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Pruning Moro Blood orange

peachy1999peachy1999 Posts: 4
in Problem solving
Hi there. 

I've recently got a Moro Blood Orange tree. I've brought it outside for the summer and it has lots of vigorous new growth. However, it's all vertical growth and I'm just wondering if this is normal? Should I prune the upward growth to encourage it to expand outwards, or should I just leave it as it is? I was worried they might be water shoots, but I've had them before and they looked a bit different to these ones. 

Also, regarding citrus pruning in general, does anyone have any tips?

I also have a lemon tree and I've seen a few red spider mites on some of the branches. Any good tips for getting rid? 

Thanks in advance :) 


Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    @NannyBeach is good at citrus ... hopefully she'll see this and offer some help.  :)

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    It would appear to be a young specimen and if it has been inside for some time ( ie in the nursery/GC ), I imagine it is now taking advantage of some natural light and warmth.
    It's impossible to see from the pics whether it has been pruned back at all but the amount of fresh new growth would suggest that possibility.
    I haven't grown this particular variety but I rarely found it necessary to do much pruning.  However, I'm going off my personal experience of growing Citrus on over a number of years both in the UK and in my Citrus grove in southern Spain.
    As said, @Nanny Beach grows quite a few in southern UK so hopefully she can help.
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    edited June 2022
    Hello folks, couldn't get on the forum today! But here I am(horribly jealous, Phillipa!) Are you in the UK.as a general rule, None of the potted citrus need pruning. ,they all have new soft new  vertical growth, now. Hubby occasionally takes off a dead branch.. oranges are far more tender than lemons . for the red spider mites,you need to keep misting the leaves...rain water, one of those cheap sprayers. You won't get fruit in the UK  We have calamondins and mandarin (and 4 lemons,a grapefruit hubby grew from a pip 30 years ago)all used for cooking.
  • peachy1999peachy1999 Posts: 4
    Hi.

    Thanks so much for your advice. Very helpful! I'll leave the shoots alone then and get misting with rain water. 

    @philippasmith2 Yes, it's from a nursery and has signs of previous pruning where the shoots are coming from. 

    @Nanny Beach Yes I'm in the UK. Shame about the fruit but the flowers are beautiful enough! :)

    Best wishes 

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