Citrus bonsai

[Fred]

Hi Folks

I would value your opinion on using a Meyer Lemon for a bonsai. The fruit is large and out of proportion to the leaf size. Would it be better to use a small fruited citrus like a Mandarin?

The plus side of using a Meyer in my climate, which is borderline for citrus, is that it is the only one that can handle the winter conditions. Of course there is the option of keeping one as indoor bonsai. However the size of the plant I wish to work with precludes this option.

Is anyone using Meyer for bonsai? If they are, some pics would be appreciated.

Fred

[Ron]

There's a video here on using a Meyer's lemon tree:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbSYjH6pBkA

Some people don't agree with his method of making bonsai but it's interesting to watch.

[kcpoole]

LOL Funny vid
Dunno about just Shoving a heap of spagnum moss in the pot, and then Squeezing it into the root ball!
Shove the whole thing into the pot and hope

I like his other one he showed with the "Interesting roots"!, Just abunch of big roots circling the pot which is way too small for the tree

Not much Radial Nebari at all going on there. I reckon it will make an interesting counter point in Bretts Nebari discussion a few days ago

Ken

[kcpoole]

Hi Folks

I would value your opinion on using a Meyer Lemon for a bonsai. The fruit is large and out of proportion to the leaf size. Would it be better to use a small fruited citrus like a Mandarin?

The plus side of using a Meyer in my climate, which is borderline for citrus, is that it is the only one that can handle the winter conditions. Of course there is the option of keeping one as indoor bonsai. However the size of the plant I wish to work with precludes this option.

Is anyone using Meyer for bonsai? If they are, some pics would be appreciated.

Fred

Small Citrus make nice trees, like Cumquats, Small oranges etc

Ken

[craigw60]

hmmmm some fairly unorthodox techniques in that clip. I don't think I will be rushing out and potting my trees in spag. Ken is on the mark if you want to make citrus bonsai then cumquat would be the ideal.
Craig

[Istari]

I've got some mandarins going from seed at the moment and was looking at trying my hand at putting together a beautiful tree (have too many seedlings if they all survive). Have to say I didnt find alot of insipration from that clip & the first lemon he showed (the one hes had for a while) didnt look like it had much/any character. But it hasnt put me off giving it a crack

[Jerry Meislik]

I have had pretty good luck with Fortunella hindsii, Hong Kong Kumquat. I am showing one of them.
All citrus tend to be quite slow to trunk up and to mature as bonsai.
Jerry

[rowan]

This post may give me some flak from some quarters but it works for me.
Although I am not impressed with the video I have to say that I pot in spagnum moss and the growth and new rooting is amazing. The trees stay healthy no matter what and watering is a breeze through summer and winter. The only problems are the roots hang onto the moss so it can be annoying to tease them out, and the pots are lighter so there is more chance of blowing over in the wind.

I used to half fill my pots with spagnum and cover with a layer of good, pine-based potting mix. Not only does it do great things to the root growth but it also means that the trees are a lot lighter to move and to post. I love spagnum but I have started using coir fibre now as spagnum is not very environmentally sound (and expensive). The coir is not as good as spagnum but the results are still good. I haven't had problems with any types of trees so far.
Please note that most of my trees are sold before I have had them two years but I have not heard of any problems with long-term use.

[Dumper]

i might be doing a big lemon as a bonsai.

my mum in law wants to cut the lemon tree.

so im planning to make a big bonsai since this lemon fruit is huge. at least 10cm for the fruit

[Istari]

With fruit so large im guessing branch structure needs to be thought out to support it? Dont want to train something just for it to snap

[Graeme]

With fruit so large im guessing branch structure needs to be thought out to support it? Dont want to train something just for it to snap

Wire rings on the end of a length of wire spike holds the one or two fruit you want to leave to mature on the tree. Seen this done for apples, oranges and mango, but not seen a lemon yet. Go for it and good luck.

[jeremy_norbury]

Did anything ever become of these?

[thoglette]

Did anything ever become of these?

I've been trying to layer my cumquat all summer: it keeps healing over the cut.

The challenge is finding decent (non-grafted, with mature bark) stock.

[GavinG]

I've grown calamondin (I think - very small leaves?) from cutting, and layered others - scrape the cambium well, and then wire under the top cut for extra security. They should grow both ways.

My big issue has been to get the damn thing to flower and fruit. I've got cumquats and "Buddha's Hand" to flower and fruit, but not the one I want... I've tried winter and summer pruning, letting it run to ridiculous lengths, heavy fertilizing, light, and none. Nothing. Nada. Not a flicker of interest.

Any ideas gratefully processed.

Gavin

[thoglette]

Nothing. Nada. Not a flicker of interest.

Grown from seed or cutting?