Growing Citrus Trees Indoors

Growing citrus trees indoors

Light & Location: Indoor citrus trees love the sun and will need roughly 8-12 hours of sunlight each day to grow healthy and productively. Choose a south-facing window with unobstructed light for best results.

Can indoor lemon tree produce fruit?

With sweet-smelling flowers, glossy foliage and tart, tasty fruit, an indoor lemon tree rewards your attention year-round. Regardless of your climate, you can grow a container lemon tree indoors and enjoy your own homegrown lemons.

How often should you water indoor citrus trees?

Though it varies dependent on factors such as relative humidity, temperature, and plant maturity or size, a potted lemon tree should be watered thoroughly about once every 5 days, or when the soil is dry to the touch 2-3 inches below the surface.

Do citrus trees grow well in pots?

A new citrus tree will grow fine in an 8-inch diameter container to start. Two to three year old trees will need a 10 to 12 inch diameter container. Eventually, you'll need a 16 to 20 gallon container or one-half whiskey barrel-sized container for long term growth. Select plastic, terra cotta, or wooden containers.

Do citrus trees like to be misted?

Keeping humidity high for your citrus is especially important indoors in the winter. Misting your plants once or twice a day during the cold months will keep the foliage lush and help to ward off insects. You will want to keep your citrus moderately moist but not soggy.

What is the easiest citrus to grow indoors?

Some citrus grows better than others indoors. The sour types — like lemons and limes — don't need as much sun to sweeten their fruit as oranges do. Choose Meyer lemon, lime, sour orange, grapefruit, kumquat, mandarin and limequat. Dwarf varieties that have been bred to do well in small spaces and containers are best.

Can you put Miracle Grow on a lemon tree?

Answer: Per the Miracle-Gro Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food label it can be used on all trees and shrubs.

Do I need to pollinate my indoor lemon tree?

Fortunately most citrus are self-fruitful and do not need another plant for pollination. Many citrus varieties require a period of cool weather or drought to stimulate bloom and fruiting. However, extremes of either condition can damage the plants.

How do you take care of a lemon tree indoors in the winter?

Winter Indoor Citrus Care

Lower the room temperature. These trees go semi-dormant in winter and do best with a room temperature of 58-68 degrees.
Consider supplemental lighting. ...
Rotate the plant regularly. ...
Fertilize monthly. ...
Improve air circulation. ...
Water properly. ...
Watch for pests.

What are the signs of overwatering a citrus tree?

A tree with yellow or cupped leaves, or leaves that don't look perky AFTER watering can indicate excessive watering and soggy roots. Give your tree water less often. Citrus prefer infrequent, deep watering to frequent, shallow sprinklings.

Should lemon trees be misted?

Misting isn't ideal, as the poor airflow indoors might increase the chances of mildew on the leaves.

How do I know if my citrus tree needs water?

Citrus trees love water and do not like to dry out completely. Feel the top soil: it can be slightly dry to a bit moist, but not wet, when watering it again. Squeeze a bit of soil between your fingers - if water seeps out it's still wet.

How cold is too cold for citrus trees in pots?

Citrus trees may require protection even in warmer climates, when temperatures drop toward freezing; protect trees when temperatures drop to 29-32°F or below for 30 minutes or more. In USDA zones 8 and below, potted trees should be moved indoors when cold weather threatens.

How long can citrus trees live in pots?

How Long Do Lemon Trees live In Containers? Lemon trees can live almost as long in containers as in the ground. For long container life, repot the tree into a larger container every one to one-and-a-half years.

How cold is too cold for potted citrus?

Sour or- ange, tangerines and tangelos, sweet and navel oranges and grapefruit trees are partially cold hardy, and may survive temperatures as low as 20ºF without significant damage. Lemon, lime and citron trees are the least cold tolerant and will suffer at least some damage when tem- peratures drop below 25ºF.

Do indoor citrus trees go dormant?

Citrus trees do not go dormant like many other plants, so they need sufficient light and some humidity during the winter (although their growth will slow during this time).

Should I remove curled citrus leaves?

If this happens, you can cut off the damaged leaves and new growth should appear in the spring. Too warm temperatures can also cause citrus leaf curl. In the summer, excessive heat can cause the plant to become dehydrated and curl its leaves as a result of a lack of water.

Do citrus trees like sun or shade?

Understand the light and temperature requirements of citrus – Citrus trees need 8 hours of sun and a sunny, wind-free location is ideal. Citrus trees are also very frost-sensitive and must be protected or moved inside to a covered area in cold weather.

Do you need 2 citrus trees to produce fruit?

There is always a lot of confusion about fruit trees, and how exactly to make sure they carry fruit. Some, like apples, need another variety to pollinate them, but citrus do not. Just one tree will produce a big crop, with no need for a second one of a different variety.