I have a orange tree started from seed that is from a honey bell seed. This unit is about 15 yrs old and there have been no blossoms. Any help would be appreciated.
There is a lot of information on this web site concerning older containerized citrus trees, grown from seed, that have never bloomed/fruited. Use this web's search function, and you will find a lot of the information you are requesting. I will name just a few possible reasons. First a seed grown mandarin should be expected to bloom in 5 -7 years, depending on the care the tree has been given. Therefore, your tree is about eight to ten years late. Are you pruning this tree, or have you pruned this tree in the past? What is the average 24 hour temperature that the tree receives from November through January? What has been the past fertilizing pattern and frequency for this tree? How often have you transplanted the tree into larger containers, when the tree has outgrown its containers? - Millet
The plant is in a large pot and it is in a room facing south that is 23 degrees celcius. In the summer it is on a deck just south of its present position inside for the winter. I fertilize it every time I water it which is about 2 x a week. The fertilizer is Schultz liquid plant food. A very small amount of pruning has been done do to mainly a branch that was broken. The plant is more than 4 ft high at this time and I do have a grow lamp on 24 hrs.
You seem to be doing most everything correctly. The small amount of pruning does not seem to be enough to cause a problem. Citrus produce fruit only on new growth, therefore any pruning reduces or completely eliminates fruit production, depending on how hard the tree has been pruned. However, keeping your tree at 23C (74F) during the winter months can easily be the cause of why you have a fruitless citrus tree. Citrus trees, do not produce fruit buds, they ONLY produce vegetative buds for additional foliage growth. However, citrus trees go through a process called differentiation when the tree is STRESSED. Differentiation is a process where a vegetative bud is changed into a fruiting bud, by a process not fully understood. In temperate climates, this stress is caused by cool temperatures during the winter. In order for a citrus tree to bloom, the tree must accumulate 600 to 800 hours of temperatures below 18C (64F) during the winter months. 14- 15C would be even better. With out this stress the tree's vegetative buds will not be differentiated, and the tree will only produce additional growth. The best of success to you and your tree. - Millet
Thanks so much for the information. I had no idea why this plant did not bear fruit. Should I retain the lamp on 24 hours as well or shut it down with the lower temp? Kind regards Brian
Citrus trees originated in SE Asia, as under story trees, growing among taller trees. Citrus, like all other green vegetation, utilize light in the process of photosynthesis to manufacture sugars (the tree's food). For citrus, the manufacturing of photosynthates maximizes out at 650 PAR, which is approximately 1/3 of full light. If it was my tree I would turn the light out around 9:30 to 10:00 PM (giving the tree a 15 hr. day.). The important point for your tree is winter temperature. - Millet
I have been using Shultz instant plant Food since new on this tree. Is there better fertilizer that would help flowering or fruit production? Again my sincere thenks for your help! Best regards Brian
