04-16-2008, 01:14 PM
Ohanamama,
I run a successful landscaping business in Los Angeles, Ca, and although I cannot see your little lemon to help diagnose the problem, I do know that all citrus (infact most all stone fruits as well) are grafted. This means the root stock is from a different citrus species that is great at gathering nutrients and growing roots, but have bad or little fruit, and the top half is the fruit/fruits we have come to cultivate for their certain genetic dispositon, they are favorable to us for whatever the reason may be.
That being said, be careful that the split is not the graft coming undone. If you look closely, you should be able to tell. If it is the graft coming undone, you need to tape it back together as soon as you can, or else loose the plant. The rootstock may live on even if the top fruiting body dies, in which case you will begin to see the new growth has three leaflets to a leaf and spines on the stem. Thus the rootstocks' name, Citrus trifolia. Not very good fruit!
You have absolutly nothing to loose from attempting to regraft it. Make sure it's clean and use gardening tape that will go bad after a year or so. Successful grafting relies on lining up cambium layers so try to line them up as best you can.
Let me know how it goes.
Tim
I run a successful landscaping business in Los Angeles, Ca, and although I cannot see your little lemon to help diagnose the problem, I do know that all citrus (infact most all stone fruits as well) are grafted. This means the root stock is from a different citrus species that is great at gathering nutrients and growing roots, but have bad or little fruit, and the top half is the fruit/fruits we have come to cultivate for their certain genetic dispositon, they are favorable to us for whatever the reason may be.
That being said, be careful that the split is not the graft coming undone. If you look closely, you should be able to tell. If it is the graft coming undone, you need to tape it back together as soon as you can, or else loose the plant. The rootstock may live on even if the top fruiting body dies, in which case you will begin to see the new growth has three leaflets to a leaf and spines on the stem. Thus the rootstocks' name, Citrus trifolia. Not very good fruit!
You have absolutly nothing to loose from attempting to regraft it. Make sure it's clean and use gardening tape that will go bad after a year or so. Successful grafting relies on lining up cambium layers so try to line them up as best you can.
Let me know how it goes.
Tim