plz help IM new here and, well read on plz

18 years ago

HI,

I live in an apt bldg in Long Island NY and dont know what zone Im in. I decided I want to have some plants in my house to cheer me up. Ive been in pain since a car accident and need to see life around me in plants and flowers. I want to plant an orange plant and know its nuts, but I have no outside patio whatsoever...however, I do have an extremely sunny and hot long window sill in my living room. I will plant some other seeds I (I want to see the seeds grow with my little daughter) like allysum, and daisies, etc...lavender...things that are fragrant...but my dream is to have an orange tree. Someone here mentioned a very sweet tree/hmm dont remember the name of it...I thought once it grows bigger (if it does, I can put it on a big pot and raise it to the window. Im looking for advice...do the seeds need any special prep like soaking, etc?, and what kind of soil is good? I have reg plant soil, but figure I will need fertilizer/Im assuming that the liquid fertiziler wont do?

Any help will be appreciated.

Sincerely,

Mary

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Comments (7)

ecomtl
18 years ago
Hello, I live in Montreal, not too far away. I'm also in an appartment. I have a southern facing window to keep them alive with what little light there is in the winter without artificial lighting. I do however, bring them outdoors on the balconey in the summer, so I don't know how that would work for you.

I bought mine at 2-3 years of age so they were already established. I don't think I have the patience to grow them from seed, as it would take forever to bear fruit. I would suggest if you want to try citrus, go by a small established tree and see if it does well. Any questions, and I mean any questions you have about growing them you can find the answer here with the search function. I've learned everything I know here thanks to everyone, just takes alot of reading! lol

I hope you give it a shot, and if you do, good luck!!
bencelest
18 years ago
I agree with ecom. You can go to any store like Home Depot Wallmart or Orchard . In their garden center you can buy a 5 gallon citrus with blooms or fruits already. A side benifits are the flowers will make your apartment smells so nice and you don't ave to wait 8-15 years for it to bear fruit. What you need is dwarf citrus so theydon't grow too big. Some fruits at 1 foot long.
As for maintenance, for the next 2- 3 months just don't do anything except water it when the 2 inch of soil dries up .
It already has fertilizer in the soil to last that long and to let it aclimate to your place. By that time you would have read a lot in this forum back threads how to mentain and take care of your citrus.
I'll help if you want. But the main thing is act on it right now. Buy it. Around $18-24.00.
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citrusboy
18 years ago
Hi,

Looks like you are in Zone 7.

http://www.growit.com/bin/USDAZoneMaps.exe?MyState=NY

I have a Satsuma Mandarin inside that is doing VERY well. The flowers smell amazing and after pollinating it with a tiny paintbrush, I now have about 7 or 8 little Mandarins growing. Durling's (Home Depot) make an Ultra Dwarf (Even Smaller than a Dwarf!) Orange and a Minneola Tangelo (I have this one in a container on the patio and it's about 2 feet high and 2 years old) Attached is a link where you can see my two little inside plants...

Here is a link that might be useful: Indoor and Outdoor Citrus
marybeatles
Original Author
18 years ago
Thank you all for your help! I will defenitely go to Home Depot to try and get that dwarf tree. I agree it makes sense to have it all set for me, with the soil, fertilizer, etc. I cant wait to start. I used to have a wonderful veggie garden about 20 yrs ago! Im 45 now. Since then, I have not had a back yard. I have had really nice house plants though. I think this is a great forum, and you guys sound really supportive and kind here.

OH, to the nice guy from Montreal, we almost got there last year, but my daughter was sick and we ended up staying in the Canadian town in ths suburbs just before the bridges to Montreal. We stayed in a Best Western, and never made it there. My boyfriend is Canadian, and haha met him on a Beatle site about 7 yrs ago! He is from Vancouver, Victoria, and Edmonton. I love Canada!Well, I love to go to the Botanic Gardens in Brooklyn Ny and love to go for the Japanese Festival, so that will perk me up too! Ill keep you posted on my tree! I wish you all well!
Thanks,
Mary
birdsnblooms
18 years ago
Mary, I agree with the above posters..You should still start plants from seed so your child will learn about plants, see what they do, etc..
But I'd go w/an established tree also..If you can't find a tree at HD, check online..If you need the name of a nursery or two, (online) I'll let you know where I shop..trees are at least 4' tall, between 15-20.00 each.
Sounds like you need some greenery ASAP...don't blame you either. Plants really brighten up a house, especially in winter. And citrus are special..for one the scent alone makes your day..when you see the white flowers and smell them you feel joy. With some effort, thoes flowers will soon bear fruit. Good luck in your decision..Toni
ecomtl
18 years ago
Hi Mary, you made me laugh, I'm a girl haha. Too bad you never made it up here to Montreal, by the sounds of it you were on the south shore maybe?

Glad to see you'll be trying a dwarf tree, welcome to a hobby I, personally, find very very addictive.

~Gen
ricka
18 years ago
Hi Mary, I live on long island too.. If you leave in center of the island meaning near the LIE, you are in zone 6B, if you live on either the north or south shore, you are in zone 7. As for where to get citrus. Forget Home Depot, they dont stock Citrus in the Northeast. Martin Viette Nursey in East Norwich has some beautiful citrus trees in 5 gallon pots for around 100 bucks each. Alternatively Hicks Nursery in Jericho has smaller/less expensive trees and bushes. You might want to consider a Meyers Lemon, it is a sweet, very fragrant lemon/orange hybrid or Ponderosa lemons which make a lemon the size of a grapefruit. Both are shrub typ plants, perfect for apartments and very easy to grow. Plus both will tolerate colder temps (but not freezing) I have lots on Citrus here and all do well. If you cant find any trees locally, Ive ordered some through the internet. A company called briteleaf is pretty good

Here is a link that might be useful: Bright leaf Nurseries

plz help IM new here and, well read on plz

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ecomtl

bencelest

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