| November 8, 2023: (From left to right) Trovita Sweet orange, Kishu Mandarin, and Improved Meyer Lemon |
| January 15, 2023: Calamondin orange tree loaded with ripe fruits. |
| January 15, 2023: An indoor winter season growth flush on Trovita orange tree. |
| May 20, 2022: A 2.5 year old Trovita sweet orange tree bearing 27 oranges in a 20 gallon pot. |
| May 20, 2022: Key lime tree is producing its first crop of fruits. The tree is currently bearing over 15 fruits. |
| May 20, 2022: Calamondin orange tree growing and producing well. |
| August 22, 2021: Trovita orange trees growing well under this ChilLED Tech Growcraft X3 330 watt led full-spectrum growlight. |
| May 22, 2021: Calamondin orange tree is flowering and fruiting for the first time. |
| May 22, 2021: This Key lime citrus tree was an impulse buy from Home Depot. |
| May 22, 2021: Trovita sweet orange bearing fruits for the first time. I did a lot of fruit thinning on this tree. |
| September 30, 2020: Trovita orange on the left was transplanted to a 7 gallon pot. |
| September 22, 2020: A new Calamondin orange tree arrived from Four Winds Citrus nursery. I transplanted it to a 7 gallon pot. |
| May 26, 2020: Two Trovita sweet orange trees growing under a led growlight. One is growing in a 5 gallon pot and the other in a 20 gallon pot. |
| March 29, 2020: This Calamondin orange tree was repotted due to root rot. Hopefully, it will recover over the growing season. Update: A majority of the main branch roots were damaged making recovery impossible. |
| November 23, 2019: Trovita orange tree during growth flush. |
| October 25, 2019: A two year old Trovita orange arrived in the mail from Four Winds Growers. I was disappointed in the way this tree was NOT pruned at the nursery during its development. As a result, I had to do some major pruning on this tree to insure a strong branching framework. |
| September 27, 2019: Calamondin orange tree flowering and fruiting into the fall season. |
| September 21, 2019: This Trovita orange tree has suffered from root rot in the past. It was transplanted on September 16, 2019 to an light, loamy soil mix. |
| December 16, 2018: This Advance Spectrum MAX 720 watt LED growlight fixture has 240 individual leds. It's on 12 hours a day and provides enough light for 2 citrus trees. Update: Do not buy this light! Although, there was a 3 year warranty, 2.5 years later, two led circle arrays stopped working. A few months later, 3 more failed. I did get free replacements. |
| December 9, 2018: Calamondin orange tree loaded with fruits in various stages of development. It is growing in a 10 gallon pot. |
| October 7, 2018: Calamondin orange tree with fall crop of ripening oranges. |
| February 11, 2018: Calamondin fruit harvest. |
| December 15, 2017: Calamondin orange tree with over 60 fruits in various stages of development. This tree is also suffering from nutrient deficiencies which was later corrected. |
| September 9, 2017: Calamondin on the left loaded with fruit and Trovita on the right with 1 developing fruit. |
| August 25, 2017: Trovita orange tree first growth flush since planting. |
| August 12, 2017: Calamondin and Trovita orange growing under led lights. |
| August 12, 2017: Trovita orange transplanted to 7 gallon pot. |
| August 11, 2017: My 3 year old Trovita orange tree arrived from the nursery. |
| May, 2016: My 2 year old Calamondin orange tree arrived from the nursery. |
| June, 2016: Calamondin growing in 5 gallon pot. |
| July, 2016: Calamondin growing well. |
| December 27, 2016: Lots of new growth on tree. |
| December 27, 2016: The first fruit to develop on young tree. |
| August 1, 2017: Calamondin orange flowering and fruiting under new LED grow light. |
| Buying a Citrus Tree |
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| Potted citrus trees can be purchased at some garden centers in non-citrus areas; however, buying trees from a reputable citrus nursery that certifies its nursery stock free of pests and diseases is the best way to go. Before making a decision to buy a tree, make sure you have the right growing environment for it. It is very important because not all citruses are the same. |
| Best Varieties for Beginners | ||
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| There are many varieties of citrus trees that do well under indoor cultivation. The following are the best for beginners because acid fruits have a lower heat requirement for ripeness than sweet fruits. | ||
| Calamondin Orange | ||
