Growing Dwarf Citrus Trees Indoors, Part 1

Darcy Logan

Have you always wanted to grow your own lemons, grapefruit, tangerines, oranges, or limes but did not think you had the space? Maybe you never even considered it because you thought your climate was too cold. If either of those statements is true, then it is time to become acquainted with the wonderful world of dwarf citrus trees.

Dwarf citrus trees have come along way in the past few years. Today's dwarfs produce tastier fruit, although some still feel it is not quite as good as their standard cousins. However, dwarf trees produce fruit much quicker than other fruit trees - within one to three years on average.

There are two types of dwarf fruit trees: regular and genetic. Regular dwarfs are created by grafting a regular sized tree onto dwarfing rootstock. Genetic dwarfs are created by propagating trees to develop a very compact variety. You can identify a regular dwarf from genetic by looking for a diagonal scar located about 4 to 8 inches from the soil. This is the graft union and indicates where two different trees were grafted together, indicating it is a regular dwarf fruit tree. Genetic dwarfs will also appear thicker and more compact with closely spaced leaves and growth buds. Both types of dwarf trees will produce normal-sized fruit.

Planting
Pot size is extremely important for dwarf citrus trees. While a three gallon container might be large enough for a seedling, a large container will soon be needed. A 10 to 15 gallon container will allow the tree to grow to about 7 to 8 feet or more. A layer of stones or broken pottery should be placed at the bottom of the pot to allow for ample drainage. Use a light, airy potting soil mixed with perlite; then add just enough soil so that the root ball is barely covered. Make sure there is enough soil on the sides of the pot to allow the tree to absorb water.

General Care
Pruning should be done to remove any criss-crossing branches and suckers. Suckers are branches that are growing below the point where branching is desired. This is especially important on regular dwarfs for any suckers that grow below the graft union. Pruning can be done any time of the year on indoor citrus trees.

Older trees may require root pruning as well. This is done by removing the tree from its container and cutting off one to two inches of the outer rootball. Then, replant it with fresh soil.

All citrus trees need bright, direct sunlight, and lots of water. They prefer areas that have a western or southern exposure. They like lots of humidity and will benefit from the use of a humidifier or by raising the humidity by placing them on tray filled with pebbles and water. Allow the soil to dry between waterings. Test the soil by sticking your finger about two to three inches down. If the soil is dry, it is time to water. If the leaves begin to yellow, it indicates that your tree either has inadequate drainage, is being over watered, or both. Keep your citrus trees away from drafts and fertilize them at least once a month with a mixture of manganese, iron and zinc.

Unless your house has a lot of bees in of it - and let's hope it doesn't - you may need to help pollinate your tree. This is done by brushing the stamens of any of the open blossom with a soft paintbrush. Do not rinse or tap your brush in between blossoms, as the idea is to transfer pollen from one flower to the next.

Finally, citrus trees can be prone to spider mites, mealy bugs, and scale. Spider mites can be treated using insecticidal soap while mealy bugs and scales can be treated by rubbing the infected areas with a cotton swab that has been dipped in alcohol.

Read on to learn more about various species of dwarf citrus trees.

Continue to Part 2 >