I received this beautiful dark green Oro Blanco tree from, you guessed it Four Winds since they are not only my friends. but have a big heart.

They knew the last tree I received was giving me a very rough time since I could not for the life of me contain the root stock from taking hold over my tree. No matter what I did, only after a week or two, I would have to keep pinching off new root stock growth while the grafted portion would not grow at all!
So in their haste to make me happy and in their understanding of this, they sent me a replacement tree of my choice and I chose the Oro Blanco.

I potted it up as soon as I got it into a 5.1.1 mix. Since I understand the concept behind it and could not come up with every exact ingredients, well in particular peat, I amended it a bit. I think it will be ok.

This is my mix: 5 parts of uncomposted, 'fir bark' and composted bark, 1 part of 'turface', 1/2 part of crushed granite, and 1/2 perlite. Just a pinch of lime.
I made sure to spread the roots apart and then filled in as best as I could around the roots making a mound of mix in the pot, then setting the tree on top. I then used my fingers to push the mix into and around the roots and then a barbecue stick to finish the job.

With the help from my Mom whom I am caring for, I watered the mix in very well and presto, stuck it under a tree for dabbled light.

Now I will check for pest, which there probably isn't any and spray it down with a good FE solution.

Please wish me luck with this one and thank you 'Four Winds' and all who have made it possible for me to be successful thus far.:-)

A look at the tree and a close up of the mix. I love the color of both the tree and the mix.

Mike

Josh

Patty S.

Amaji: Thanks so much. I hope so too. Have a great night:-)

Patty, my dear Patty: I LOVE that tree and look at all that fruit you have there. Now that is going to be one very happy tree I tell you. I love every tree I have ever received from them plus more. We shall have to do updates from time to time on these. Patty, my calf muscle swelled up today and I hope it was just do to my first exercise for my leg to foot. I am icing now.
Many a good night to you and all

MIke:-)

I thought that I would be safe with them outside but I guess not.

I am going to be like a mad scientist with my 'ORo' over the winter. Conducting my own experiments to see if I can successfully air layer it and then get it to grow on it's own roots.

The flowers and scent are worth it alone!!

How's that foot coming along? GReat tree, and I know it's in great hands!! Hmm...maybe i need to enter that contest again!

Hey Josh,
How are ya? It's been a long time huh! How are you and your citrus doing?

Take care,
Andrew

And as to your calf muscle - I suspect you've also had some Achilles's tendon involvement with your fracture, so some swelling from your PT is probably going to happen in the beginning. So, after your PT, elevate your foot and ice it, plus ibuprofen as your doc has prescribed (or, whatever anti-inflammatory drug he's told you to take.) The PT will get better, it will be less painful. The worst part of PT are the first 3 sessions :-) It does get better, promise!

Patty S.

More than helping with my trees, I thank you for your expertise and encouragement with my condition lately. You actually gave me a reason to smile this am and even a more reason to consider you a friend.
I really appreciate you around these parts. Today is much better. I think it was a side effect of PT yesterday and it never occured to me that the Achilles's was going to cause this, me a Massage Therapist. Thanks for your advice:-)

Yes, that is one awesome tree to say the least! I wish my Oro Blanco had come loaded with fruit like that.lol
I actually had a bit of the fruit the last time my other tree provided me a few fruit and it did not bother me at all:-)
Yes, no worries, you have plenty more where that fruit came from.

Patty: FYI. Did you know that Four Winds has that contest every month? Yes, I think you could win one:-)
Here is there number and ask Kerri to explain. She will fill you in:-) 1(877) 449-4637 then press 1

Andrew, nice surprise!

Lol..I can't imagine you being a mad scientist, but you have on occasion chopped the limbs off of trees, ripped off the heads of a few bugs,tossed a sickly tree out in the dump, and certainly decapitated all the fruit on your Lemon trees..

Do you have a MG end sprayer?
I usually fill one of those things up half way with FE, and let that container do the job. Once it fills with water from the hose, both the FE and water come out in a perfect ratio. Now is the time to spray Andrew. You need to treat at least 3-4 times every couple of days before they come inside.
If your mite problem is very bad, you may have to take more desperate measures. But I think you will be ok if you start this weekend.
Don't forget to drench especially under the leaves and the soil mix.

You are SOOOOO right about the scent and flowers of the Oro! One huge flower open will fill the house and yard with fragrance, especially on a very humid morning or evening! Have you even considered a flowering plant like a Brunfelsia? Ok, we will not even go there..lol

Mike

Andrew if you dont have a hose end sprayer like mike, I use a 1 gallon pump up sprayer and mix a cup of FE to a gallon of water.

mike

Mike's method works too. He has been blessed with bug free plants lately, well at least from spider mites.

Thanks Mike!

Mike

Man you are so lucky to have trees like that! Just wonderful John:-0)

Anyhow I have 3 good sized fruits on the tree. Thankfully it is still happily living outdoors. Temps have been cooler but still in the 50's to 60's at night...days in the low to mid 70's.

The fruits are on a branch that is still small in diameter. My darn camera is broken right now, otherwise I would take pics of it! What I am trying to figure is how to support them so the limb doesn't snap. IT's almost bent straight down all ready. IF it wasn't for the fact that I REALLY want to taste these fruits, I would remove 2 of them so to take stress of thast branch.

I was almost thinking of making a make shift hammock with an onion bag...thinking that there would still be air circulating around the fruits.

Do you have any tips?

Thanks!
Andrew

Ooh how's the foot?

I have had fruit that heavy on mine and it would bend the branch but never break it. It did distort the shape of my tree and I eventually cut it off.

I have used a stick and pushed it into the pot and tie off the fruit to be supported.
You will be amazed at how tasty the fruit is once you bite into it. Look at how nice you are doing so well with your trees.

The foot still hurts like crazy but is coming along ssslllooowwllyy. I am finally able to stand on it and walk with the aid of one crutch, but I am being told that I should not get discouraged because I am coming along better than I think by my therapist.
I am just happy enough to be able to carry my plants in and out for protection and rearange them outside.
I wish I was able to climb out onto my flat sunny roof too, but that will have to wait.
Another 7 days of temps warm enough for our trees to thrive. 70's by day and 60's by night. Very HUMID for the next 5 days!

I hope to see pictures soon. It has been awhile since I have seen yours. I hope you are well and the back in tip top shape!

Mike

I am really debating on buying another Meyer this spring. I know I could get one from this awesome greenghouse/nursery in PA. That's where I got the 6ft tall monster I sadly lost last year.

The good news is that I could get it at the same price that they buy it for!

Take care, and glad to hear your foot is improving. Just be patient Mike! Please be carefull moving your plants around!

Andrew