Meyer Lemon Problems

[roscoeroscoe]

Any tips? We had our dwarf lemon out on the patio here in Albuquerque NM, zone 7 I believe. It had a good number of blooms in the spring and started lemons... but they all failed to develop. We tried to protect it from pests with neem spray, but saw a few leaves eaten here and there.
Now it's going into the little greenhouse we set up in the garage for the winter with a nice new grow light. I think it needs a bigger pot. We're going to set up a heater to keep the temp above 50 degrees. Citrus fertilizer. What are we missing? Is there anything else we can do to support it to develop lemons?

Thanks!

[BobsYourUncle]

1. I used to play the bee.

It used to blossom in Jan-Feb, indoors…no bees in the guest bedroom! I used an artist’s paint brush—soft bristled; just for kicks you can go “bzzz, bzzz” as you go from blossom to blossom. I’m not much for scents, but (Meyer) lemon blossom aroma is at the top of my list—subtle but filled the house.
The biggest problem was with scale—seemed it could appear and take over between waterings. It was scale or maybe I was too aggressive trying to shape the tree, that killed my last tree. That was after three barren years here in lower Delaware…I just gave up.

[Kali]

2. I have potted citrus at 4500 feet in south east AZ

mine do well, other than cottony cushion scale that is drives me crazy. I used to bring them in the house but they got too big so they usually go in a tent green house or just wrapped during real cold weather. had a heater one year but I am frequently late doing winter chores and they often get frosted a time or two. I just use regular miracle grow less than once a month (lazy and don't do it by instructions). they are usually back out in the yard by flowering time so bees can get to them. they got kind of drouthed out this summer but have come back somewhat. saw a couple key limes on one but the grapefruit didn't make it. my third is regrowth from a regular lime on some kind of thorny rootstock, it has never bloomed. maybe this winter. LOL

[Keepthesoulalive]

3. When they're young

They drop lemons because they can’t support them. They like heat ,humidity, and sunshine ,grow lights will suffice but they need to be powerful. A humidifier or spray bottle helps in winter.