My recently acquired Kaffir Lime tree is unhappy. It's dropped about half of its leaves. I suspect that this is caused by lack of light, and I'm hoping that longer and warmer days will improve the situation. I have not been overwatering, which I understand is the most common cause of leaf dropping. My question is about the little flowers that have recently appeared. I guess the plant is probably freaking out, trying to procreate in a last ditch effort to preserve its genes. I'd prefer it to spend its energy on growing new leaves. I'm wondering whether it would be a good idea to pinch off the flowers, to force it to focus on making new leaves. The plant is also exhibiting some new shoots (thorns?), which I guess will turn into leaves. Any advice is appreciated. mike
You guessed correctly. When a citrus tree in trouble generates masses of blooms, it is not a good sign. It usually beckons more problems ahead. With a tree already in your tree's condition, I really do not know if removing the "stress" blooms will help or not help. I have never seen any reported research in this matter. However, blooms certainly do not generate energy supplies for a tree, blooms are huge energy users. Removing them might not help at this point, but certainly will not hurt. It is a frequent practice to remove all blooms in the first years from young citrus trees, in order to promote as much vegetative growth as possible. Good luck to your tree. - Millet
You are right about the last ditch effort. Stress causes the tree to bloom. Stress can come from overwatering, but can also come from drought or cold. Thorns will not turn into leaves, sometimes a variety will revert to a juvenile stage that will have more thorns, but it is also possible that the shoot is from the rootstock--is the shoot growing from below the graft? If so, you should remove it--that will take much more energy from your tree than flowers.
Millet, skeeterbug, thanks for your replies. I clipped off the flowers, let's see if that helps. I did notice today that there's definitely one bunch, maybe two, of new leaves sprouting. @ skeeterbug, yes I read about the problems that shoots below the graft can cause. As far as I can tell, there isn't any new growth below the graft. What is the deal with those thorns, if they don't turn into new branches? Do they have a purpose, protection maybe? I noticed that the tips of my thorns are yellowish/brownish, could that be a clue as to what's ailing my plant? None of the leaves show discoloration, btw.
Yes, the thorns are for protection-- if you are not careful, you will see how well they work--the dark colored tip is normal. On rootstock shoots that I plan to graft later, I often pinch off the thorns while they are tender -- to reduce their protective ability.
Thorns are primarily on younger trees, as the tree ages the thorniness diminishes. One function of thorns, though a minor function, is protection of the tree, but the main function of thorns, which are fairly evenly distributed the length of the branches, are nature's irrigation points insuring even watering of the young developing root system. As rain falls upon the tree's foliage the rain flows down the leaves to the branches, and more or less evenly falls to the ground at every thorn. This insures even irrigation to the roots. - Millet
This is a good point (please excuse the pun) to explain the difference between a thorn and a spine. Anyone who has carelessly brushed against a rose bush, cactus or hawthorn tree, knows well how some plants defend themselves. The protective structures these species bear are classified by botanists into two categories (actually three categories but we will take up only two). Each is an adaptation of a familiar plant part. THORNS are modified short branches, grown from axillary buds, terminating in sharp, hard points. SPINES are modified leaves or parts of leaves. For example, some cactus spines are evolutionary remnants of rigid petioles and midribs that are well sharpened for protective purposes. Besides the protection that thorns and spines provide plants, they act as places where rain and even dew may condense, drip to the soil, and provide moisture for the plant. - Millet
Myself I never cut or removed flowers from any citrus I always fellt the citrus tree would take care of itself. I recently received a young Rangpur lime that had many flowers being such a young tree I did remove all flowers as a test.
