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Byron Martin explains the process of planting citrus in containers, as Michael inspects a gigantic Ponderosa lemon.
Indoor Citrus
Not a native Floridian? Well, don't rule out growing your own lemons and limes just yet! Citrus guru Byron Martin, of Logee's Greenhouses in Danielson, Connecticut, shares his tips for growing healthy, happy citrus plants indoors.
What to Grow
Although all citrus plants make good container plants, there are a few
varieties that fit pot culture better than others. Generally those that
grow and flower freely or hold their fruit for extended periods of time
give the indoor gardener the greatest rewards. Some varieties that fit
this description are lemons, of which the Ponderosa and Meyer are
excellent choices. In addition, the Persian lime and the Key lime both
perform well in pots. The Calamondin orange has a long history in
container culture as it holds its fruit for months and has a compact
growth habit. Kumquats, which also hold their fruit well are most
entertaining subjects for containers. Two novelty types worth noting are
the Citron Buddhist Hand, with its long-fingered fruit and the Kaffir
lime, which is used popularly in southeast-Asian cooking. The blood
orange has ornamental appeal with its unusual purple flesh, although is
a slow grower. The edible citrus like oranges, tangerines, grapefruits
and their hybrids also do well, but they just don't grow as fast, and
tend to grow and flower more seasonally.
Once you've decided what to grow, just follow these few simple techniques to be on your way to a healthy and successful citrus plant in your own container:
Temperature
In culturing citrus in containers, some direct sunlight is needed to help them flower and fruit. Eastern, western and southern exposures are all fine, a northern exposure being the only direction to avoid. During the winter months it's best to maintain temperatures above 60 degrees Fahrenheit, as this will help keep the root system active. At other times of the year, when the days are longer, this is obviously not such an issue in most places.
Planting, Pruning, Feeding
First, you want to be sure to culture your citrus in clay pots from the
very beginning. Clay will ensure good drainage and aeration, and promote
development of a healthy root system. Second, don't over-pot; in
other words, start out in a small pot and continue to repot the plant in
successively larger containers as it grows.
Depending on how you ultimately want your citrus plant to show itself tall and treelike, or short and bushy you can use pruning to control the shape of its growth. Without drastic pruning, the plant will naturally grow upright along a single stem. But by aggressively pruning back the central stem early on, you can cause the auxiliary buds to begin to flesh out, which will create a fuller structure to the plant.
Water thoroughly when the soil appears dry on the surface, but do bear in mind that citrus plants will do better when they have a period of dryness in the soil between waterings. This allows oxygen to get to the roots, helping to maintain root health. At the same time, try not to subject your citrus to a severe wilt. Fertilize at moderate levels with a balanced, soluble fertilizer, preferably one that contains added trace minerals. Too much fertilizer although it will make your plants grow fast tends to cause weak growth, which creates a greater susceptibility to diseases. An application of diluted fertilizer once or twice a month is adequate; discontinue fertilizing in late fall and winter.
Combating Pests and Disease
Finally, probably the greatest challenge in growing container citrus is
maintaining a healthy root system, and one of the main causes of decline
and death of potted citrus is root disease. Disease is more prevalent
during the winter months when plants are under the stress of cool
temperatures and low light. Insects mainly mealy-bug and scale can
also pose problems, and spider mite on occasion can be an issue too if
plants are summered outside then brought in for the winter. All of these
pest problems are relatively easy to control with applications of pure
Neem oil, a natural product that is safe for both the environment and
the gardener alike.
For more information on resources used on the show, visit our Resource Directory.
This segment appears in show #2725.