posted
I have a semi-dwarf blood orange tree which was about 3 years old when I purchased it(three years ago). I fertilize it in Feb and Sept with Citrus food however it will not blossom. It has not had one blossom yet. The tree appears healthy, leaves are good in color it produces new growth every year, but it will not blossom. Is there any thing I can do to force it to blossom? FYI, I have a Lemon and Orange tree also and they both fruit profusely and all three are with in close proximity to each other in my yard (with in a 15 foot distance of each other and same exposure to sun) Anyone have any ideas???? Thanks!
Plants: 1 | From: Tucson, Arizona | Registered: Mar 2005
| Seeded: 24.255.54.181
posted
Have you tried pruning it or letting it dry out somewhat to stimulate dormancy in winter? (leaves will drop) Both practices are said to encourage bloom.
* * * * Terry
May the force be with you Plants: 1370 | From: Copper Hill, Virginia | Registered: Apr 2004
| Seeded: 207.69.139.154
posted
i"m having the same problem with my orange tree. i don't know how to get it to bloom.
Plants: 14 | From: Johnstown, Pa. | Registered: Sep 2005
| Seeded: 207.255.47.144
posted
I've had that problem with a Ponderosa lemon that was here when we moved& its about doubled in size now& is about 20 ft tall.My meiwa kumquat does fine.least your like me and have plants to PROVE it ain't you.least we can boast we have "cycles"of new growth.
* * * * I will age ungracefully until I become an old woman in a small garden..doing whatever the Hell I want!
posted
As Obywan suggests, stressing the tree can help initiate blooming. If the tree is perfectly happy and 'thinks ' it's gonna live forever, then there's no rush to create fruit and therefore seed. So drying it out would stress the plant and shock it into flowering.
Ever notice how the young citrus in nurseries always have a couple of fruit on them? It's because they are constantly stressed. They dry out too much and then get a drink. They heat up and cool down, they get blown over in the wind etc. They 'think' they're gonna die any minute. So they produce offspring.
Then you take 'em home and treat them beautifully and tuck 'em in to bed every night and they decide they just want to be the biggest, baddest fruit tree on the planet and don't need to worry about fruiting because they are invincible. SO you may need to remind them that they are not.
I've also heard that a good whack on the trunk with the back of an axe has a similar effect. Basically frightens the bejesus out of the tree and probably triggers some chemical release or similar which starts the process. (Sort of like a semi serious accident wakes us up to the time we waste and can jolt the most relaxed of people into a flurry of activity). I'd love to know if it works.
* * * * The secret is the soil. Plants: 1184 | From: East Coast | Registered: Sep 2004
| Seeded: 211.31.229.238
posted
I'm game! Its not like it DOES anything(does have some new growth again) I'll give her a wack with a 2x4.they are on ground and need picked up anyway.If it works....i'll ship ya a lemon!
I've thought of rooting it....for stock to learn grafting on.
* * * * I will age ungracefully until I become an old woman in a small garden..doing whatever the Hell I want!
posted
I'm so glad I stumbled onto this string. I don't have any fruit trees but I did notice the volunteer portulaca came up looking much nicer than the ones I had in the garden. And the volunteers were being walked on mowed and basically abused or so I thought.
* * * * Plants: 8557 | From: triangle, virginia | Registered: Mar 2005
| Seeded: 206.149.148.61
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Its not like it DOES anything(does have some new growth again) I'll give her a wack with a 2x4.they are on ground and need picked up anyway.If it works....i'll ship ya a lemon! ![[gabby]](graemlins/gabby.gif)
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