Indoor Fruit Trees: Keep Your Tree Healthy With These Five Tips | Gardening

By JimHofman
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Word Count: 481

If you've discovered the joy of growing an indoor fruit tree, you're likely very pleased with their low maintenance. Just about anyone can grow these citrus trees in just about any living space. Their fragrant blossoms and sweet delicious fruit make them a welcome addition to any home.

Here's 5 tips to make sure your indoor fruit tree is healthy, vibrant, and productive:

1. If you need to add soil to your tree container, never use soil from the yard or anywhere outside. Get a soil mixture with perlite mixed in. You can buy this mix online or at most garden centers. The soil mixture should be an airy potting soil, and you should add soil up to the line on the trunk where discoloration from the dirt used by the nursery ends. Leave enough space at the top of the pot so you can water thoroughly.

2. These trees like regular watering. For the most part, every week to 10 days is plenty. When the soil is no longer damp, go ahead and water. Be thorough but don't drench the soil. As for light exposure, a western or southern exposure is best.

3. Not only do indoor citrus trees like water, they like to be fed as well. Once a month, fertilize them with a specially formulated fertilizer made for indoor citrus varieties. If you don't want to buy a specialized fertilizer, no problem. The key ingredients are zinc, iron, and manganese. Most good quality multipurpose fertilizers contain these ingredients.

4. For the most part, people hate humidity, but indoor citrus trees love it. If your living space is dry, particularly in the colder months, add moisture with a humidifier, or mist them frequently. Another good idea is to place your tree container in a tray filled with pebbles and water added to the top of the pebbles. Note of caution: Don't put your tree directly in front of a drafty vent.

5. When it gets warm outside, give your tree some TLC and let it live outside on a patio or balcony. The outdoor sun will do your tree good, but acclimate it to full sunlight gradually. We usually place our three trees in a shady area for a few days first.

More Tips

After you've owned your tree for a while, you'll notice it will produce quite a number of blossoms. Not all of these blossoms will produce fruit, but you can help encourage fruit production. Take a soft small paintbrush and brush the stamens of open blossoms from blossom to blossom. Basically, you're helping the pollination process.

Lastly, for pests, spray your tree with horticultural oil. Your most common pest will likely be spider mites. Horticultural oil will smother the pests and should rid your tree of the problem.

About the Author

Considering adding an indoor fruit tree to your home? Before you buy, be sure to visit our in depth resource site devoted to indoor citrus, including tips, recommendations, and everything you need to know about indoor fruit trees.

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