrant and green

Yes, but is the lemon alive, or is the root stock it was grafted to alive, very few variety of Lemons can survive outdoors in your climate, even here in SW Louisiana where I live I have to cover and put heat lamps on my citrus trees on the coldest nights of the winter. With the record freeze this February even covering and heating them resulted in significant die-back (50% or more on some trees, and one I think may be dead)

Oh I don't know how to tell if it's even grafted or not. Just looks the same as when I got it.

Show us a few pictures and we can tell you if it's grafted. A close-up of where the tree meets the soil would be great and an overall of the whole tree.

I did take a quick look at it earlier and it appeared heated the bowen was brown and looked different from the green stem with the leaves. I'll post pics later.

If it was sold as a dwarf, it's definitely grafted. Almost all citrus that is sold from a regular nursery is grafted.

Here are some pics. I can try to get better one when the sun is full.