Houseplants - Citrus
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  (September) My son has a lime tree that is 10 years old and approximately 11 feet tall. It produces bumper crops of large limes annually -- 2 to 5 gallons of limes larger than lemons, which taste better than anything you can buy in the grocery store. The problem is, we are unable to find a pot large enough to accommodate it's growth. The current pot is 32 inches across and 25 inches tall and needs to be replaced as soon as the limes are picked, as the roots of the tree are coming to the surface. Any suggestions where a container of this size could be found??

  Wow! How do you move this plant in and out as big as it is? While there are sources for larger containers, I think size and weight is going to become a limiting factor--I can't believe it hasn't been one already. Another option, if you are pleased with the current size of the tree is to root prune the tree and put it back in the same size container. It should not hurt the plant, but it will limit more top growth. It alleviates the root-bound condition, but the tree should still bloom and set fruit. If you still think you want a bigger container, visit with your local nursery. They may not carry them in their stores, but they can order them-look at the large containers you see in front of commercial real estate, hotels, etc. But they usually don't move them, they go with large containers so they can have large plants to fit the scale of their buildings or site.

  Can you identify the enclosed leaf? A year ago last spring, I planted some seeds of particularly good grapefruit, oranges and lemons. This was the only plant that came up, and all this time I’ve thought I had a citrus tree. It is now about two feet tall and getting shoots on the bottom of the main branch, and it has thorns. So I know it isn’t a fruit tree. What do you think it is?

  I think it is a citrus tree, more than likely grapefruit, since it has the small foliage appendage. Many citrus trees have thorns. Citrus trees bloom nicely when they come of age, and many set small fruits. Be sure to move it indoors for the winter, but it should be a nice addition to your container garden.

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