meyer lemon blossoms, but no fruit!

I have a meyer dwarf that I planted a year ago, then transplanted again this past fall to give it more sun. The first year it gave us 4 fruit that never ripened. Now after the transplant it blossomed and I saw the beginning of fruit, but when I checked again, it appears the tiny fruit buds had fallen. What does this poor tree need? Please help if you know.
thank you.

Do you know how to go to plant files? It is the first one listed. Lot's of help there.

rghudcrn, what are you fertilizing with?

I have a Meyer Lemon that I bought from Home Depot a couple of months back. At first I tried to let it grow outside for a few days, then I became concerned when I saw ants and spiders all over the soil. I shooed them away and brought it inside, but it wasn't getting enough light and nats developed, along with little mushroom-looking things.

Now, after some thinning of non-productive branches, it's back outside mounted on bricks, but this horrible, intensely HOT Texas sun (Zone 8) seems on some days to be incinerating a few leaves. I only have five fruits. One of those is quite little, and it seems to be going bad (bottom left of pic). The others are of fairly decent size, but they don't seem to be growing any and no new fruit seems to be setting. I will appreciate all the help I can get. By the way, I bought & used Osmocote, and I used Super Thrive consistently. I have been guilty of watering too much, but I have mended my bad ways in recent days. Suggestions, ideas?

I've had Meyer's Lemons for several years. First lesson I learned was to repot them every late winter and I use Miracle Gro with Moisture Control, the moisture control is the important thing. Then, my citrus plants have to be watched closely for ants, every time my leaves have looked like yours, it's been ants or too much sun. I really wish there was someone that really knows how to grow Meyer's because the fruit is heaven. I'm really not good at it. Is there a particular fert fro citrus? I, too, use ST & Osmocote & ES & I add fert through the season, since they are in pots, today, I used nitro on them...good luck!!

I found this in plant files (it is the 'improved Meyer', which is the one I have). Boy, did I ever learn lots of things I'm doing incorrectly, including pot size. I have to repot yearly because of ants &, yeah, I use EP, I will also add some iron, poor babies are probably starved!!:

On Nov 8, 2004, trifunov from Brandon, MS
(Zone 8a) wrote:

I have two one year old plants in containers. They have grown from 12 inch high single sticks to around 36" high and wide in a single season. They are currently in 10in pots. The leaves became yellowed when I overwatered. A dose of Epson salts and iron helped.

They should be repotted every 1-3 years. A 1yr old tree should be in a 6-9in pot, a 2-3yr old tree in a 10-16in pot.
The minimum temp they can tolerate is 32F, Xmas lights on them will help in winter in marginal zones. Otherwise bring them inside (gradually) when night temperatures reach 40F or below. Like acidic fertilizer at least once per month (eg: 2:1:1 or miracid). Spray with water and mild dish soap for aphids and scale. Keep ants away as they will farm the aphids. Allow the top of the soil to dry out between watering. Do not let first year plants fruit (will sap energy). Fruit takes 6-9 months to form after flowering.

My little trees are gorgeous, the leaves and flowers smell wonderful, and I can't wait for fruit next year.

What do you use to kill the ants? I don't want to use anything that's going to ruin the fruit or overwhelm the plant. I'd like to keep it organic. What's the best to use? Are ants harmful to a garden as well?

I have another Lemon Tree (bought a 2nd one, desperate for lemons). It's called a Lemon Drop (another Home Depot special). Don't think I'll buy any more trees from there. I've bought three and not a single one is doing a thing! Anyway, the lemon drop has developed copious flowers the smell great. Little lemon buds form and grow a little ways, then die and fall off! A guy at the local nursery told me to water ever day during these triple-digit summer days we're getting. Still, I don't see a single fruit staying and growing to the full. What is the problem?

Wish I could find the post I recently read this on but can't remember which forum it was on, but a DG'er said they put corn meal out, the ants ate it and died. Can't remember if it was sprinkled on the soil, though I would think with so much watering and resprinkling of the corn meal it would get a bit messy. Maybe you could use shallow containers of the meal so they could be removed during watering. Wish the person who suggested this remedy would check your post and give more details. Apparently the corn meal makes the ant bloat up or at least that is what it inferred, I think. Inexpensive thing to experiment with and would be organic.

