Sometimes a tree becomes a bonsai without the pre-determined intention of reducing its size. That is the case with this lime tree.
Originally I had a large, bushy, multi-branching tree with glorious goals of developing it into a lush multi-tiered bonsai tree. Nature had other plans in mind.
In winter, I keep this tree indoors, because it is not a frost tolerant tree. Unfortunately, it was the dry air from our indoor heating that sapped all the moisture from the air around the leaves while it was in dormancy. To sustain itself, the tree decided to let all the leaves and all the branches totally desiccate. It was going into stress because it was no longer in a moisture rich sunny environment.
As a result, I had to prune off all the dead parts, which turned out being 90% of the tree. When pruning a dying tree, I keep removing parts that are dry and brown. Once I find tissue that has green inside, I leave that part alone. Even a dormant tree should be green inside. The living portion of the tree will resume growing when conditions are ideal.
The twin tree style of this tree did survive. New stems have popped out on both of the parallel trunks. It's now enjoying a hot and sunny location outside where it receives daily waterings. Summer air is very humid, which citrus trees love.
This pair of trees was originally grown from the seeds of a fruit.
Something people don't always expect about citrus is the thorns. Look between the branches and leaves, because thorns are thick and very sharp. In bonsai it is okay to trim off thorns to make it easier to maintain the tree. Removing thorns does not reduce the health of the tree. The only purpose of the thorns is to ward off critters from eating the fruit before it ripens and falls off the tree.
Lime tree leaves have a wonderful smell I adore. When citrus fruit or leaves are ripped open, it sprays out an oil into the air I can taste. Sour and sweet at the same time, the bright flavor makes it a delicious combination in refreshing drinks, meats, candies, and desserts. Citrus juice cleanses the palate of the mouth.
Sometimes when pruning the tree, I like to rub the discarded leaves on my skin. It makes a zesty sweet perfume. The aroma awakens all my senses. I think it also has a slight moisturizing and astringent effect. It makes the pores and crevices of my dry skin feel a healing relief.
Check out my entire series of bonsai articles this week. I'm sharing my full collection of bonsai trees that come from fruiting trees. I grow trees from seeds, cuttings, and grafted stock. Lime, Lemon, Cherry, Apple, Goji Berry, and Grape.
Photos in this post are all #originalworks by @creativetruth, unless stated otherwise.
Find me on discord and chat with other tree growers, bonsai enthusiasts, and gardeners. We have quite a few accredited experts filling out our ranks, and a helpful Spanish-speaking community.
