Tips for Growing Healthy Citrus
What are the light requirements for citrus?
Citrus need full sun to do their best. Put them near a south window in winter and only protect them from the midday sun in summer. Plants make their own food through photosynthesis. They convert the light energy of the sun into glucose, or sugar. Plants survive in many different light levels. It is generally not a good idea to put plants right up against a window, as it can get very hot in the summer and cold in the winter. Always keep plants back from the window a little bit to avoid temperature extremes.
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Low light plants: Plants that like light from a north facing window—philodendrons, pothos, sansevierias, ferns, aspidistras, ivy
Medium light plants: Plants that like filtered light through a sheer curtain—spider plants, ficus, begonias, peperomias, palms, dracaenas, wandering jew, spathiphyllums.
High light plants: Plants that like full sun from a south facing window—ficus, hibiscus, chrysanthemums, poinsettias, coleus, cactus, citris, aloe, jasmine, kalanchoe, most flowering plants
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How much water do they need?
In summer, when they are outdoors, citrus trees need water almost daily. When grown indoors, their soil should be allowed to dry to the touch between watering. VERY IMPORTANT Do not allow them to stand in water after the pot has drained into the saucer. Just a few other watering tips: Use room temperature water. Do not use softened water. Make sure that pots have adequate drainage so that plants do not sit in water for long periods of time. Do not water your plants on an selected schedule. Water them when they need water! Check this by feeling below the top layer of soil to notice the moisture level.
A plant’s container makes a big difference in the amount of water plants need. Clay or terra cotta containers dry out more quickly than plastic or glazed clay containers.
Some plants need more water than others. Most plants will do fine if they are kept evenly moist, drying out slightly between watering.
Do they have any special temperature requirements?
The areas that most tropical plants come from have between 40-80% relative humidity. In the winter months, homes can have as low as 15% humidity. To elevate the humidity around indoor plants, set groups of plants on trays filled with pebbles with water to evaporate in them. Misting plants is also a good way to elevate humidity. Do not mist plants with hairy leaves, like African Violets.
Soil Mix and Repotting
The soil mix plants are potted in makes a big difference in their watering schedule and overall health. Straight potting soil from the nursery does not provide enough drainage. Mix one part potting soil with one part perlite as one mix option. The other mix option is one part potting soil, one part peat, one part perlite.
Repot only when needed—usually about once a year. Repot in the spring when new growth is emerging. Move up in pot size gradually—move plants into pots that are larger in diameter by 1-2 inches. Being slightly crowded seems to encourage blooming.
How much fertilizer do they require?
Citrus should be fed three times a year, early spring, early summer and late summer. They prefer an acid fertilizer applied no stronger than the recommended rate. . It is important to flush pots (water until it runs out the bottom of the pot) once a year to remove fertilizer salts. Liquid fertilizer and time release fertilizers are the two easiest methods.
Will they need any grooming?
Do not use leaf shine products on citrus. Their leaves will be damaged. Pruning tip growth at any season will keep the plant compact and bushy. Deadheading is not necessary as the blooms fall off as they fade and fruit will follow if the flower was pollinated. Indoors, you will have to pollinate the flowers by hand. Use a child's paintbrush to stroke the pollen-bearing stamens and then the pistil in the center of the bloom of each flower.
How are they propagated?
Take stem cuttings in late summer or early fall and root them in moist sand. When new growth doubles the size of the cutting, it can be potted up into the same kind of soil used for the mother plant and grown on the windowsill. Use fertilizer half strength until the plant is large enough to repot.
Why are the leaves yellowing and falling off?
The plant could be over watered. If you are sure this is not the case then your tap water could be the problem. Citrus plants are very intolerant of the salts that accumulate when they are watered with tap water. In addition to the yellowing leaves you will often see crusty accumulations of salts on the pot. The plants will decline and eventually die if the problem is not corrected. There are several ways to combat this problem: you can water them with distilled water, water from a dehumidifier, rainwater or melted snow. Another approach is to use tap water, but once a month to flush the plant with water that has 2 tablespoons of household vinegar (white or cider) to the gallon. Pour enough into the pot to run out the bottom, empty the saucer, then repeat twice more. This leaches out the salts.
Why are the leaves becoming dull and mottled?
Your plant might be under attack by sucking insects such as spider mites, white fly or scale. All of these can be safely controlled with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil if caught early.
Why doesn't my plant bloom?
There may not be enough light, it might be too warm or the pot may be too large. If you think it might be the latter, don't repot the plant until it has bloomed. You cannot correct the situation by putting it back into a smaller pot.
Pests and Diseases
Indoor plants have pest and disease problems just like outdoor plants. Aphids, mealybugs, whiteflies, spider mites, and scale can all be present on indoor tropicals. Washing the leaves with plain water or insecticidal soap will often help the problem. Cutting back the damaged or infected plant material is a good cultural remedy.