Cornmeal does not kill ants in my area, surely wish it would...

Well we're in the same zone Sherry, so it probably wouldn't for me either. I sure wish I could get these trees to give me some LEMONS this summer!!! HELP, PLEASE!

Tx, far be it for me to be of much help, but....noticed that your plants are in full sun on concrete or other solid matter. I have three plants and they are in much larger containers in partial shade on the grass. The triple digit weather is normal for here (I am on the opposite side of Dallas from you) and it does a number on everything. Just a guess but I think among other problems (I don't know what) the roots are having a hard time. Even everything that I have planted in ground with lots of water is struggling.

Sure hope someone with more knowledge comes along to help.

Are you new to the area?

Christi

This message was edited Aug 10, 2008 9:26 AM

TXBBQ, yours look great, just young...

LouC....

Thanks for the thoughts. They make sense! I have the pots sitting up on bricks to protect them from rabbits, who manage to find a way to slither under my fence and get into my backyard. But I am sure the daily triple digits cook them as well. Someone else had suggested larger pots, which I have on my front porch, in partial shade. I will have to transplant. But a guy at my local Calloway's told me full-sun for citrus. Most of what I've read indicates the same, although I don't know if they mean "full-TX-sun" in daily triple digit heat!

I know what you mean. The advice from Calloway's is correct...if it is not over 100 day after day after day. Some of my tropicals are under a canopy and watered twice a day and still the leaves look like they have been torched. Would not expect a bumper crop this year and that is mainly because of the extreme heat. I also find that nothing flourishes when there is only "city water"...too many chemicals. With no rain...well they are just lucky to hang-on.

Seems I spend all winter wishing for spring and then suddenly it is a hot Texas summer and I am wishing for fall. Even though it stays hot way into October.

If you read through many of the threads on the Texas forum you will find lots of people wailing over various plants that are barely alive in this heat. I agree that it is a disappointment.

Bigger, taller pots might help with the rabbit thing. We built a raised veggie bed this year and it helped a lot as we have them everywhere. They have adapted quite well to urban life.

busy day ahead,

Christi

TXBBQ, your lemons look great and should be producing. I have a kumquat in full sun on a concrete patio that flowers like crazy. It is now covered with small fruit and when I fertilize it produces more blooms. How often do you water it? Daily? How often do you fertilize it and with what? I use Hasta Gro 6-12-6 and it has led to a profusion of blooms.

Thanks Dean....I have been using Osmocote, as I read online somewhere that that is what Meyer Lemons have done really with with. Its supposed to keep feeding the plant for as much as 6 months. I also have a Miracle Grow hose-end sprayer. I may use it on the lemon trees and my garden.

What's the special aspect of Hasta Gro?

TXBBQ
I have a Meyer lemon and a satsuma tree in pots. I bought both of these in June. The Meyer lemon came from southerncitrus.com and arrived bareroot. It already had several small lemons on it and was super healthy. I used Miracle Gro Potting Mix in a 12 inch pot (not Moisture Control) They are watered 1 x a day in late afternoon and I fertilize with Miracle Gro 1 x a week. I spray with Ortho Garden Disease Control 1 x a week.The lemons are getting quite large now and the tree has flowered even more and set new fruit. The satsuma I bought from a local nursery. It had 1 fruit on it but has set new flowers and fruit during the last few weeks. They get sun until about 2pm and then are in shade. The pots are not in saucers, and drain well. I am new to growing citrus. Maybe this is beginners luck!!! I keep holding my breath until they ripen.
Best of Luck!!! I would recommend southerncitrus.com for a quality
Meyer lemon. Best of Luck!!!
Becky

It has a higher middle number to promote flowering.

Hi! I'm new to this community, and I have a suggestion. I recently saw a show from a fellow from Oklahoma who suggested lining the inside of the potting container wall with a strip of bubble wrap before adding soil and plants.

He advises that the air in the bubbles will help insulate the plant which will aid in combatting heat stress.

Hope this helps!