Hello, I am brand new here. I'm the kind of person who grows herbs inside all of the cold northern ontario winter and decided to replace all of my houseplants with those that I can eat! So, I purchased two phillipine limes and two meyer lemon trees from a place called flora exotica in montreal, who shipped them to me via canada post. They arrived last Thursday(5 days ago) and I transplanted them into larger, well drained pots with rocks in the bottom, and dropped some plant food in there for them. The only problem is, he/she didn't label which was which! I purchased two humidifiers to keep the citrus trees in a moist environment. So I had the following questions 1) Which plant is which? (meyer lemon vs phillipine lime?) 2) Are they ok in a West facing window? 2a) If not, would you recommend a grow light to supplement? 2b) The t8 fluorescent plant lights should be OK? 3) Do the plants look happy? I just noticed two flowers on one of them!!! I've read everything I can find on growing citrus trees indoors. I am concerned about bringing them outside for the summer because of spider mites. I will try to get my hands on some pyrethrin for the transition period indoor for the winter. Thanks so much for your comments and advice - I hope this is my first post of many, and that I can continue to update everyone on the progress of my citrus trees. Yours, baconology (it is the science of bacon) ps, pics! https://www.dropbox.com/s/9loexi9uxphwg2k/2014-04-07%2019.10.43.jpg https://www.dropbox.com/s/f7zzlzdu6jwes9d/2014-04-08%2006.35.43.jpg https://www.dropbox.com/s/9mash8zueqwctdt/2014-04-08%2006.35.58.jpg https://www.dropbox.com/s/ptuheoysw8m6e3r/2014-04-08%2006.36.05.jpg
Welcome! I find one of the easiest ways is to compare the leaves and thorns but unfortunately I am not familiar with the "phillipean lime" "Most true, or species, lemon trees have sharp thorns lining the twigs. Some hybrid varieties, however, are almost thornless, such as "Eureka," which is a leading cultivar in California"....."Most commercially valuable lime trees do have small thorns, and although thornless varieties are more desirable, they are less productive, according" I would recommend adding more light - my citrus tend to lose leaves at this time of year if they don't get enough light. But all my citrus spend the summers outside and where they thrive, and the scent of citrus blossoms is just wonderful! Just make sure you rinse the plants before bringing them inside (and if you have a good eco-system in your yard you will probably end up with spiders on the trees in which case you should not have to worry too much about pests) As for the flowers, most citrus are self-fertile (meaning they don't need a pollinator) but you will have to play "bee" and pollinate if you want fruit......just use a fine paint brush and transfer pollen between the flowers. Very simple and usually very effective (and if you get fruit this might be the only way the positively identify which is which). Good luck,
In which case you essentially have a miniature orange tree (tasty) Wikipedia - "The plant is characterized by wing-like appendages on the leaf stalks and white or purplish flowers. Its fruit has either a spongy or leathery rind with a juicy pulp that is divided into sections." Some of your pictures are hard to see but I don't see any wing-like appendages on the leaves but perhaps you can take a closer look "Calamondin, a native citrus plant in the Philippines and China.....The tree, which is often trained as a bonsai, will bloom year-round; filling the air with the aroma of citrus blossom. Flower and fruit often will appear at the same time. The tree has upright branches with very few thorns.......its 3-inch evergreen leaves are broadly oval and pale green below like those of the kumquat. Its flowers are white and small. The 1 3/4 inch-wide fruit is small, depressed, globose and deep orange-yellow when ripe, loose-skinned and, segmented. The pulp is very acidic. Mature fruit can be produced year round. It is said that it is an acid citrus, a group that includes lemons and limes. The flesh is orange, juicy and acid, with a fine lime-orange flavor." Because of this, it is usually grouped with the limes. The small seeds are few, with characteristic green cotyledons. One bite of this fruit can pucker your mouth. The fruit, when ripe, is very sour when first tasted. Subsequent tasted fruits make your mouth sweet. If the fruit is picked too soon, it is bitter." I am assuming that pictures 2019.10.43, 2006.35.43 and 2006.35.58 are all the same plant and 2006.36.05 is the other. I am taking a guess but I think the first 3 pictures look like the Meyers, the last image appears to have slightly rounder/broader leaves of a lighter color (most Meyers I've seen are usually a darker green)
The one in the last picture is the Meyer lemon. Both trees can produce fruit parthenocarpically; their flowers do not need to be pollinated. However pollination may increase yield. They would do better behind a south-facing window, if one is available. Otherwise I would see what sort of result you get from the west-facing window before investing in artificial lighting.
You guys are awesome!!!! Thank you for the ID on the Meyer lemon. I found little spikey bits on it yesterday when I was hanging out with them. I have two "full spectrum" CFL bulbs by Globe (these: http://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/cfl-13w-full-spectrum-1cd/6000016956126 . I found out, from the manufacturer, that these are not actually full spectrum bulbs, they are just marketed as such because of the colour temperature. Pretty much an outright lie. Hopefulyl this will save someone else 16$. I am looking into this, from home depot, instead: http://www.homedepot.ca/product/2-lamp-high-output-54-watt-each-t5-aluminum-grow-light-fixture-with-lamps/859609
I've never had much success with the "screw-in" type (they tend to be too localized with the light and will sometimes burn the plant) and have always purchased fluorescents from garden centers (SunBlasters). But regardless of which type you use I would definitely recommend going with one marked as a grow fixture. Good Luck!
