With no protection? I think you will loose them. Citrus are marginally hardy here and I am in zone 7B. If you can give them some warmth (like in a garage)they might be OK.

Thanks for the follow up. The reason I asked is that I'm thinking of transferring them to whiskey barrels and that would make them pretty much impossible to move. I live in a wooded area and they're on the east side of the house. Do you think burlap and straw would give them some warmth? Winter temps here go down into the teens every now and again.

Paula

I think them being in whiskey barrels (or any container) is going to make them even more vulnerable to cold at the root zone. I am not a citrus person, but I know that tropicals can only handle so much cold, and I really would not feel comfortable leaving them out. Maybe if you made a mini-greenhouse over them it would help. A guy here that raises a lot of citrus suggests wrapping them in little white christmas lights to add a little extra warmth to the branches, but again, in your are I would be a little afraid to try it. Do you know what variety they are? Some cultivars are more cold hardy than others.

Paula, are you planning on repotting into barrels now? This time of year? I'd wait until spring.
Also, you mention your citrus being dwarfs..what size pots are they in now? Do you not think repotting from a small container to a barrel would be too big?
I agree w/CC...if you keep your citrus outside in z6 they're likely to die..How long do temps stay in the 20's? What type of citrus are they? Toni
Why do you say they're deciduous? Do they drop leaves every winter?

You guys are quick! I appreciate that. I had 4 but lost one this winter in an incident with grow bulbs that were not grow bulbs (who knew that the Wally sold plant lights - they just make your plants LOOK good, but aren't actually grow lights). The remaining three are Trovita orange, Cara Cara orange, and a guy who's lost his tag. He might be the tangerine. Which means the lemon bought it.

They are in 14" pots now. Thanks or the information on the whiskey barrels being too big. I container garden, but didn't think about the pot being too big for the plant.

Temps stay down in the 20's for days or weeks up here on South Mountain (PA).

Okay so barrels are out of the question, and they'll winter in the vestibule bathroom as usual.

Thanks.

BTW what's a good commercial citrus fertilizer?

Paula

If you have a way of moving them with reasonable ease, you can leave them outdoors as long as it's not 32 or below. That way, they'll hold the majority of their leaves and be in much better condition than if they were indoors all winter.

I winter my dwarf citrus inside under HID lights and they do great. Very little leaf drop and what does drop from the shock of the move grows back quickly. They continue to flower throughout the winter. I had terrible leaf drop prior to using the HID lights.
Karyn

I have a small Meyer Lemon tree that will winter over in my living room. It is placed by an east southeast window where it will get a few hours of sunlight each day. I have a grow lamp for supplemental light. I bought an energy-efficient fluorescent bulb (the new curly ones) at Lowe's for the grow lamp. While the bulb was not described specifically as a grow bulb, it was labeled "full spectrum lighting"; so I assume this will be fine. While the Meyer Lemon has only been inside a week at this point, so far so good in terms of lighting...

Paula, I didn't realize your citrus were in 14" pots..How large are the barrels?
Still, I wouldn't repot at this time of year. Wait until spring, then if roots are sticking out of their current pots, and barrels aren't overly huge, you still may be able to repot in them..The problem is, most barrels I've seen are huge..once a plant is potted in one, it's going to be very difficult moving. And again, I don't think citrus will make it in your zone during winter months..
Then again, I'm unfamiliar w/your climate..if there are only 4-7 days of icy temps, you might be able to accompish planting trees in the ground..I talk to 2 women who own citrus nurseries in Fl. some nights drop below freezing..they cover trees on these cold nights, and trees survive..but it's questionable..they also have warmer temps during the day to compensate for the cold nights..
Citrus fertilizer..You can find it on Ebay, and some nurseries carry it. Some Home Depots sell it, too. Since winter's approaching, there's no need to fertilize now. I have 2 types of Citrus food..one bought here in IL, the other online..A slow-release granular feed. Sprinkle and water, lasts 3 months..But Epsom Salts are supposed to be good too, as is Azalea fertilizer. I used to use Azalea food on my citrus before getting hold of the real thing. And here in IL, it's a lot easier finding azalea food than citrus.
Do you have Fish Emulsion lying around? I use it as a scale preventative before bringing citrus indoors..it's also a great last foliar feeding..1 capful per 16oz mister of water..spray citrus thoroughly. I must warn you, it does have a fishy smell, but if you spray a couple days before bringing inside, the odor should be gone, plus they now make an odorless type. FE can also be purchased on Ebay at great prices.
If you're interested in purchasing more citrus, I know a guy who owns a cold-hardy citrus nursery..I can give you his addy if you'd like..Prices are great, too, and what you get are 2-3' trees..at least that's the size I got when I ordered from him. LMK..good luck, Toni

Here's a link to a citrus nursery in SC that has some pretty cold hardy citrus trees. Good prices too!!

Here is a link that might be useful: plant folks citrus nursery

Whats an HID light?

Is that a like a full spectrum florescent grow bulb? I'd say the barrels, from memory are at least 20" maybe 24?

My citrus don't drop leaves - at least they didn't until this last winter. The first year they wintered in the living room they bloomed like crazy. Last year not a lot. I'll take better care this winter.

Thanks guys; you gave me some great ideas. Finally judgment: they're coming inside.

Cheers,
Paula

HID bulbs are high intensity discharge grow lights. I use the 1000 watt metal halide variety. They provide the full spectrum of light necessary for plant growth. They are different from the full spectrum fluorescent bulbs that are used for general lighting.
Karyn

Here is a link that might be useful: Grow light guide

If they are dwarf citrus then they are most likely on flying dragon rootstock. Flying dragon is a trifoliate rootstock. Trifoliate rootstock's withstand colder temps than other rootstocks because they are deciduous (the rootstock not the fruiting variety on top). So you may be able to grow them outdoors. However at the temps you are talking about you would need to do some protecting. As someone suggested xmas lights work well. But they need to be what I term old-fashioned type. Meaning they have to be the larger bulb type not the mini-light strings. The amount of bulbs you need depend on how cold the temps would otherwise drop down to. Actually any incandescent bulb would work. What you are trying to do is add heat to the air around the tree thereby keeping the temps up.