Orange, Lemon and Lime trees advice please

Hello,

I have a miniature orange, lemon and lime tree and would like some advice on what to do with them please.

I got them last May and they looked like this



Now they look like this









The lemon tree has a few tiny fruits but they are green, is normal or do you think that is the lime tree and I have them mixed up?



They are getting a bit out of shape so I assume they need pruning but how do I know where to cut them, any ideas?

Also I have them on the window cill inside the conservatory, is this the best place for them or should I bring outside for a few weeks/months while the weather is a bit warmer?

Thanks

 

Lemon fruits start off green.

 

I'd try them in a sunny spot outside while the weather is decent, they appear to have grown well since got them.
They might be getting a bit too hot judging by the curled leaves.

Just hoping your containers have drainage holes?

Dont think I would do much pruning ATM

 

Okay thank you.

Yes the containers do have drainage holes.

 

Good luck. Bought several over the years and they never survived long.

 

You need to make sure you're giving them the right feed. @Philippa told me a few years ago that they need a high nitrogen feed in summer and then, from mid Septeber thru to mid April, they need a specialist feed with a higher P & K ratio. Works for mine - a meyer lemon and a limquat. The newer yuzu is yet to produce fruit.

If you have hard water, give them an occasional liquid ericaceous feed. Check the base of their pots regularly for signs of roots and then pot on. Keep them sheltered from frost and in good light in winter but not, if possible, in a dry atmosphere. If they have to come indoors, be sure to mist them occasionally to deter problems like red spider mite.

 

Hello GaGa73, they're looking good! Thinking longer term, when you do re-pot them, try to find pots which will give their roots space to spread out horizontally. Citrus prefer wide to deep Excellent drainage is also key, so don't leave them standing in saucers of water. They'll definitely appreciate being outside in summer, in fact most of the year in a frost-free sheltered place. They tend not to like being moved back into a heated house with poor light levels and show their disapproval by dropping their leaves!
My experience of fertilizers is that a lot of the so-called specialist ones are a bit of a rip-off. I use Miracle-Gro All-purpose soluble feed once a fortnight between March and October and get kilos of fruit from my trees in half-barrels
Pests to keep a close watch for include Woolly scale, brown scale, Red spider mite and leaf miners. Easily dealt with when the plants are small and as soon as they're spotted....

 

Thanks all for the replies.

So is that why the leaves dropped off last October then, because of the change in temperature?






I only ever use water from the water butt and never from the tap,
the feed I have is this one



I do have the Miracle-Gro feed, should I just use that instead?

They are in those pots because I saw them in Wilkos before it closed down and thought it would be ideal to have Orange tree in an Orange pot, Lemon in Yellow pot and Lime in Green pot, they sold out of Green pots so I had to have the Blue pot for the Lime tree, Agree they are a bit narrow at the bottom so shall I just re-pot them in wider pots, if so is now a good time to do it or should I wait?

Thanks

 

I'd wait for them to show signs of new growth before doing anything to them. Might be a good idea to alternate the feeds. The nitrogen content in MG could give them the boost they need.
Promise me that when you water them you don't leave them sitting in a saucer of water? It's the surest way known to man or woman to kill a citrus tree!

 

Okay I promise not to leave them sitting in a saucer of water

Currently on the lookout for three new wider bottomed pots.