Hello everyone. I have recently re-potted my Meyers lemon, Moro blood orange, and Everhart navel orange. I have read several comments about over potting in the forums, and even in some of the books I have bought, but really the only reason that has been given is due to the problems of controlling soil moisture. Is there any others reasons that it should not be done? They have all been planted into about 12 gallon cedar pots. I have drilled numerous holes into the bottom to ensure water drains easily. I have also used special orchid mix combined with MG potting soil at a ratio of 3-1. When I water, water runs out of the bottom, and the soil is fairly dry after about 6 days to a depth of about 4 -5 inches. I guess my final question is am I doing any harm to the trees by over potting if I can keep the moisture level under control?

Thanks

Well after the overwhelming response to the initial questions, I figured I would try again. Well, there was no signs of root rot from being over-potted, but the Moro blood orange and the Everhart navel were starting to lose some leaves, about twice as many on the navel orange as the blood orange. I decided to re-pot into 3 gallon containers to reduce size, and to give me a chance to check the roots to ensure nothing was going wrong. The roots all looked great, and after moving them inside, the leaf drop has stopped. It has gotten down into the low 30's recently here in Alabama, and I was wondering if that could have contributed to the leaf drop. I was keeping them in the garage but now have moved them into the house. The Meyers lemon has lost no leaves, so maybe the other two cannot withstand quite the same temperatures as the Meyer? Does anyone happen to know what temperature the navel and blood orange can handle? Any response would be appreciated.

Hi Anchor, Your leaf drop is probably caused by exposure to sunlight while your roots are cold (below 56 F). You have 2 options-- 1, keep the roots warm and continue to give the tree sunlight-- 2, keep the roots cold (below 55 F) and the tree out of the sun.

Option 1 will give you some growth during the winter, option 2 your tree will take a nap but be healthy and ready to go in the spring.

Cdoc

Thank you cdoc. They are inside now, and since the move indoors no more leaves have fallen. I appreciate your response.

Glad to hear the plants are recovering. In some cases it is after the move into the house that the leaf drop starts, primarialy due to the cold root--sunny leaf scenario. As long as your house stays warm (and the roots as well) you can expose the plant to sunshine in a sunny window. You will probably continue to get some growth and can continue fertilizer at about half the summer rate.

What part of Alabama are you in? I grew up in Alabama.

Cdoc

I'm guessing that as long as you can keep the moisture under control, you'll be alright. It's just much tougher doing that way.

Thanks for the input.
When I replanted into the smaller pots, it gave me a good chance to look at the roots, they look good with no signs of any rot. I did lose one leaf on the Moro today, but that has been the only one since the move indoors. The leaves of all 3 plants are really green, just wish I could get them to stay on the branches.

Home is in Smiths Station Alabama. Where did you grow up?


Thanks again,
Jeff

Hi Anchor, I grew up in Mobile and Bladwin Counties. Where is Smiths Station?

Cdoc

Smiths Station is just to the Northwest of Phenix City and Columbus Georgia.
I just retired from the Army after 23 years, and Fort Benning is just down the road. Close enough anyway to use some of my benefits.

I have some good friends that live in Mobile, nice place.


Jeff

I'm familiar with Phenix City, my wife grew up there.

Good luck with your citrus-- It can be challenging but very interesting because it is different in so many ways from other plants. Grafting citrus is very easy if you are looking for a hobby since you retired--- you can put a large variety of citrus on your few trees.

Cdoc

Well, retired from one to start another....
I have already started to get my stuff together for grafting. I am currently propagating 29 Flying Dragon, and 20 Orange Trifoliate seeds. Hopefully the majority of them will germinate and give me some rootstock to play with.

Thanks for all your feedback cdoc,

Probably not. However, I would keep a close eye on them, and if they seem to become stressed, I'd think seriously about going back smaller. Enjoy...Dan...