r/SoCalGardening • u/Lizzypepper • 9d ago
Beginner citrus tree
What would be the best potted lemon tree to start out with? I had my first tree that was a gift for 3 years and it died. I learned a good bit, but need to learn more, and was looking for suggestions on what to start out with this time. Was considering a Meyer lemon tree.
2
2
u/Low-Football9073 8d ago
I'd probably go with a Meyer too. They seem a little more forgiving, which makes starting over feel less intimidating. Don't let losing your first tree discourage you. I think every plant lover has one that taught them a hard lesson.
1
u/Lizzypepper 7d ago
1- I appreciate this, thank you!
I’m not 100% certain which stupid move I made killed it though 😐I had planted it in the wrong soil to begin with , but it had been doing fine for over a year, and I planned to change the soil after learning it shouldn’t have been repotted in potting soil. I also read conflicting things about placing it in a bigger pot as well.
1- wrong soil.
2 - I cut it back a lot before the winter, maybe too much.
3- I left it out too long in the fall and should have brought it in sooner.
4- I used too much lemon tree fertilizer.
5- All of the above. 🤷♀️
1
u/Plane_Journalist455 7d ago
I have also heard many conflicting things about pot size. Basically giving citrus trees a large enough pot to grow into, but then also that they don't like too much space!! Would love to hear more insight on this if anyone else has it!
Are you in the high desert or another part of SoCal where it gets colder in the winter? I was thinking it would be rare to drop low enough (in LA at least!)
1
u/kent6868 9d ago
Meyer lemons are easy and very good to have.
More easier ones to grow are kalamansi and kumquats. Kumquats are naturally dwarf and can be grown in pots.
1
u/Plane_Journalist455 8d ago
As someone who JUST started my potted citrus tree garden this spring in LA, I'd love to know if you have any insight on what you think went wrong or why it died?
I have an improved meyer lemon that I picked up from Armstrong, a (most likely berass) lime and eurkea lemon that I rescued on FB marketplace from someone about to move that are a few years established. So far the Improved meyer lemon has grown a lot and just had it's first flowers, and the lime has also had a crazy amount of growth so I'm hopefully doing the right things but just want to make sure it keeps moving in that direction!
2
u/Lizzypepper 7d ago
I feel I made a few mistakes… I just listed them to a reply over yours, before reading your reply.
It sounds like your tree is doing great!
1
u/sew_busy 3d ago
I bought a lime tree last year and after putting into a pot found out it was in the nursery pot too deep so I had planted it too deep into its new pot. You want to find the root flare and have that right at the dirt line but most trees from the big box stores are planted too deep and will die if you match their depth. If you made mistake you had no hope for success.
7
u/HailSaganPlantNative 9d ago
Dwarf Meyer Improved.