Russell River Lime

MaryT1 starts with ...
I have just acquired a small tree and it does not look too happy. If anyone is having success with it especially near Sydney please give me some idea re care. Thank you. Edit: Picture added.

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MaryT1 says...
If I can grow a pit pit I can grow a rainforest lime. I reckon :)

Since it looked as if it wanted to die I tipped it out of its pot and found two things wrong with it. First, though it is a tiny twig it is root bound! Second, there is a membrane of some sort wrapped around the stem just below the soil - looks like it was seed (?) grown in some sort of capsule and when they potted it they buried the capsule and it did not break down. I had to tear at it to release its hold.

I've re potted it and it immediately said, 'thank you' and is now looking better. Don't you agree?

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jakfruit etiquette says...
Inodora, 3-4 years from seed, can be found at lower elevations, but mostly in cooler higher areas. Fingerlime 6 years from seed, PNG Microcitrus 12 to 18 months.
Wild collected Fingerlimes generally true from seed, same colour, some variation in fruit size.
That said FL are notorious for crossing with other Citrus in research collections, which is why nearly all the "FL" in Europe and USA are odd looking hybrids.
Most of the early fingerlime fanatics had many unique kinds collected together, so possibly increased crossing rates. Also they were fond of creating a surrounding mythology to protect their "discoveries". Grafted/cuttings is still the better option for getting select FL cultivars.

jakfruit etiquette says...
Hi MaryT1, your plant is not a young seedling, either older seedling or cutting grown. If you can get it to about 1m tall in a tub, should fruit easily b4 four years.

Linton says...
Attention Mary

Russell River Lime is rampant in Melbourne! So you can definitely grow it in Sydney like mine in the pictures here for over 1 year now which started off about 2 inches tall.

How to grow it is just put it in a corner and forget about it. I didn't do anything, no fertilisers, and no need for water over Winter but it just keeps growing. It's a very tough plant so you won't have problems with it now that you have repotted yours.
Cheers!

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Linton says...
Hallo Mary

What are these small white things all over the Russell River Lime now? I think they are flowers or perhaps fruit. But I think more likely flowers, as they are round and white, a bit like finger lime flowers which are more pink. I was not expecting it to flower yet since I have only had it a bit over a year.

I also have a Mount White Lime (Citrus garrawayae) which is producing new leaf growth at the moment but no flowers. It's a little harder to grow but it doesn't have any thorns which is great.

Finally I have on order some grafted Kakadu Limes (Citrus gracilis) which will probably be available in a few months. Cheers!

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MaryT1 says...
Hi Linton, Lucky you; looks like flowers. Sounds like you have a nice collection. My RR lime has not grown much; I've had it in the shade so perhaps it would like more sun.

Linton says...
Hi Troy

I hope to get the grafted Kakadu Limes, (aka Humpty Doo Limes) from Tropiculture. They said they should be ready early next year and they usually send their plants to me bare rooted.

Their nursery is also located in Humpty Doo so they're in the right place for growing this one. Not sure if they can send to WA though. Cheers!

Troy says...
Hi Linton, I did contact them over the gracilis and they were telling me they suffer from sudden death syndrome and are slow to take a graft. Im wondering if they have a certain micronutrient requirement. Also he grafts them onto troyer and I wonder if he did a citrus glaucus intergraft whether it would help.

Troy says...
They almost never seed according to the gentleman I spoke to, even cuttings are extremely difficult and both suffer the same sudden death as the grafted ones. I think they graft them as the rootstock is better developed than the topwork and has higher vigour generally forcing the top to grow quicker.