Wisconsin Forums

[AJE]

What you should know in choosing your Indoor Plant

The glossy foliage looks great year round, and the scent of the blossoms can fill a room.

Before you invest in a citrus tree, make sure you have a place in your home where the plant will be happy. Citrus trees need a long day of sun and good air circulation. Placing the tree near a heating vent will cause the leaves to dry out and drop. In warm climates, place the tree on a rolling platform so that it can be left outdoors most of the time, bringing it indoors only when frost threatens.

There are several varieties of lemons, limes and grapefruits that make great indoor plants. But don't stop there. You can also grow dwarf kumquats, tangerines and oranges. Not all of them will bear fruits like you buy in the grocery store, but some do, especially lemons and limes. Others will bear smaller, intensely flavored fruits that can be used in special recipes like my Key Lime for that tangy Key Lime Pie.

The size of indoor citrus plants can vary greatly, so when selecting a citrus plant to grow as a patio or indoor plant, it is important to find out how large it will get. Most indoor gardeners are familiar with Calamondin orange, a compact dwarf orange variety that has fruits about the size of a quarter. It generally stays in the 2-3 foot range. Another popular indoor citrus is the Meyer lemon. It can get to be a large indoor plant, so be sure you have enough room. Meyer lemons can produce large, thin-skinned fruits with wonderful flavor. Even a dwarf lemon may grow as much as 8 feet tall.

To select a citrus for indoors, look for plants that are full of dark green glossy leaves. If the variety is grown as a standard, pick a plant with a strong, straight trunk. Whenever possible, select a citrus plant that is just beginning to bloom so you can enjoy the fragrance right away. Many of them have thorns, so please handle with care.