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Tropical fruit trees can be grown outdoors during the summer months but must be kept indoors through the winter. They do best in large deep containers with a soil mix, which allows excellent drainage.
Their taste and delightful floral fragrances or ‘neroli’, call to mind faraway places. Aside from their striking beauty, the interest in citrus as houseplants is in their wonderful fruits! If it tastes good from your local grocer, it will taste even better when home grown. Experience for yourself the zesty flavours of these vitamin rich fruits and enliven a sunny room!
For most who have traveled to the sunny south, where the temperature never dips below 20°F (-60), large evergreen shrub or tree forms of citrus (from 2 – 20’ tall) come to mind. When you visit your supermarkets and see the assorted colours and sizes of citrus and other tropical fruits, you can’t help but wonder: “How can I grow my own?”
CULTURAL NEEDS
The harvest season in the south is usually from October – April and in some regions, even all year round. You can enjoy citrus fruits if you supply the following conditions:
ACCLIMATIZE YOUR NEW CITRUS PLANT TO PREVENT UNDUE STRESS, TRY TO MAKE SMOOTH TRANSITIONS, ESPECIALLY WHEN MOVING YOUR PLANTS FROM INSIDE TO OUTSIDE AND BACK.
TEMPERATURE & HUMIDITY
Temperature affects the developing fruit….the hotter the temperature the quicker the fruit development.
The rind colour is a factor of humidity and temperature. The pigment of orange is anthocyanin and it is dependent on warm climates, not overly hot or humid ones. The pigment of grapefruit, lycoprene is dependent upon a hot climate.
The best way to increase humidity around citrus plants is to set the pot on a tray with pebbles and keep water just below the top level of gravel. Another method is to mist the plants 2 – 3 times a week.
SOIL
pH 5.5 – 7.5; plant starvation will occur above or below this range.
Use PROMIX or a well draining soil.
Mix your own soil using composted/shredded fir or pine bark or perlite.
LIGHT
If windows are not a possible location for your new citrus, supply bright, artificial light form 8 am to 6 pm. Beware of hot sun causing sunburn.
WATER
Citrus requires regular deep waterings
Water especially when the top 5 cm. of soil is dry
Avoid keeping the area around the trunk wet
Never allow plant roots to sit in water
FERTILIZER
Citrus are heavy feeders and require high nitrogen fertilizer, such as 30-10-10.
During fruiting, they benefit from fruit and vegetable fertilizer.
Regular foliar sprays of iron chelate and other micronutrients are beneficial
A healthy plant is the first step to pest-prevention
POLLINATION
Most citrus are self-fertile but hand-pollination with a small paint brush improves fruit production
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PRUNING
Little pruning is required for most citrus
Lemons produce abundant upright suckers which must be removed
Remove suckers, dead twigs and extra long growth
Prune only to shape the plant and keep it relatively compact for the space available
Clip off any fruit as it ripens, do not pull
A freshly pruned plant is susceptible to sunburn, avoid placing in full sun
Refer to Green Thumb Guide GT 121 Pruning
Here are a few of the interesting hardy citrus to try in your home.
Grow Your Own Sunshine!
ORANGES
Can be found growing either in hot humid or intermediate climates. These different climates are responsible for different varieties which will develop specific rind colours when ripening. Most popular are the sweet Navel oranges – ‘Washington’ is the most popular variety and can grow 5 m. tall! ‘Valencia’ oranges are the common type of orange that grows under any warm conditions and are quite successful indoors. ‘Calamondin’ orange is the most beautiful with its lush glossy, dark green evergreen foliage on a compact shrub with profuse, fragrant blossoms most of the year. The wonderful display of flowers sport tiny green and orange coloured fruit with a sour flavour (suited to marmalades).
GRAPEFRUIT
Citrus x paradisi – white flesh: ‘Marsh Seedless’, pink flesh: ‘Ruby’ or ‘Star Ruby’ originated in West Indies but enjoy hot and not too humid conditions.
LEMONS
Citrus limon
Most vigorous citrus plant (can grow up to 3 m. tall)
New growth is light pink, maturing to light green, glossy evergreen foliage
Prefer cool temperature and are very easy to care for
Cut back plants regularly to keep them compact
‘Meyer’ is a compact variety that blooms for a very long period
‘Improved Meyer’ is an ‘everblooming’ variety and produces virus-free lemons
‘Eureka’ is a good producer but relatively short-lived
Lemons bear abundantly – often more lemons than you’ll need at a time
Harvest them whenever they are an acceptable size
Simply squeeze the juice into ice cube trays and freeze for later use!
LIMES
Citrus aurantiifolia
Small thorny trees or shrubs with dark green evergreen leaves
Some plants originated in Mexico (small fruits) others from Persia (large fruits)
Harvest fruit when it’s acceptable in size (green) – but fully mature fruits are yellow!
Limes prefer hot and humid conditions
Popular variety is ‘Bearss Seedless’ Lime
KUMQUATS
Are a species of Fortunella, a close relative to Citrus
‘Nagami’ is a common variety fruiting from November to April; a beautiful compact shrub
MANDARINS
Citrus reticulate - usually compact trees or shrubs with a weeping or spreading form Many ranges in size, colour and flavour exist because Mandarins hybridize easily through pollination with nearby citrus. For example, ‘Tangelos’ occur as a hybrid of grapefruit pollination.‘Satusuma’ is a very popular hardy variety
BANANAS
Musa
Another very popular subtropical fruit, requiring heat (80°F), sun and humidity
Soil pH 5.5 – 6.5
After 18 – 24 months the plants will start to bear fruit, and many suckers (offshoots) will develop
Shallow roots or rhizomes require frequent watering
Only one stalk from the rhizome should be allowed to bear fruit, allow one sucker
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