Hello! I recently received my 3 in 1 citrus tree here is the link http://directgardening.com/detail.asp?nav=hps&pid=1031 it is only about 6 inches tall. there are 3 separate plants and one is rather small with a browning tip. should i trim back the tall one so the others won't get smother out? also i'd appreciate and general info on helping this lil guy grow! i was really thinking it was going to be bigger, how long will it take for it to have fruit? i have a few questions (sorry!!) none of my windows really have bright full sun...what amount of sunlight does my tree need to live? i am planning on getting a small green house soon and will be moving it out there. it won't be heated so will the sun warm it enough or does it need to be kept inside? also how long do i need to wait to fertilize? the [not so helpful] info they send said not to fertilize my new plant... sorry for so many questions but i really want to grow this tree!! :O) if i have left out any info let me know. i'm soo happy i found you guys!! thank in advance
You actually do not have a 3 n 1 citrus tree. What you evidently have is three citrus trees growing in one container. If they were my trees, I would transplant each variety into it own container. If you use a regular retail potting mix, blend the mix 50/50 with CHC (Coconut Husk Chips) or bark chips. I would begin fertilizing the trees with a complete fertilizer that also contains trace minerals. My guess is that your trees are rooted cuttings. If this assumption is correct they should produce fruit in a year or two. If the trees were started from seed (seedling), it will be many year before they mature and begin to bloom. A citrus tree should receive at least 6 hours of sun light each day, but can still do fairly well with a little less direct sun. Good luck with your new trees. - Millet
thanks Millet! i just email directgardening and asked them if my citrus trees were cuttings or seedlings. so hopefully that will tell me something about the time span in which i can expect fruit. and yes you are right it is 3 trees in the same container. its a lemon, tangerine and orange tree. just out of curiosity why do they need to be in different containers? the pamphlet said to plant them all in the same pot...i wonder if this has something to do with pollination?? also about the one tall one, should i trim it back so the other 2 can catch up? or just plant them in different pots and let them grow on their own? should i substitute with artificial light since it probably won't get 6 hours of real sunlight throughout the winter months? sorry for so many questions. I'm just really excited and want to make sure i do what they need :O)
You should E-mail the supplier and ask what variety of tangerine (actually a mandarin) that they sold you. Your lemon, and orange will not need your, or a bee's pollination they are self fertile. The mandarin might require pollination, and might not require pollination,, depending on the variety. Citrus trees should never be pruned. Pruning a citrus tree will keep the tree from producing fruit. You can keep all three trees in the same container if you so desire, but do to over crowing of their root systems, the growth will be a lot slower. Further, different citrus varieties have different rates of growth, so the dominant tree will crowd out the others. You certainly can light your tree artificially, if you cannot place them in the sun. Take care. - Millet
thanks so much Millet. what kind of artificial light should i use? i've heard that there is no need to buy expensive light made just for growing indoor plants. althought i've not looked into pricing yet. thanks again for your help
When I light a tree I always use a Metal Halide lamp. I suppose you could also use florescent placed inches above your tree. - Millet
