Lack of Fruit
(January 2012)
My son has three potted lemon trees (or bushes). One he has had for three years and
two for 2 yrs. The first year the first tree was loaded with lemons. I suggested he
cut it back in the winter. It reproduced this year but not nearly as much. Neither
of the newer trees produced as much as the first one had. During the summer they
sit in full sun all day on the deck rail. I contend the pots should be placed deep
in the ground to protect the root system from the heat. What say you?
Lemon trees like warm temperatures and should be fine outdoors unless the pot is small
and overheating. You can sink the pots in the ground to aid in watering for the summer
months, but they will put out roots into the surrounding soil which can make lifting
them in the fall a bit more difficult. Lemons can be ever-bearing given the right
conditions—enough sunlight (minimum 6-8 hours per day) and warm temperatures – at
least above 60 degrees. That means they can continually bloom and have fruit in a
variety of stages. I think the pruning job may have set them into a growing phase
and cut back on some of the blooms. Prune minimally, but make sure there is room
to house them indoors. Give them bright light, keep them watered and feed monthly
while actively growing and they should rebound
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