Indoor Citrus Trees

• Growing big varieties of citrus trees, indoors, requires continuous pruning and repotting. Therefore, the best bet is to grow the dwarf varieties of citrus fruits, such as Calamondin orange (Citrus mitis) or a Key lime (Citrus aurantiifolia), which can be easily grown in containers.
• While purchasing a tree, make sure that you have arrived at a true dwarf tree - one that has been grafted onto a dwarfing rootstock.
• Purchase the tree from a nursery. You may get dwarf citrus trees that are about two years old.
• Like the outdoor trees, indoor dwarf citrus trees require bright, direct sunlight. Trees that are grown indoors all through the year should be placed in a warm temperature with sufficient lighting, so that they are capable of bearing sweet, tasty fruits. For the purpose, you will need a sunroom or a bright, south-facing window.
• The slow-growing dwarf indoor citrus trees grow in temperature ranging from 55 - 68 degrees F and require around 30 -60 % humidity.
• The dwarf citrus trees should be watered frequently, but excess of water is not suitable for them. If the soil is dry at least 2 to 3 inches below the surface, you should irrigate it immediately. In addition, watering will depend upon the soil composition as well as the temperature of the room, which keeps changing with changing climate.
• Excess of watering turns the leaves of the plant into yellow color. Therefore, make sure that sufficient amount of water is drained properly, after every irrigation.
• Citrus trees should be fertilized at least once a month. You may use a mixture of manganese, iron and zinc fertilizer for the same.
• Pollination is another requisite for the proper growth of indoor citrus trees. Since the trees cannot be pollinated by insects, you need to brush the stamen of open blossoms with a paint brush.
• Watch out for the nasty pests, which may hamper the growth of the dwarf trees. Mealy bugs and spider mites could attack the trees anytime, so better spray little amount of pesticide on the trees.