El citrus plant cultivation It is very common in many countries, however, and when we talk about domestic cultivation, it usually presents some problems. For example, mandarins that die, the orange tree that does not bear fruit or lemon trees that do not grow.
If any of these cases have ever happened to you, it may have been due to several factors involved, starting with the irrigation, soil quality, flowering time, diseases or pests, the age of the plant, plant variety, lack of pruning, lack of nutrients, among other problems. But a diagnosis just for talking is very difficult, so read on and we will give you some specific reasons for what could be the problems in your citrus.
Reasons why your citrus plants don't bear fruit
Keep in mind that citrus fruits are made up of a large number, such as grapefruit, lemon, tangerines, oranges, sour oranges, sweet limes, among others. So we will give you the main factors to take care of so that your plants bear fruit.
Let's start with the temperature, it is important to note that for citrus plants the ideal temperature is between 13C ° and 32C °, so that a temperature higher or lower than this could imply problems in the development of the plant, so it is necessary that a long and hot summer occurs for the fruits to grow.
Generally, the fruits that grow in cold seasons tend to be more sour and the juice more intense, on the other hand those that grow in hot seasons are sweeter.
Now another factor to take care of is the soil and it is that eventually, citrus plants easily adapt to all types of soilsHowever, this does not ensure the fact that they develop with the same efficiency in all types of soils. It is necessary that the plantation has a soil where there is great depth and good drainage, since it can reach five meters deep and several meters to the sides of the trunk.
You must also put lime on the groundThis will help correct some problems such as the demand for calcium, magnesium and sensitivity to acidity.
If we talk about supply compost, it is necessary to know that where the plant makes the greatest demand for this is in the vegetation, growth and flowering process. Keep in mind that fertilizations should always be done in the summer or spring, never in the winter.
It should also be taken into account that the fertilization will vary depending on age that the plant has and the prospects for the fruits, so it should be done only thirty days later, since during that period there is sufficient humidity, the calcareous will react with the soil and fertilization will be of greater benefit.
Adequate irrigation can increase fruit productivity, as it develops in a better way.
You should know that these plants have a critical watering period, in which great care must be taken and it is fulfilled until the fruit reaches 2.5 cm in diameter. In a region with a tropical climate, flowering can happen at different times of the year, influenced by the water critical period, followed by irrigation and rain.
Eventually, the demand for water is higher in the periods of sprouting, fruiting, flower buds and the beginning of fruit development, while in periods of maturation, harvest and rest the demands are lower.
There are also several treatments of crops, such as pruning and it is that pruning aims to remove dry branches and / or robber branches, which are branches that grow vertically or are diseased and remember to also remove all existing shoots under the branches, usually during the first two years.
I have a lemon tree that is about six years old. Last year he did not give me lemons, and a vertical sprout was born, which has grown large. This year, all the lemons from that sprout (16 units) have been transformed into mandarins. The rest of the lemon tree has produced 3 specimens, which have not yet matured. The mandarins have grown large and have a very bright color, however the taste is bitter. What can I do to make the lemon tree give normal lemons again, and eliminate the tangerines? Should I cut that sprout that came out naturally? They have told me that in the surroundings, there are several neighbors who have found themselves the same, and their lemon tree has ended up giving mandarins; some have sacrificed the lemon tree, but I would not want to. Can I get it back to give me lemons? I guess those tangerines have no reasonable use ...
Hi Ferran.
From what you count, it seems that someone has sold you lemon trees grafted onto mandarins, and not 'pure' lemon trees.
Cut the mandarin branch, so the lemon tree will have enough strength to produce lemons.
Regards!
good morning, I have a mandarin in a large pot, about 70-75 liters. It is the fourth year that he is with us. When I bought it, it already came with a couple of mandarins from the nursery. Since then and until now, all the first ones are filled with flowers and then we see the fruit, but it does not grow, it remains the approximate size of a fingernail and ends up drying. It is in the courtyard and receives light throughout the day. It gets the sun approx. from 11 a.m. until 18 p.m.
The truth is, I don't know what to do with him anymore. I add liquid compost every 15 days from the first. I don't puddle the earth ... anyway ... if you can please help me ??? Thanks greetings
Hi Alicia.
Have you checked if it has any plagues? I ask you because sometimes if they have miners, the size of the fruit is small.
If the plant is well, then I recommend you to fertilize a fertilizer rich in phosphorus and potassium every 15 days, with watering. Also if you can get it, it would do just fine gibberellic acid. This is a plant hormone (phytohormone) that stimulates the development and fruit set.
Greetings.
Hello, I am from Chile, I have a lemon tree and an orange tree, the lemon tree has produced many lemons as always, but this year they came out very small, half the size of how they came before, what could be happening? The orange tree is right next to the lemon tree, and for a long time, (6 months more less) that it does not bear fruit, I also observed that a couple of branches of the lemon tree are touching the orange tree, is this the reason? ... It should be noted that in Chile we are in winter, but the previous winters I did not have these problems with my trees, please help.
