Advice wanted on growing citrus indoors.

8 years ago

I have a lemon and a grapefruit growing in my house. I can't put them outside due to the fact I live in South Dakota! I need advice on growing them. I have them in micro greenhouses in a south facing window. They are in miracle grow.

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TheRiGuy Manitoba Canada Zone -3a

8 years ago

Just because you can't leave them outside all year doesn't mean you can't move them out for the warm months. No matter what you do inside it will never be quite as good as just letting them sit in the sun outside. But if you do decide to put them out in the sun, make sure you do the transition from inside to full sun outside slowly.

Miracle grow potting mix is fine for such a young trees but once they get a bit bigger you will want to repot them into a better mix such as 5:1:1 or gritty mix that you can read about on this forum because miracle grow or any other potting mix for that matter will hold to much water and suffocate/rot the roots of citrus trees.

You will want to get yourself a good fertilizer. Dyna-gro foliage pro 9-3-6 is what I use and most people here seem to recommend as it has all the micro nutrients that citrus trees need.

and lastly, growing citrus from seed is not recommended if you plan on getting fruit. Citrus grown from seed can take anywhere from 10-20 years to produce fruit and since they are not on a dwarf rootstock they can get very big and may never develop the necessary node count too fruit confined too a pot indoors. You're probably better off buying dwarf grafted trees that will produce fruit within a couple years but ultimately they are your trees and it is your decision.

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Comments (9)

coolkiddenim
Original Author
8 years ago
Well see the good nursery in rapid city sells them for 30-50 dollars. Kind of a lot.
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Hello, Shiraz! That one question is difficult to answer. Bare-rooting is best *IF* you're re-potting during the optimal time of year (Spring) *AND* if you're replacing all of the old soil with a very differently textured medium. If the tree is very, very rootbound and the old soil is compacted, some have suggested that you only remove a couple wedges of the old rootball during the first year. Then, you remove the other wedges in the second year to make the transition go more smoothly. If you're switching from the current soil to a mix that is bark-based like the 5-1-1, then you don't necessarily need to remove all the old soil. You can simply tease the roots apart around the bottom and outer sides of the rootball, rough off some soil, and then replace with the bark mix. Josh
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poncirusguy6b452xx
8 years ago
stick with seed grown trees until you get the hang of growing a tree that is highly allergic to water but needs to drink a lot. Otherwise you may loose a lot of grafted trees and money and quit before you top the citrus learning curve.
coolkiddenim thanked poncirusguy6b452xx
mksmth zone 7a Tulsa Oklahoma
8 years ago
i agree. Put them outside until this fall when the temps start falling back into the 40's. They will grow a lot more.

Mike
coolkiddenim thanked mksmth zone 7a Tulsa Oklahoma
Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
8 years ago
In Rapid City I would try to grow them in part shade or dappled sun for the summer if you can find a spot like that. Your sun and dry air can be intense. They'll do just fine in part shade.
myermike_1micha
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I would not leave my trees in a mix like that as of yesterday..I can tell by looking at it that it will break down my fall and then it will be too late to save your trees, even if seed grown...While you have the opportunity, repot into a much more open mix, even if you have to use 80% perlite and 20% MG and give them a good head start before the days get shorter and cooler..
I Don't understand why you can't put them outside now? It is summer there too, right?
If you don't, then I would consider a light that give ful spectrum and very intense at that to try and mimick the sun..Even then, your tree will be slow to develop unless you give it as much light as possible like outdoors..
That is not to say it will die, but it will be very weak at the most on a weak root system which will not handle that mix..That is a bad combo for any Citrus Tree in a pot)
masokealzafa
8 years ago
I would actually get a good pot with drainage add rocks at bottom put a good potting soil I usually use vegetable mix. I have always used miracle grow in powder 24-8-16 . Mine has been started by seed and is now flowering and a very strong tree. I have to bring mine in the winter I live in Ottawa Canada. You should transition your tree slowly to the outdoors not direct sunlight at first it may burn. the soil seems very wet in the picture
poncirusguy6b452xx
8 years ago
Don't add rocks. Just use the Your currant medium and add 50 % perlite. Put it and the plant in a cup twice as deep. I used drink cups. you will do fine. The citrus roots need to go deep at this point.
Silica
8 years ago
Miracle Grow potting soil, is NOT a good mix to grow citrus in, However, Miracle Grow Garden Soil (not potting soil) is a good medium to grow containerized citrus in. On the other citrus forum, many growers have used Miracle Grow Garden soil with excellent long term success. I've not heard of a single failure. I have five in ground citrus trees, and perhaps 20+- containerized citrus trees,. About 1/2 of my container trees have been growing in 100 percent Miracle Garden Soil, for quite some time and all are doing well. By the way tomatoes really do excellent in MGGS. - Silica

Advice wanted on growing citrus indoors.

TheRiGuy Manitoba Canada Zone -3a

Comments (9)

coolkiddenim
Original Author

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Advice wanted on growing citrus indoors.

Comments (9)

coolkiddenimOriginal Author

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coolkiddenim
Original Author