Citrus Plants
Plants in the citrus family have something for all seasons: shiny, dark green foliage; attractively scented with white flowers that appear intermittently through out the year, and colorful long lasting fruits.
All citrus are shrubby plants that normally become large with time, but they can be kept in check with regular pruning. Avoid trimming off branches with flowers or buds if you want a crop of fruit. Some citrus bear numerous thorns, others are mostly or entirely thorn less.
To ensure fruit production indoors, dust each flower with a small paintbrush.
LIGHT – provide four hours or more of direct sun light from a south window indoors.
OUTDOORS – avoid the hot sun from mid morning until mid afternoon.
WATER – let the plant soil approach dryness between thorough waterings. Always discard drainage.
FERTILIZE –a citrus plant food or Bud & Bloom (Master Nursery) once a month. Do not overfeed.
TEMPERATURE – 50 to 55 degrees at night and 65 to 70 degrees through the day.
Repot infrequently. The plant will not bloom if the light is too low. The leaves will drop if the soil is too wet or too dry. Mist thoroughly the top and bottom of the foliage at least every two to three weeks.
To raise the humidity level for citrus trees, especially during the winter months and when in bloom, place the potted plant on a shallow tray. One that is wider than the pot. Fill the tray with pebbles, fill with enough of water so that the pot isn’t setting in water. If the roots stand in water, they will rot. The constant evaporation of the water raises the humidity in the air immediately around the plant to as much as three to five times that of rest of the room.