| This plant is not a true orange. It is very productive and cold tolerant. The fruit is about 1.5 inches (3.8cm) in diameter, very juicy, highly acidic, with few seeds. The peel is deep orange, thin, sweet and edible. The fruit can be used to make marmalade and the juice can added to water and sweeten to make a tasty fruit drink. Fruit matures in about 8 months and holds well on tree. A varigated form is also available. Highly recommended for its toughness, ornamental beauty, fragrant flowers, and medicinal properties. | ||
| Improved Meyer Lemon | ||
| This plant is a lemon hybrid. The tree is almost thornless, productive, and blooms frequently. Flower buds are tinged with purple. The fruit is small to medium size, mildly acidic, juicy with excellent flavor. The rind doesn't have the rich lemon potency of a true lemon. Highly recommended. | ||
| Eureka Lemon | ||
| The tree is vigorous and productive with few thorns. It bears loads of very juicy, acidic fruits that are high in vitamin C. A true lemon with excellent flavor. | ||
| Lisbon Lemon | ||
| The tree is vigorous, productive and thorny with a spreading growth habit. It is more tolerant of adverse conditions than Eureka. It bears a huge crop of very juicy, acidic fruits that are high in vitamin C. A true lemon with excellent flavor. Highly recommended. | ||
| Varigated Pink Eureka Lemon | ||
| The tree is less vigorous and productive than the regular Eureka lemon. The pulp has a pink color with a mild acidity. Highly recommended for its ornamental beauty and usual fruit. | ||
| Persian or Bearss Lime | ||
| This tree is vigorous with few thorns. It bears fragrant blossoms and fruit all year. The fruit is medium-small, acidic, and very juicy. Fruit is usually picked green, but it's yellow when ripe. Mature fruit doesn't hold well on tree. Highly recommended. | ||
| Eustis Limequat | ||
| This plant is a lime x kumquat hybrid. The tree is very productive and cold-tolerant. The fruit is medium-sized and has the flavor and aroma of a lime. Mature fruit holds on tree for a month or more. | ||
| Meiwa Kumquat | ||
| The tree is productive and very cold tolerant. The fruit is small, few seeds, juicy, sweet to slightly acidic. | ||
| Nippon Orangequat | ||
| This plant is a hybrid between a mandarin and kumquat. The tree is productive and very cold tolerant. The fruit is small, few seeds, juicy, acid with a sweet rind. | ||
| Planting |
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| A one year old citrus tree can be started in a 3 gallon pot. A two to three year old tree can be started in a 5 gallon pot. If you purchased a citrus tree that came in a nursery pot, carefully slip it out of the container and gently untangle any circling or matted roots. Plant the tree at the same soil depth in a pot one size larger. Use a premium potting soil mix that is very well-drained, moisture retentive with NO WETTING AGENTS added, and a pH between 5.5 and 6.5. I'm currently using Roots Organic Original potting soil mix. I add 2 parts perlite or 1 part pumice and 1 part perlite to 3 parts soil mix for growing my citrus trees in containers. |
| Watering |
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| Knowing when to water is the key to growing potted citrus trees successfully. The soil should be kept moist, not wet. Water only when the top half of the potted soil is moderately dry. When you do water, may sure it is thorough. The water should drain into the saucer and emptied. During hot weather, you may have to water more often. Monitor tree for signs of water stress. During cool temps, water less often to avoid root rot. |
| Water quality is an important thing to consider when growing citrus. If your tap water is hard (alkaline), it will cause certain minerals in your soil to become unavailable to the plant with long term use. Add 1 teaspoon of vinegar to 1 gallon of water to lower pH. |
| Fertilizing |
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| Citrus trees are heavy feeders and potted trees are especially prone to nutrient deficiencies due to limited root space and regular waterings. An adequate fertilizer program is needed for citrus trees to grow and produce well. During the flowering and fruiting cycle, it is crucial to maintain a steady supply of nutrients. Use an organic citrus fertilizer which supplies macro nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, sulphur) and micronutrients (iron, zinc, copper, manganese, molybdenum, boron). |
| I use an organic fertilizer like 6-1-2 neem meal or camelina meal during the growing season. Worm castings is applied to the soil every 3 months. A seaweed extract solution is applied every 2 weeks. Epsom salt (magnesium sulphate) is applied monthly during the fruit development stage. |
| For more information on citrus nutrition, please check out citrus nutrition and fertilization by the University of Florida IFAS Extension Service. |
| Light |
