Growing dwarf citrus trees in containers

If you can’t go to the tropics, try growing your own citrus trees in containers! Dwarf citrus varieties can grow year-round if kept in the right condition. They are all edible fruits and have shiny, evergreen leaves and deliciously fragrant flowers. (The scent is heavenly!) Learn how to care for your indoor citrus trees.

There are many types of citrus plants that work well as container plants. Northern gardeners should also give them a shot. Check out some of the most popular!

Types of dwarf citrus to try

Mayer lemon is a cross between a lemon and tangerine, and one of the most popular citruses to grow in a pot. I have these two little shrubs, which always have fruit or flowers - or sometimes both at the same time! The flowers are very fragrant and the lemon is a good size, very juicy, with a delicate, heavenly scent, and tastes better than store-bought lemons. Since we know that these fruits are organically grown, we have created a homemade limoncello out of their passion. Fruits take 9 to 12 months to form and ripen, but they are worth the wait. The fruit turns orange-yellow when ripe.

Bear limes (also known as Persian limes or Tahitian limes) have larger fruits than Mexican or Key limes, and they are much harder. These medium-sized trees produce many branches and give a lot of juicy, seedless lime — suitable for cuttings, lime, or margaritas.

Kaffir lime is popular in Thai and Indonesian cuisine, as it uses fragrant leaves and fruits.

Kalimantan is the cross between Kumkot and Mandarin Orange. It has 1 to 2 inches of fruit that tastes like a little orange. The fruit can keep the plant for up to a year, making it decorative and practical.

Kumquats are very sour and small but make a wonderful marmalade. Their skin is sweeter than their flesh. ‘Nagami’ is a sweet variety with 2-inch oval fruit. ‘Meywa’ is even sweeter with rounded, seedless fruits. Kumquats are often crossed with another citrus to produce lime, orange quarts, and mandarin quarts.

Kumquats are a symbol of prosperity and good luck in China, and they are often given as a gift for the Chinese New Year. Give it to yourself or a friend and celebrate!

Tips for Growing Dorf Citrus in Containers

How exactly do you take care of your core stress? Dwarf citrus frosts are mild, so they should spend part of the year indoors in cold weather. Here are some things to keep in mind when caring:

Keeping your citrus outdoors in the spring and summer is a great way to get more light on them and promote healthy growth. When moving them outside in the spring, do not place them in direct sunlight; They need time to adapt to the most intense light conditions. Keep them in a shady place for a few days and then move them to a place with partial sunlight.

If you have anxiety in your area, bring citrus home when the night temperature starts to drop to around 45 F (7 C).

Citrus works best with bright light. Indoors, it may be hard, but a sunny south window will keep them happy in the winter. Consider using auxiliary lights (such as LED bulbs) to give your plants more light on dark winter days.

Drying them from cold drafts and removing them from heating sources. Temperatures of 60 ° to 70 F (15 ° to 21 C) are preferred.

Citrus is like high humidity, so often fog around the plants and place the pots on a tray of wet pebbles or near a humidifier.

The flowers are self-fertile, but you can help pollinate the house by waving the branches or using a Q-tip or soft paintbrush to move the pollen between the flowers.

When the top is 3 inches dry pour water over the citrus. They need good drainage and do not like to sit in moist soil. One thing to keep in mind if you bring them indoors in the winter: outdoors, in bright sunlight, the trees will need more water when brought in and placed in a dim environment. Adjust your watering habits accordingly!