Hello Rodrigo.
Do you have them in pots? If so, they probably need a bigger one.
And if they are on the ground, they may be short of compost. During the spring and summer it is highly recommended to add fertilizers, such as compost, mulch, manure or guano. In this way, they will have enough nutrients to be able to grow and bear fruit. Of course, it is important that the instructions on the container are followed.
Regards!
I have a tangerine plant and an orange plant, more or less than 5 years old, which fill with flowers but the fruit does not form; furthermore, new leaves tend to close. What I can do?
The mandarin came from the Nursery with a couple of fruits and it never gave again I am in Argentina, we are currently in winter (I have put Homemade compost in May)
Hi valeria.
In order to help you, I need more information: are they on the ground or in a pot? And if they are in a pot, have you ever planted them in a larger one?
It may be that they lack space and / or nutrients. I leave you the cards of both plants so that you can know more about them: tangerine y Orange tree.
By the way, also check if they have any pests, such as mealybugs for example. If so, I recommend treating them with an anti-cochineal insecticide (here there is more info).
Regards!
Hello: last November I was in Tandil in a fifth. Suit, from the trees taken from the fruits, lemon and tangerine seeds. To date, with the cold, they are growing in an internal window where the sun shines. Lemons (6) have already grown to a height of 30 cm, and only one mandarin at a very slow pace of only 5 cm. I hope so. It happens that my sister-in-law who lives in Maschwitz with a fund told me that lemons will bear fruit only by inserting segments of another that is fruit. The same for the mandarin. Is that so? Because I always have the obsession of making them grow on the balcony of my Dept. Thank you and I await your advice. Carlos
Hi carlos.
Citrus fruits (mandarins, orange trees, etc.) usually take at least 4 years to bear fruit. They do not need to be grafted, just that they get the sun, have water and compost.
Greetings from Spain!
Hello, I have twenty trees including orange and mandarin trees of different types in my garden in Murcia. I water them with a dropper and fertilize them with goat and sheep manure. The trees are fifteen years old and they always give me more fruit than we can consume, But last year and especially this one there is very little fruit. There are trees that barely have half a dozen oranges or tangerines. This spring and last year I observed that when the fruit is the size of a chickpea or a little more it falls off. could it be happening?
Thank you
Hi Juan Jose.
They may be being attacked by the fruit fly. I recommend you now that the season is over to treat them with copper sulfate to prevent fungus. And in spring, before they bloom, it is highly advisable to deal with insecticidal oil. In the link you have information about the product and how it is applied.
If you have doubts, contact us. Let's see if next season is better.
Greetings.
Good afternoon, I'm from cd juarez Chihuahua Mexico 4 years ago I bought a lime tree that already brought fruit but after planting it it never gave again, it is more or flowers, I don't know why maybe the climate here on the border is cold and desert What could I do? I have a lemon and also but that one never grew up, he stayed short, thank you
Hello Josue.
If the climate is a little colder, it is highly recommended (which it always is, but in these cases even more so) to fertilize them in spring and summer with manure from herbivorous animals (cow, sheep) so that they take advantage of the hot months to grow and flourish.
Regards!
Hello, how are you? I moved to this house 14 months ago where there is a mandarin, precisely Creole mandarins and it is very lush. When we arrived, spring was just beginning and it still had some fruits, and after a few days the flower spread and was filled with fruits that were growing very well, but many began to fall, due to a plague, they had like a puncture and they became ugly and fell and I managed to see some worms inside. Well, in short, a third of its fruits fell and the rest could be eaten, there are still fruits in it. But this year, it has not blossomed, none, and I see that the other citrus fruits released their blossom and both lemon and orange trees are growing their fruits. Another detail is that it has also lost more leaves than usual. I have removed the soil and water it regularly. But I have this uncertainty that it happened, when it did not bloom. From now on, I appreciate your response. Greetings
Hi Alma.
It is possible that it has not flourished because it has a plague that is damaging it.
You say you have seen worms, then you may have what is known as fruit fly. Their larvae are great fruit eaters. In the article you have information and its treatment, but if you have doubts, contact us 🙂
Greetings.
Hello my name is Rebeca I have a mandarin that I bought in the greenhouse full of flowers this one fell and apparently it was because he had a disease I bought insecticide and after a while now it is blooming again but the flowers are falling again with the whole bulb what could the mandarin do is found in a pot of approximately 20 liters
My grandmother has a tangerine for 3 years it does not bear fruit and it is 2m and a half tall, if you answer me, you would give me a great fabor
Hi Axel.
Do you have it in a pot or on the ground? If you have it in a pot, and you have never changed it, you need a larger one so that it can continue to grow.
If what happens is that it is in the ground, it may need compost. I leave you the link to an article in which we talk about many homemade fertilizers: click.
Greetings.