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| Having adequate light indoors is absolutely essential for good growth and fruiting. Citrus trees require a minimum of 5 hours of direct sunlight, though 10 to 12 hours is ideal. Supplementary lighting can be used to make up the difference. There are many different lighting systems available on the market. A full spectrum LED lighting system offer the best quality light for successful flowering and fruiting of indoor citruses. More information about lighting systems can be accessed on the online garden suppliers page. |
| Temperature/Humidity |
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| Citrus trees require a warm, frost-free environment to grow and produce well. They can withstand temperatures over 100F (37.5C), however, growth is sharply reduced below 55F (13C). Indoor growers should provide a subtropical growing environment for their trees if possible. A temperature of 75F to 90F (24-32C) for spring and summer is ideal. During the fall and winter, a temperature range of 60F to 70F (16-21C ) is ideal. In either case, the low temperature should not go below 45F (7C). |
| Some citrus trees are more cold tolerant than others. Container grown trees are less cold hardy than trees grown in the ground. As a general rule, potted trees shouldn't stay outside below 50F (10C). The most to least hardy citruses are: trifoliate orange, kumquat, mandarin, sour orange, sweet orange, pummelo, grapefruit, lemon, lime, and citron. |
| The indoor relative humidity should be in the 45% to 50% range during the heating season. A room humidifier should be used to maintain humidity levels and a hygrometer should be used to monitor it. |
| When citrus trees are grown partly or exclusively indoors, a circulation fan is highly recommmended. A ceiling fan or oscillating fan keeps air flowing around your trees and help distribute heat and humidity through out the room. |
| Acclimating Citrus |
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| When you are ready to move your citrus tree indoors for the winter or outdoors for the summer, it needs to be acclimated to its new environment to avoid a severe shock. The indoor/outdoor temperature should be as close as possible for the transition move. Before moving citrus indoors, it should gradually be shaded over a period of 3 weeks. When tree is moved outdoors, place it underneath a shade cloth, shade screen, or a lath shade structure. Over a period of 3 weeks, gradually introduce to more sunlight. After the tree has been properly acclimated, place it in a sunny, southern location sheltered from strong winds. The ideal spot is one that receives sunlight from sunrise to sunset. Before the permanent move outdoors, the temperature should be moderately warm and consistent over a 2 to 3 week period. |
| Growing Sweet Citrus | |
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| It takes resourcefulness and patience to grow sweet citrus in a cold climate, but it can be done quite successfully. Choosing the right variety is an absolute must! Citrus varieties that grow and produce well in the mild coastal regions of California are ideal candidates for indoor citriculture. | |
| Sweet citrus demands a lot from its environment in terms of heat required for growth and ripe fruit. Since a long growing season is required for optimum growth and performance, a greenhouse is needed to provide extra growing heat. A simple greenhouse can be made out of a 5 foot (1.5 meters) tall wire fence. Stake the cage and wrap it with clear plastic. It should be adequately ventilated to prevent overheating, and the pot should be shaded to keep roots cool and reduce water needs. |  |
| Sweet Citrus Varieties |
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| I recommend the following varieties for advanced indoor citrus growers who enjoy a challenge. I selected these varieties based on their heat requirements: 75F to 90F (24C to 32C), fruit quality, and adaptability. All varieties are available on dwarfing or semi-dwarfing rootstock for growing in containers. |
| Valencia Orange |
| This variety is the standard among juice oranges in the world. It is widely adaptable from cool coastal to hot desert areas. The tree has a vigorous growth habit, and the fruit is medium-large, very juicy, sweet, with few or no seeds. It takes 14 to 18 months to ripen with an orange or greenish-orange rind. Mature fruit can be held on the tree for a few months. |
| Washington Navel Orange |
| This variety is the standard among fresh eating oranges. The tree is moderately vigorous, productive, and sensitive to changes in temperature. The fruit is large, richly flavored, sweet, juicy, and seedless. It takes 10 to 13 months to ripen with a deep orange rind. Mature fruit holds on tree a few weeks after ripening. Best grown in a cool greenhouse. Highly recommended for its fruit. |
