I have some I grew from cuttings taken when I pruned mine last year, and I'm keeping them in pots for now, too, since they're still small. They started growing pretty tall, and I also snipped them back to about 8" tall so they can concentrate on root development. Mine are still in 4" pots, so I need to move them up to 1 gallon soon, I think. I'm still not sure if I should plant them outside this fall or next spring. They seem so tender! At least the skinniness of their stalks and all. Are they tougher than they look when this small?

I have a medium-sized pot ghetto alongside my carport. I used to have roses out in the yard too, but the lawn-mower people kept running them down, no matter how often I admonished them about it, (you know, you can explain things to people, but you can't understand for them). So, I got disgusted and created a pot ghetto near the carport where I could control everything. I may have 20 or so 24" pots snuggled there. Watering is easier since I do it overhead off a home-made system, and I water them for 30 minutes every other day, (we are on water restrictions because of the drought here in the southeast). Ferilizing is easier too, and I still have the roses I want right at hand. Once upon a time, in another life, I looked after over 400 roses in another garden, but now that I am unencumbered, have only about fifty. A gracious plenty, I assure you. Besides, our local society has a Memorial Garden downtown with 45 or so in it, and that takes care of the desire for more. I have never been a big fan of HTs, but can tolerate 45 of them rather well downtown. Here at the house, I have all Chinas and they are very disease resistent, yet give me the blooms and colors I like. As far as room for a pot ghetto is concerned, I can move the pots around into as many combinations of bloomers and colors as I want depending in the amount of sun the roses like and will tolerate. I just have to remember that roses in pots need watering and fertilizing more frequently then roses in the ground because they tend to drain more quickly and the ferilizer moves through the soils faster then otherwise. I'm very happy with my pot ghetto, and wouldn't change a thing about it.

Hi Kristi..I 'wish' I had your problem..LOL (reside in IL) Did you have your heart set on potted or under-ground citrus? Sounds like your balcony gets adequate light. Since it faces east, does it receive any south sun? Is anything obstructing the upper part of your balcony? An awning or a second upper balcony? I'd like to add, I'm NO expert, just a citrus/plant lover and grower.. In most cases, lack of sun is the issue..If you decide to plant in ground, set citrus out gradually, until they acclimate.. But honestly, citrus I keep out front,faces west, with added north and south, do far better than those out back which is semi-shaded by a big, old maple tree, facing mostly south, and additional east and north. Still they flower and fruit..since you're in Ca, have much longer seasons than us Illinoians, I'm sure your balcony will suffice. I honestly think your balcony would do. (if you want to keep your trees in pots) It's highly unlikely your citrus will die from lack of light on the balcony..you can always keep them there this spring/summer/fall..If results aren't to your satisfaction, plant in the yard next year. Since your soil is mostly clay, it'll need amending. This means, digging, and re-digging. And tilling. Don't bother using a small tiller like Mantis..I have one..it works, only after sections are tilled by larger rototillers. Deep into the earth..ridding grass roots is not an easy task. I personally dislike grass-killing-agents where I intend planting, especially edibles..(that's my hangup) Poisons..uh uh..Other mediums will need to be added in the area you want to plant trees. It's a big job, but can be done..and worth the effort after the job is completed..You'll feel great.. What is 8ish soil? Do you mean it's alkaline? If so, another project ,,, bringing those numbers down..But that's just a matter of adding other mediums, blending in, and voila, a Perfect 4-6 acidic soil. Growing citrus in pots requires similar soil, only on a much smaller scale..Again, I'm no expert, only grown a couple barely-edible citrus in the garden year round..so my experiences lie in containers. Perhaps someone from your area will chime in. Whatever you decide, I wish you the best..believe me, citrus are worth the work, either way..Toni

I agree with tn_veggie_gardner. Peat pots work great in a greenhouse type environment. But they do dry out quickly outside of that greenhouse. I am using peat pots to start my sunflowers indoors to avoid the squirrels digging them up. Once they start coming up, the spend a little while on my porch (I have to water them about every day though). Then I just plant them in the ground after ripping the bottom off so the roots can get out and around. (I heard that they don't decompose as fast at they say they do).