How to Grow Citrus Trees Indoors
Everything citrus reminds us of something fresh and delightful.So much so that now everyone wants to have a citrus tree indoors to brighten up their home and cheer up the atmosphere. The pops of bright orange and yellow also give it a slightly Mediterranean feel. They are a breath of fresh air and a reminder of sunshine indoors. Especially if you do not have enough outdoor ground space or very limited space where you could plant all the trees you want potted fruit trees are a perfect option. Here is what you should know about and how you should grow citrus trees indoors.
Choose the Right Pot
Since the roots of fruit trees can grow large you need to get a pot large enough to give it enough room. If you are in doubt what size you need to choose you can always ask the seller for advice. You can choose a simple terracotta pot, a decorative pot or just simply grow in a huge bucket depending on your taste and convenience. However, if you choose a terracotta pot, make sure you wrap it up with a plastic wrap to prevent loss of soil moisture during dry climates. Glazed pots are also a good choice as they prevent evaporation of water. And whichever pot you choose make sure it is at least 60cm deep for the roots.
Provide Drainage
Before putting the plant in the pot, make sure you provide a way for excess water to drain off. You can drill a few holes at the bottom of the pot or add a layer of pebbles for excess water not to stay in the soil. As much as water is important to the plants, over watering can damage the roots.
Place in a Warm and Bright Spot
All citrus plants need good sunshine. Depending on where you live place the pot in the direction that doesn’t get any cold winds and they need at least 5 to 6 hours of good sunshine to thrive. If you are not lucky enough having that many hours of sun get a grow light fit for them such as high density discharge lights.
Watering and Nourishing
It is important to keep the soil moist and to ensure the soil doesn’t dry out. Buying the right pot as mentioned above is one way and checking frequently and watering when the soil is dry is another way of doing it. If you put your finger into the soil and it’s dry then it’s time for some water. You can also add mulch around the trunk to ensure moisture doesn’t evaporate. You can add organic feed, slow release fertilizers or liquid fertilizerswhen the plant starts blossoming to ensure the fruit would be healthy. Every few years you might have to add compost to the soil to ensure the nutrient content is maintained as the plant keeps absorbing them all with time. You could also consider changing the soil or repotting into bigger pots.
Pruning
Pruning regularly encourages growth and improves yield while keeping the plant size in check. However, avoid pruning during winter as a cut stem loses water faster or the sap might freeze which can be damaging to the tree. Remove deadwood, dead leaves and some of the branches so that the air can pass and flow through all the branches. If there is fruit make sure to pick them regularly so that there won’t be any strain on the stems.
Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.
This article was written by Sharpex Blog Team
Sharpex Blog Team is in charge of curating this blog - writing and editing new posts, managing comments and feedback, getting guest bloggers on board and most importantly, marketing the blog. Reach out to us through admin@sharpexblog.com
1 comment:
Very well written story. Close attention to the details were ounitandstg, helped with the assimilation of events. Familiar characters, the cat and dog, and our battle with that chair to get a little more use was easy to relate to, while the battle between our ego and humility rages deftly within the writing as well.