| Trovita Orange |
| This California orange variety is definitely worth mentioning. I have experience growing this variety, and it makes an excellent houseplant. The tree is vigorous and productive with an upright growth habit. The fruit is medium-large, very sweet, juicy with few seeds. It has a rich, orangy flavor and aroma. It ripens in 10 to 14 months. Mature fruit holds well on tree. Highly recommended for its adaptability, high quality fruit, and low heat requirement to sweeten fruit. |
| Owari Satsuma Mandarin |
| The tree is slow growing, very cold tolerant, and capable of tolerating unfavorable conditions. The fruit is medium-small, seedless, juicy with a mild, sweet flavor. It ripens in 10 months with a bright orange rind. Mature fruit holds on tree about a week before deteriorating on tree, however, it stores well in the refrigerator. Highly recommended for its tolerance to adverse conditions and fruit. |
| Kinnow Mandarin |
| The tree is vigorous and productive with an upright growth habit. When I tasted the fruit from this tree, it was richly-flavored, very juicy, seedy, and sweet! The fruit ripens in 12 to 15 months with a yellow-orange rind. Mature fruit holds on tree a few weeks. Best grown in a cool greenhouse. Highly recommended for its fruit. Best grown in cool greenhouse. |
| Clementine Mandarin |
| The tree is slow growing with an attractive weeping habit. The fruit is about 2 inches in diameter, juicy, and sweet with few or no seeds. Fruit ripens in 9 to 12 months with a bright orange rind. Mature fruit holds on tree a few weeks. |
| Oroblanco Grapefruit |
| This white-fleshed grapefruit variety is actually a cross between a grapefruit and a pummelo. I have tasted the fruit, and it is superb! The fruit is large, very juicy, seedless, pleasantly flavored, low acid, and sweet like an orange. It ripens in 10 to 13 months with a pale yellow, very thick rind. Mature fruit holds well on tree. Highly recommended for its fruit. |
| Moro Blood Orange |
| The tree is very productive and nearly thornless. The fruit is small to medium size, juicy, sweet, rich, with an exotic flavor. Flesh color is a deep red at maturity. Fruit ripens in 12 to 15 months with a reddish-orange rind. Best grown in a cool greenhouse. |
| Cara Cara Navel Orange |
| The tree is moderately vigorous and productive with a compact growth habit. The fruit is seedless, sweet, and juicy. The flesh has a light red color with an orange peel. The fruit ripens in 12 to 14 months. Highly recommended for its ornamental beauty and fruit. Best grown in a cool greenhouse. |
| Gold Nugget Mandarin |
| The tree is moderately vigorous and productive. The fruit is richly flavored, very juicy, seedless, sweet, and holds well on tree. The peel has a bumpy texture. Fruit ripens in 12 to 14 months. Best grown in a cool greenhouse. |
| Kishu Mandarin |
| This Japanese variety produces very sweet, easy to peel, seedless, small fruits. Best grown in a cool greenhouse. |
| Growth Habit |
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| Citruses make beautiful evergreen trees. They grow with an upright, spreading, or weeping habit and some have thorns adjacent to the leaf axils. Depending on their growing environment, they can have several growth flushes a year. Trees grow most vigorously when it is warm and humid. They go into a dormant-like state when the temperature is around 50F (11C) or when there isn't enough water available for growth. |
| Flowering and Fruiting |
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| Most citrus varieties are self-pollinating, however, a few do require cross pollination from another variety. Under indoor cultivation, citrus trees tend to bloom somewhat on a regular basis. A winter rest period is recommended especially for fruit bearing sweet citrus trees. Vigorous growth and flowering during the winter will divert energy away from developing fruits. To rest trees cut back on fertilizer, watering, and lower room temperature. |
| Pruning |
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| Citrus trees store their food in their leaves; therefore, the amount of leaves removed will have a direct impact on the tree's fruit-bearing capacity. Prune only to remove dead, broken, diseased, or crossed branches. Remove all growth coming from below the graft union. For size containment, use thinning to control desired height and spread. Use heading to fill in gaps within the tree. |
| Root System Management |
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| Potted citrus trees can be productive for many years with a healthy and thriving root system.
Root system management involves 5 key areas: soil moisture, soil aeration, soil pH, drainage, and root pruning.
