Need advice on Citrus trees

firsttimebonsai · Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 2:45 pm Post subject: Need advice on Citrus trees

I have some Tasmanian Eucalyptus seeds on the go but i dont think they will grow.

Haveing read a bonsai book from my local library i came across a section that told me the perfect trees for a beginner to grow.
Now most of them i cant get hold of because there isnt a garden centre close to me.

The book suggested that a good trees for a beginner are citrus trees.
I am now going to try growing some orange and lemon trees and maybe lime trees if i can.

If anyone out there has grown these trees i would welcome any help/advice you could offer me.

jimothy · Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 2:55 pm Post subject: Re: Need advice on Citrus trees

I grew a lemon from a seed when i was about 14 (IIRC). it now lives on my parents' patio in a large tub and is about 6' high.

You shouldn't have any problem getting the seeds to germinate (pick full, fat seeds from a ripe lemon - skinny little seeds aren't fully developed and won't germinate - to check, put seeds in a glass of water and only sow the seeds which sink).

Citrus ideally need frost-free conditions overwinter, but not a lot of extra heat they also need as much sunlight as you can possibly provide. An unheated greenhouse or conservatory is best, but a south-facing window sill will suffice.

The death of the eucalypt sound like it could have been due to damping off or excess heat. tell us where you were keeping it, what it was planted in and how you were watering it and we may be able to stop you going wrong again.

firsttimebonsai · Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 3:06 pm Post subject: Re: Need advice on Citrus trees

Ok i was told to keep the eucalyptus seeds somewhere warm and dark like an airing cupboard but the one at home isnt warm so i was keeping them in my bedroom cupboard, which has the central heating pipes running in the wall just behind it so it keeps it warm.

The seeds are planted in what was described by my freinds aunt who sent me them as "preplanted in a specially formulated medium"

I was told to check them every three days and water them if needed. i was told never to let the growing medium dry out.

hope this helps

Stymie · Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 3:09 pm Post subject: Re: Need advice on Citrus trees

There is a dwarf orange called Fortunella hindsii which will grow from seed. Its fruits are small enough to look right on a bonsai and it also has small leaves. It can go outside during the summer and somewhere between 6 and 12C in the winter months is needed.
The smaller fruited mandarins are also used and a lot of us have grown seville oranges. The standard bonsai techniques are all that you need but don't get them too wet during the winter.

firsttimebonsai · Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 3:16 pm Post subject: Re: Need advice on Citrus trees

thanx stymie ill see if i can hunt down some Fortunella hindsii seeds.

jimothy · Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 3:17 pm Post subject: Re: Need advice on Citrus trees

firsttimebonsai · Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 3:24 pm Post subject: Re: Need advice on Citrus trees

yeah i took the pot out of the cupboard. placed a propagating cover on it and sat it near the window.

The seedling died within a few days. its now back in the cupboard where i hope some of the other seeds will grow.

I was talking to someone the other day and he said it sounds like the seedling died because of "damping off"

LUA · White Belt Joined: 16 Feb 2005 Posts: 35 Location: London

How does one avoid / prevent damping off when growing seedlings, please?

Many thanks Smile

Stymie · Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 3:41 pm Post subject: Re: Need advice on Citrus trees

The first water for seedlings is recommended to contain some chessunt compound or a pinch of cupric sulphate, both of which can obviate the onset of the damping off.

jimothy · Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 4:03 pm Post subject: Re: Need advice on Citrus trees

for those of you who would rather not dose all your seedlings with fungicides as a preventitive measure, the most important things are to use sterile compost and to avoid waterlogging and excess humidity (propagtors should be adequately ventilated, etc)

At the first sign of any seedlings turning brown and soft at the base, remove them immediately to avoid the fungus spreading to others (although if you're still not willing to use fungicide at this point, it's unlikely that you'll manage to save any of the seedlings.

For valuable seeds, raise them in individual pots so that if one goes down, the rest are in isolation - this should stop the disease spreading.

firsttimebonsai · Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 5:25 pm Post subject: Re: Need advice on Citrus trees

The only problem is i dont have a garden centre close to me so i cant get any chesnut compound or cupric sulphate.

When i get round to planting my Lemon/orange seeds is there anything i need to do to them or can i plant them straight away?
would you reccomend a certain ttype of compost?

id better go to work dont wana end up gettin sacked again. ill check this topic in a few days.

i really wana start a bonsai collection. Any know about taking cuttins from normal trees? ive heard you can get results pretty fast by doing that

jimothy · Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 5:31 pm Post subject: Re: Need advice on Citrus trees