tree of love in trouble?

My husband gave me a container with soil and a seed when we first started dating, eleven years ago. The seed, with tremendous resilience overcame many obstacles posed to it by my complete lack of knowledge about growing grapefruit indoors and actually grew into a great looking little tree. I think at some point, though, I started to over-prune it and possibly planted it in the wrong kind of soil and is now in very poor shape, as you can see from the attached photo. I am going to re-plant it into a ceramic pot (its now in cement) with some better soil and I guess here come my questions:

- what soil would be best?
- should I prune it way back again so it can have lots of new growth in the spring ?
- any other advice on getting it to look and feel good again and to get it to a more natural, grapefruit tree shape again would be appreciated :)

 

I certainly feel sorry for that poor tree. When was the last time you repotted the tree? My guess is that the tree is greatly (or should I say sadly) root bound. When you repot the tree a good growth medium is 3 parts pine bark, 1 part peat moss and 1 part coarse sand. Do not use play sand, use a coarser type of sand such as concrete sand. Do you fertilize the tree, and if so what do you use and how often? Stop pruning the tree if you EVER want the tree to fruit. Unfortunately, a grapefruit is the worst possible citrus variety to plant from seed and grow as a containerized tree. You might suggest to your husband on your next anniversary to give you a mandarin seed or better yet a Key lime seed. The VERY best of luck to this tree. - Millet

 

zippytoltec

You have done a great job over the past 11 years in growing this tree. I can understand your concerns in caring for it.
My I suggest, re potting in a fast draining soil mix.
Another concern to me is the container. It appears the tree is either in plastic or clay, I would move it into a more aerated type of container, such as red wood or cedar.
good luck and let me know the outcome. isaac

 

Thank you for your replies.

 

I feel one of the postings was very rude. Your doing good and your asking for help. I hope I can help.
isaac

 

Isaac, If I was rude I apoligize. - Millet

 

Millet

I feel you should apoligize to zippytoltec not me. Zippy is a new member looking for help simple and plan.