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| Propagation |
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| Citrus can be propagated by seeds or leaf cuttings. It's fun to watch a seed sprout and develop, through care and training, into an attractive evergreen tree. Take seeds from a fruit and rinse them removing the adhering flesh. Plant seeds in a small pot with a professional soil mix. They should be planted an inch deep. Keep the pot in a warm, bright location. Don't let the soil dry out. About 3 to 4 weeks later, there should be signs of growth. |
| Propagating citrus from a cutting insures varietal integrity. Take a four inch cutting from a recently matured growth flush. Cut just below a leaf bud and remove half the leaves. Dip cutting in a rooting hormone solution and plant in a sterile rooting medium. Keep soil moist and humidity high and cutting will root in about 4 weeks. Bottom heat is recommended. If you take a cutting from a dwarf tree, it will not develop into a dwarf. Dwarfing occurs if you graft a selected variety onto a dwarfing rootstock. |
| Grafting |
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| If you want to grow two or more citrus varieties on one tree, then grafting is your answer. The simplest grafting technique is T- budding. Check out grafting techniques at your local cooperative extension office or horticultural websites. |
| Pests and Diseases |
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| Indoor citrus growers have far fewer pests and diseases to deal with than commercial citrus growers. Spider mites, aphids, mealy bugs, and scales do occasionally attack citrus while indoors and outdoors. For small infestations, use a spray bottle filled with mild, soapy water. Thoroughly wash down tree and repeat once a week. For medium to heavy infestations, use neem oil solution. |
| Indoor citrus growers need to create their own pest management program. As a start, check the leaves, especially the undersides, at least once a week. Any new plant arrival should be quarantined and monitored for pests. |
| Diseases that show up on indoor citruses are sometimes due to incorrect cultural practices. Overwatering can lead to root rot. Fungal leaf problems can develop when leaves stay wet without adequate air circulation to dry them quickly. |
| Troubleshooting Potted Citrus Trees | ||
|---|---|---|
| Symptoms | Probable Causes | Solutions |
| Leaves change color and drop, flower buds drop | Too much light or not enough, underwatering, overwatering, low humidity, sudden temperature change | Gradually move plant to brighter location, water only when the top 2" (5cm) of soil is moderately dry, increase humidity, keep growing environment stable |
| Leaves turn pale with green veins | Interveinal chlorosis caused by a micronutrient deficiency | Use fertilizers that contain chelated trace elements |
| Mature leaves turn yellow with green midrib | Yellowing caused by a magnesium deficiency | Use 2 tsp of Epsom salt/gallon of water |
| Fruit drops off before maturing | Low humidity, water stress, sudden temperature change, natural thinning of fruit | Buy a humidifier to increase humidity, water soil thoroughly especially during warm temperature. |
| Leaves pucker, distort, or turn pale before dropping | Environmental shock, insect infestation | Keep environmental conditions stable, check for insects on leaves and stems with a magnifying glass. |
| No flowers on healthy plant | Low light, plant was grown from seed, not of fruit-bearing age, a rootstock sucker has taken over, pruning reduces fruitfulness | Move to brighter area, seed grown plants can be unpredictable, grafted dwarf trees take 2 to 3 years to start bearing fruit, do not prune |
| Fruit doesn't ripen | Inadequate heat | Increase temperature |
| Leaf veins turn a lighter color than surrounding tissue followed by a slow bleaching away of green over the entire leaf to a mottled irregular green and yellow pattern. Eventually the entire leaf turns yellow and drop. | Vein chlorosis caused by a nitrogen deficiency, cramped roots, or root rot | Use a high nitrogen fertilizer, check rootball |
| Harvesting |
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| The ultimate goal of growing citrus trees is to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Knowing when to harvest can be difficult. Here are some facts to help determine when the best time to pick. |
|
| Nursery Links | |
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|
Four Winds Citrus https://www.fourwindsgrowers.com |
This citrus nursery offers a wide selection citrus varieties on semi-dwarf rootstock. |
|
Madison Citrus Nursery https://www.madisoncitrusnursery.com |
This citrus nursery offers a wide selection of citrus varieties. |
|
Fast Growing Trees https://www.fast-growing-trees.com/Citrus-Trees.htm |
This nursery has an assortment of deciduous and subtropical fruit trees. It offers many citrus varieties. |
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