Why is this poor little tree inside during the summer? It should be outside soaking up the sunshine. And it needs to be in a bigger pot. How often are you watering? Are you fertilizing very regularly (need to fertilizer container citrus every month). What potting soil did you use and is it draining well (citrus will not tolerate wet feet). And, if you have bugs, you probably have a sick tree that needs to be sprayed. If it is fungus gnats, then I would suggest re-potting in 511 gritty mix (see this forum for the formula).

Patty S.

Wow. Ok, this is my first citrus fruit ever, and I am a new gardener. What do you suppose I spray it with? And how big of a pot should I use?
Thanks!

Hi Evan, I was wondering the same thing as Patty.

All citrus, unless you have them in a huge glass house should get as much natural sunlight as possible to build it up for the next coming winter season.

If you plan on eating the fruit, I would stay away from chemical sprays all together. I would anyway.
Make sure the tree is kept at a good size so that you can keep control over your pest issues and spray with a good horticultural oil, Kneem, a natural soapy water or anything that will smother the bugs that is safe to use on your trees.
You can make your own concoction or just buy a spray at a local garden center.

Keeping your tree at a good size, making sure they are nicely pruned and growing them in a nice mix as Patty suggested will do wonders for your tree.
Just make sure you never treat your tree with any sprays in full hot sun. Spray in the early am or late in the day. The directions should be on the bottle of any you buy.

MIke

Evan, an insecticidal soap spray will probably take care of your flying insects. It can be sprayed on the foliage as well as the soil, just take care NOT to put your little tree in direct sunlight, especially is temps are over 85 degrees or you'll fry the foliage. The directions will most likely tell you so. Same with using a hort oil like Neem. Think "frying pan" :-) Both will work to kill the little buggies. And, I would plant in a pot about 3 times the size it's in right now. Use the gritty mix recipe found in our forum, or if you can't find the correct ingredients (VERY important to follow the directions exactly), you can use EB Stone's Cactus Mix. It's close, and a fairly decent alternative. Then, top with mulch (compost and some wood chips) keeping the mulch away from the trunk if you're in a high heat area (like I am) to preserve moisture. You may not need to mulch in N. Carolina, as you have much more humidity than I do in the summer. Then, fertilize your little guy at least monthly with a good citrus fertilizer with micronutrients (citrus formulations are higher in nitrogen, that's the first of the N-P-K macro nutrient ratio). You may wish to water in the fertilizer with acidified water if your water is on the alkaline side. If you don't know, pick up a pH meter at your local garden center. They're inexpensive, and very helpful. Citrus like a pH around 5.5 to 6.5, but will do fine even in 7.0 soils as I have. I just need to make sure I fertilize with micronutrients after a long cold wet winter. And, my needs are different, since I have all my citrus in the ground. Mike and others can give you much better container advice :-)

Patty S.

I bet just by moving it outside natural predators, such as lady bugs, and natural environmental conditions will take care of the insects. I lived in SC for 2 years, any my only garden concerns were really aphids and grasshoppers.

I've gone nuclear (organophosphates) with insects in the past, but I doubt you are there yet. A little bit of TLC and your tree will be jumping for joy. One of the nice things I like about citrus is how quickly they respond to positive, and negative, changes.

Windysheet: That is an understatement.

My trees take on a whole new personality as SOON as they see the great outdoors. Seems like they grow fast and pest free! Of course I spray with FE, but help them along pest free.

Have a great day:-)

Mike

how's the drainage of the soil? looks like its retaining too much moisture. set it outside, it should start looking better within a week. a 3 or 5 gallon nursery pot should be a good size for your tree.

May I just add that if you do not use a mix that is free draining and do not know how to work with perched water in your mixes, or if you find that you are an over waterer, I would be careful about going up in size of pot.

If you are going to stick with a bagged mix that is peat based, then I would only pot up in one size being more of a benefit to you and helping your tree to dry out faster.
I must say though that your tree would prefer a better draining mix with much more room to grow. It is something you will have to weigh out.

Mike