Caring for Citrus Plants

Growing these exotic plants is becoming increasingly popular, primarily for their fragrant flowers, which later develop into edible fruits.

Their magical fragrance fills the entire apartment, and the taste of fresh, home-grown fruits is unbeatable. Citrus plants are also popular for their glossy leaves.

These, as part of the whole plant, decorate our home beautifully. Growing citrus plants at home is far from as difficult as it may seem.

The genus Citrus includes many species and hybrids, but citrus plants commonly refer to lemons, orange trees, kumquats, and mandarin trees.

Citrus Plants That Can Be Grown at Home

• Lemon Tree

The lemon tree is particularly suitable for beginners, as it is undemanding to grow. It flowers almost continuously and can be successfully grown even in smaller containers.

• Citron

This evergreen thorny shrub with large leaves and flowers originates from the Middle East region. The fruits, which are called the same as the plant itself, can grow up to 20 cm. They are used in food production, cosmetics, as well as for ritual purposes.

A variety that is unusual in appearance and shape is, for example, the variety called Buddha's Hand, which is not intended for consumption. The best variety for growing in apartments is Ponderosa, which can produce fruits weighing up to one kilogram.

• Grapefruit

Grapefruits in the wild are tall trees, but they can be successfully grown in containers indoors. They tolerate drier air quite well. Grapefruit plants are characterized by large leaves with typically widened winged petioles. The fruits can grow up to 15 cm in diameter.

The least demanding varieties for growing in apartments are, for example, the yellow-fleshed Citrus Paradisi Macf, pink Thompson, or red Redblush.

• Mandarins

They are among the most popular cultivated species, as they are undemanding, small in size, and fragrant. The plants remain small and resist low temperatures well. Basic varieties include C. unshiu Marc, C. reticulata Blanco, C. deliciosa Tan., C. clementina Hort., C. tangerina Hort. Ex Tan.

• Orange Tree

It is the world's most widespread citrus and, after grapes and bananas, the third most cultivated fruit in the world. It withstands low temperatures very well. Among the basic varieties, also suitable for apartments, is for example C. sinensis Osbeck.

Cultivation

If you are among beginners, it's best to start with citrus plants. In summer, you can place them outside in partial sun, and in September, before the heating season begins, move them to a cool part of your home, hallway, or entrance hall.

According to individual varieties and species, they should then have appropriate winter dormancy.

Seedlings and Location

Citrus plants have 160 species, which are further divided into a large number of varieties, forms, or variants. However, not all are suitable for growing in indoor conditions. It's advisable to seek help either in specialized literature or directly from specialists in relevant shops.

During summer months, it's suitable to place the plants in the garden. For shrubs, it's sometimes recommended to temporarily plant them in open soil. In winter months, we then move the plants to frost-free greenhouses, winter gardens, or hallways.

Nutrition and Watering

Plants need the best possible nutritional conditions, which we create primarily with suitable substrate. This consists of peat, compost, and coarse sand or agroperlite in a ratio of 2:2:3.
We should then pay increased attention to watering. Possible overwatering, especially during the dormancy period, can lead to root rot. Almost all citrus plants appreciate regular misting.

We fertilize with organic fertilizers without artificial additives, and we do so regularly.


Most suitable are special fertilizers specifically for citrus plants, which also contain the necessary trace elements.

We fertilize according to plant size and growth intensity once every two weeks to a month. Plants that overwinter in cool conditions are fertilized for the last time at the end of summer.

For plants overwintered in warmth, we don't stop fertilizing, but we reduce the fertilizer dose by half.

Temperature

Citrus plants require sufficient heat and light, especially during the growth period. The ideal temperature during the vegetation period is 22 to 28°C. However, some citrus plants may require maintaining a certain difference between day and night temperatures.

Light

Temperature, humidity, and light should be in balance. In winter, when there is insufficient light, it's necessary to reduce both temperature and watering. The biggest mistake when growing citrus plants indoors is usually lack of light in a heated apartment.

The result is usually leaf drop and wilting of the entire plant. Dry environment also promotes mite reproduction.

Overwintering

Right now is the most suitable time for storing and overwintering citrus plants. If you still have plants in the garden or on the balcony, first move them to the hallway or entrance hall. It's not advisable to place them directly in heated apartments.

If you were to do this, the plant would likely experience temperature shock and its leaves would start to drop. However, this can be prevented by watering the plant with slightly warm water. This will speed up the warming of the root ball to room temperature.