How Do I Know if I’ve Cut Back My Kaffir Lime Leaf Plant Too Much?

Question

My mother-in-law brought this kaffir lime leaf plant over from Thailand almost 20 years ago. A few years ago it was given to me. My plant has always been full of leaves and was about 3 feet tall. Back in August my mother decided to cut it down to a 10-inch stub and ever since it hasn’t sprouted any new leaves or branches. I think it’s dead; how can I tell?

Answer 1

For the future, you should not cut most plants back by more than 1/3 in one year (there are some exceptions, but not many).

This article will help you figure out if your tree is alive or dead:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/environmental/how-to-tell-if-a-plant-is-dead-and-how-to-recover-an-almost-dead-plant.htm

If the trunk is still alive above the graft line, it will come back.