I'd get it off the stake pronto.
I prefer to re-locate the stake toward the edge of the container. I determine which direction the plant wants to lean, then place the stake on the opposite side and tie it so that there's a bit of tension.

Josh

I second josh. The tree's trunk will be too limber to support the canopy if you Dont remove the crutch.

Are you referring to the picture of the single plant? Thats the kishu mandarin and the trunk is much too tiny to do without for now. All the trees are from the same wholesale location but the Kishus were like pencil sized twigs on grafts

Yeah, that's the one...move the stake, tie it off to a prominent branch further out. It'll still be supported, but won't have that wood passing through the central root-zone.

Josh

Alright alright you win, I checked on it today and its actually a lot sturdier than it once was. Thanks for the tip, I'll do the same for the other two as well since they were fairly sturdy the day I bought them

Alternatively, you can move the ties down 3-4 inches every 3 months until they are gone. One of my favorite words, that I use every time I get a chance... Sphygmomorphogenesis... it means, every time the limb flexes, it strengthens. When you stake a tree, you almost guarantee that it will break one day; because the trunk does not get strong as the canopy grows.

By the way, I love the trees and those POTS!

Where did you get the brown pots? LOVE them:-)

MIke

They are an awesome high density resin. I found them at Costco and they are only 17.99! :)