45+ Year old potted Calamondin needs assistance (flowers, grow, tree, spring)

[renaldoaoa]

I have been out of town for the past eight months and when I came back I found my treasured Calamondin in pretty bad shape. The person I had caring for it let me down in this regard.


I have been reading all that I can for the past few days on this and I have a few ideas on what the problem could be, but I figured it would be a better idea to post some pictures and hope to gain some knowledge from those that know better. I understand that the plant has been in decline for the past two or three months. The leaves have been shedding pretty regularly.



A week to two weeks ago it was re-potted with, "Miracle Grow Potting Mix feeds for 6 months". That's all that was done to it. I have read about root rot, but I don't think that is the case here. I have included pictures of the roots and they don't seem "slimy", but they do look moist. Most of what Ive read says that in that case the plant will start to die from the top down and the pics I have show that the top appears to be alive. My second thought was that it really needs to be trimmed, but I haven't touched it in that regard until I hear that is a good idea. To go along with that I wasn't sure if a bigger pot would be the culprit.


I was told it was starting to grow new branches when it all of sudden started to shed leaves. The pics show where that new growth started. I haven't watered it for the past two or three days thinking it might have been over watered. I also took off the bottom piece of the container, There are four holes that drain that goes into that bottom piece that when it fills up, it pushes the water out. I have also taken it out direct sunlight and put it on the back porch.


Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated on getting "her" back to health. My parents bought the tree on their honeymoon, so really it's been a part of family longer than I have been.


http://i.imgur.com/LKejKu1.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/D6rADGx.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/7D7h5oP.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/YnGYfoL.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/mirDknA.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/IgXcf0O.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/nCVQ80Z.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/2arkKmH.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/iQzZfl4.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Ik09FhN.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/TMs692D.jpg

[kinkytoes]

It looks like the person did not water it and it got dried out when you were gone. I'd prune it. With clean clippers, cut some of the branches back to nodes. All of the dead ones and a maybe a few ones with leaves on. Put it into a plain potting soil with no added fertilizer. Take a look at the soil and it is good if it has a bit of grit it it. I always used terracotta pots. Water the soil and let the water all drain out after repotting.

I had one for many years and I love calamondins. They fruit inside and the flowers smell so wonderful. The tart fruit is also yummy. I'd recommend planting in a well-draining potting soil with no added fertilizer. I used to put some lemon juice or vinegar into the water when I watered mine occasionally. They like acidic soil.

They like sun but if they get too much at once, then the leaves may burn. You are doing well, you can bring the plant back to life! The next time it fruits, get some of the seeds and propagate them. That way you can also have some offspring of the plant you love. Best of luck.