Rootstock suckers on Meyer lemon tree? Where is the main trunk?

2 years ago

I'm attempting to revive this Meyer lemon tree I was recently given (you'll see previous pruning attempts in pictures below) and don't know where to start. I was told it was a tree, however the root system looks like there are three separate sections - what should I do? It's unclear which is the primary trunk of the tree, which aspects are rootstock suckers, and where to prune. Please help!

Featured Answer

tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)

2 years ago

It's unclear whether the planting consists of several individual propagules, or the multiple trunks are all branches that connect to a lower order branch beneath the soil line. It could be either. If they are individual propagules, you can separate them when you next repot (spring), select one of the propagules, then remove any branches competing for position as the main leader so there is only 1 conspicuous trunk.

If the lower branches were removed from this propagule such that all that remained is the cluster of branches at the top of the cutting, you could potentially end up with more than 8 trunks. If you pruned off all branches except for 1 with the growing tip of the branch still attached, you would end up with a single-trunked specimen, and it wouldn't matter if the pruning was done before the propagule was stuck (in the grow medium) or at some later date.

If you live in the Northern Hemisphere and when you pruned, a large number of leaves were lost due to the pruning, it could be considered an error (from the plant's perspective). Leaves are each a food factory, working to produce the plant's true food (sugars/ starch). When the plant is pruned so leaves are lost, it increases the potential for the tree to be in a place where it is using more energy than it is creating (through photosynthesis). This is a dangerous position for a plant to be in as it is unsustainable; and, it puts the tree in a position where it must have enough stored energy reserves to push at least some new foliage to a point where it at least 75% mature, the break-even point where leaves change from being net users of energy to net producers.

If you simply cut the 'extra' trunks off at the soil line, they will each back-bud from currently suppressed buds at or immediately below the soil line, which would add to the number of trunks/ stems on the plant.

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Comments (12)

iochroma
2 years ago
It does not look like a grafted plant; some growers just root stem cuttings, and that is what you have.

Don’t prune anything unless there are dead branches.

Top dress with a bit of soil to cover the exposed roots. Get a high-quality citrus fertilizer (not an organic one) and feed it once. Wait for new growth in the spring.
Sarah S
Original Author
2 years ago
Thank you! Does this mean that when the plant grows, it will be more in a bush-like form with multiple stems vs. a tree with a single stem?
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iochroma
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
If it grows well, you could in the future train one trunk up a stake to become the straight trunk. At some point you would cut away the other stems. Then in the far future you might achieve a single stemmed tree. I would reccomend just enjoying a bush; it will certainly produce earlier in that form.
Sarah S
Original Author
2 years ago
That makes sense. Thank you for the advice!
Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Most Meyers sold in the north are rooted cuttings and not grafted. Meyer is an easy rooter.

So do nothing. Assuming all the leaves look similar and have a lemony smell when crushed.
Sarah S thanked Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
2 years ago
is there a reason you left all the pruning stubs.. maybe some citrus rule im not aware of???

if it were mine.. come spring ... i would bare toot it.. and find out whats going on under the media... you dont know.. and thats why you dont know what to do about it ...

you cant grow 3 trees in that small pot for long.. so repot individually.. and gift one or two away.. once you are sure you didnt kill them repotting... besides.. will you have enough room in t he house come next winter???

when you cant figure out what to do... figure out why you cant generate the info you need to figure it out.. in this case.. look at the roots ...

no repotting in winter ... unless it some emergency.. and this aint that....

ken
poncirusguy6b452xx
2 years ago
Ken You are not missing anything there.
Howard Martin
2 years ago
Ken even I know you don't grow Three trees in a small pot or container for long look for Three tap Roots and cut and report them preferably in separate pots or whatever container you have available to work with even I know this and I'm no expert
Howard Martin
2 years ago
Sarah S even though I'm no expert like most on this fourm you might need to remove the planting medium to find the main trunk and start adjusting your tree from there and you can use the suckers as scion wood
Howard Martin
2 years ago
Most of us here are saying go to the root and go upwards even though are approaches maybe different you go back to the roots and you can find out the main trunk I hope that helps you a little bit and when you find the main trunk remove the rest and adjust the trunk but let some leaves grow for the tree will need energy to recover now as it is first HOWARD
iochroma
2 years ago
There is no ”main trunk” because they are not grafted trees.