I've recently made 3 additions to my collection and all are making me wonder about re-potting for different reasons.

The first is a small Eustis Limequat that I got 6 days ago that's about 10 inches high and in a 6 inch pot (1 litre?) The soil mixture looks right and the top of the soil was very dry when I got it. There are a few small roots coming out the bottom of the pot and I left watering until yesterday as the soil at the bottom of the pot was still a bit damp. Until yesterday I put it in the greenhouse to try and get the soil to dry out a bit more. When I moved it outside yesterday it dropped a couple of leaves, so I'm not sure if this is just stress, too small a pot or could be as ventilation hasn't been as good as it perhaps should have been (due to the other plants I'm trying to grow in the greenhouse) What's the best thing to do? And should it be re-potted.

The second is a 12 - 16 inch Kumquat that's in approx an 8 inch pot. Looks healthy and has quite a lot of fruit on it. The thing that's making me wonder about re-potting is that there is some moss growing at the top, may be from being kept too damp or too close to a lot of other Kumquats at the place where I bought it (3 weeks ago)

I'm not sure what the third is. At first I thought it might be some sort of minature Clementine, but having tasted some of the fruit it could be some type of Orange (will post pictures soon). But it's about 10 - 12 inches, it's in a terracotta pot about 6 inches max across but the pot is a good 12 inches deep. The soil is really bark. I just think that because the pot is so deep for the size of the tree it's going to very difficult for it to dry and would cause root damage. Perhaps a wider and more shallow pot would be better. Also bought this one 3 weeks ago.

Please let me know what I should do with these and should I re-pot all of them.

I would not re-pot at this time. Citrus really hate their roots being messed with and could rebel with drastic behaviour. Even though you see roots at the bottom of the pot I would wait until you see active growth.

Your weather also seems to be a bit on the cloudy and cool side. Do you supplement the heat and light in your greenhouse? I am not understanding part of your statements, especially this part:

"Until yesterday I put it in the greenhouse to try and get the soil to dry out a bit more. When I moved it outside yesterday it dropped a couple of leaves"

Does this mean it was in the greenhouse until this day or that it was outside and moved into the greenhouse overnight to dry?

To dry the soil out a bit faster you can place a small fan, aimed at the soil, on low to help.

Ventilation is important to all plants as they need the co2 to convert to oxygen. Too much oxygen and the plants suffocate. Light is equally important. Not enough light and the plants cannot complete photosysthisis.


The moss on the kumquat soil can mean its been kept in too damp conditions. If the tree looks good and is not suffering I would water less often. The moss can be removed by hand if its just on the surface. As far as hurting the plant, the moss its self is harmless. Its the conditions that cause harm to the tree.

The terracotta pot will help to dry the bark by sucking the moisture from it. I would not re-pot any of the trees unless it is absolutely necessary until its going to be warm and sunny for a while and you see active growth.