Hi all

I am going to repot my tahiti lime. i just got it, and it doesnt look like an overly happy tree, and upon removing it from the pot to check the roots, i see they are circling around the pot. i have enclosed a couple of pics. i intend to get this lime growing strong! i know they like to be quite constricted to bear fruit, but fruit isnt my priority for the next 12 months - making it stronger is!

only one question. I have heard conflicting reports as to whether or not to loosen some of the roots. I had thought that, since it isnt ideal time for repotting, i should disturb the root ball as little as possible. however, i saw an earthworm amidst the roots this morning, and i dont really want it lurking around in there. So what do you think, should i soak the roots for half hour, loosen the soil off and replant in really well draining soil?

thanks in advance!

danny

There's noting wrong with your lime that plenty of good, all-round
sunlight won't cure. These plants need intense light and the partial
etiolation of the stems is indicative of one that has been kept as a
house plant. Ideally, it should be placed in a warm, wind-sheltered,
sunny spot out of doors as soon as warm weather arrives in late spring/
early summer and allowed to remain out until nights start to drop
below 5C - usually from September in the north to October/early
November in the far south,. It does not need potting on at the moment
and can remain undisturbed until next spring at the earliest. Yours
looks to be in a 15cm. diameter pot at the moment and it can be moved
to a 20cm. pot next year. They seem to do best if the roots are
slightly cramped.

You can buy ready-made composts suitable for Citrus, but I find they
need a small amount of additional coarse horticultural sand or grit
added to give them the porosity that this and allied Citrus prefer. I
prefer to make my own using a mixture of a good quality ericaceous
compost, good John Innes No 2 (loam based) and additional fine grit an
a ratio of 4:4:1. A couple of drenches of diluted magnesium sulphate
(two heaped tablespoons per gallon) applied at 3 week intervals from
early March will ensure deep green healthy growth followed by Chempak
No2 at the recommended dilution rate every 3 weeks during summer.