The magnificent conservatories at the Gardens of Versailles are home to over 1,000 perfectly manicured potted plants, and are arguably the world's most famous display of citrus trees, both indoors and out. But you don't need a Louis XIV-sized facility to grow, display, and harvest lemons, limes, and other citrus fruits at home. With the right conditions (plenty of light, warm temperatures, and well-drained soil), you can enjoy fresh-picked fruit right from your own windowsill.
Types of Citrus Trees to Grow Indoors
Citrus trees are particularly well suited to growing indoors, as they don't mind a small space for their roots and they prefer warm temperatures. “Growing fruit trees is always a rewarding experience, and growing citrus is no exception,” says Joanna Glovinsky of Fruitstitute. “Citrus trees produce fruit at a relatively young age, and healthy trees produce abundant fruit all year round. Citrus trees also thrive in small spaces, making them ideal for growing in pots.”
Citrus trees recommended by experts for growing indoors include Meyer lemons, Bear's limes, Trovita oranges, Mexican limes, kumquats and dwarf mandarin cultivars.
Meyer Lemon: This semi-dwarf cultivar is a beautiful ornamental tree and great for beginner growers, says Carrie Spoonmore of Park Seeds. “The tree produces abundant clusters of showy, fragrant, waxy white flowers with yellow anthers,” she says. Bear's Lime: This tree's fragrant white flowers have purplish edges. “It produces abundant 2- to 3-inch fruits with thin, smooth skin. The seedless flesh is juicy, tart, fine-grained, and has a fresh flavor,” says Spoonmore. Trovita Orange: If you grow this tree in a container, it won't grow to full size, but it will still produce plenty of oranges, says Spoonmore. “The tree produces abundant clusters of showy, fragrant, waxy white flowers with yellow anthers, followed by abundant juicy, sweet oranges with thin skin that are easy to peel.”
How to Grow Citrus Trees Indoors
Citrus trees like plenty of light and warm temperatures all year round. “The key to growing citrus indoors is finding a spot that gets plenty of sun and doesn't get too cold in the winter,” says Globinski.
sunlight
It's no coincidence that most citrus trees are grown in the sunniest, warmest regions of the world. These trees need plenty of sunlight. You can use natural light or grow lights, but make sure your tree gets eight to 12 hours of direct sunlight per day, says Spoonemore.
soil
Citrus trees need a lot of fertilizer, so soil care is key, says Globinski. “Soil health is essential for caring for potted citrus,” says Globinski. Spoonmore recommends choosing soil that's well-drained. “Citrus trees need a sandy loam soil that's well-drained and has a slightly acidic pH, rather than a heavy, soggy soil,” he says.
water
Proper watering is essential for plant health and productivity, but there's no set amount or frequency you can rely on. “Stick your finger an inch or two deep into the soil near the base of the tree,” Spoonmore says. “If the soil feels dry at that depth, it's time to water. Every environment is different, so you may need to tweak your watering schedule based on the specific conditions in your home.”
fertilizer
Improve soil health with organic compost and fertilizer. “Potting soil is not part of the natural soil ecosystem where leaves, branches, bugs, and all sorts of organisms live, die, decay, and maintain soil organic matter,” says Grobinski. “We nurture our topsoil with homemade compost, organic fertilizer, and a twice-yearly application of wood chip mulch. This recipe is our cheat sheet for mimicking forest floor.”
If you buy a commercial product, Spoonmore recommends a balanced formula of 5 percent nitrogen, 2 percent phosphorus, and 6 percent potassium. (Look for one formulated for citrus trees that also contains iron, zinc, and manganese, she says.)
temperature
Citrus trees need lots of sun, but don't let it get too hot, Spoonmore says. Place your tree in a spot where temperatures stay between 60 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. “Citrus trees like high humidity,” Spoonmore says. “If the air in your home is dry, use a humidifier or mist the leaves to increase humidity.”
As your tree goes into its winter dormancy, continue to keep an eye on the temperature and airflow around it. “Citrus trees are sensitive to cold winds, so don't place them near doors or windows that could expose them to cold air,” Spoonmore says. “Don't place them near heaters or radiators that dry out the air.”
Lyudmila Chernetska/Getty Images
How to Choose the Right Pot for Indoor Citrus Trees
While citrus trees don't mind an enclosed space in which to establish their roots, there are some features to consider when choosing the best pot: Spoonmore recommends pots with drainage holes (“to keep the soil from becoming waterlogged”), but says any material that matches your home's aesthetic can be used, including clay, ceramic, plastic, or fabric, as long as it's properly cared for.
“Adding wheels to the pot makes it easier to move around and even take it outside in the summer,” Grobinski says.
The size of the pot will depend on the type of citrus you're growing, says Grobinski. The tree's leaf canopy should be proportional to the size of the root ball, but the larger the fruit, the larger the canopy you need. “You can't plant a grapefruit tree in a small pot,” she says. “The canopy needs to be large enough to produce large fruit, so you'll need a very large pot, at least two feet in diameter, to grow a tree that will produce a handful of grapefruit. If you plant a kumquat tree in a two-foot diameter pot, you'll end up with more kumquats than you know what to do with.”
How to Repot a Citrus Tree
Spoonmore says your tree will outgrow its pot every two to three years. Choose a new pot that's one to two inches larger in diameter than the current pot, and follow Spoonmore's steps here:
Before repotting, check the roots of your citrus tree. If the roots are ringed or too long, you can trim them back a little to encourage root growth. Be careful not to cut the roots too much, as this can put stress on the tree. Water your citrus tree thoroughly 1-2 days before repotting. This ensures that the soil is properly moist and reduces stress on the plant during repotting. Carefully remove your citrus tree from its current container. You can tap the side of the pot or use a tool to loosen the root ball. Be gentle so you don't damage the roots. Fill the bottom of the new container with fresh citrus potting soil. Make a small mound of soil in the center of the container and place your citrus tree there. Place your citrus tree in the center of the new container, on top of the mound of potting soil. Fill the gap around the root ball with potting soil. Press the mixture lightly to eliminate air pockets, but do not compact the soil too much. After repotting, water your citrus tree thoroughly until water runs out the bottom of the container. This will help settle the soil and ensure the tree has enough moisture.
How to Prune Indoor Citrus Trees
Whether you're looking to shape or regulate size, Spoonmore recommends pruning during the spring or summer growing season. Cut back dead, damaged or diseased branches to the nearest healthy node or branch. “For a bushier look, prune selectively to encourage branching,” she says. “Thinning the crown will improve light penetration and air circulation, but be careful not to cut back too many leaves as they are essential for growth.”
How to get the most fruit from your indoor citrus trees
If you want to harvest your own oranges, lemons, limes, and more, pay close attention to the growing conditions at home. “Citrus trees need a year-round Southern California climate to produce fruit,” says Globinski. “If you can create that environment indoors, you should be fine.”
In addition to monitoring temperature, humidity, soil, and light, there's one more task to handle: “If you want your indoor tree to produce fruit, it needs to act as a pollinator,” says Grobinski. “Citrus fruits are pollinated by transferring pollen from flower to flower, which bees, moths, butterflies, and other insects are good at. When the tree is flowering, you can hand-pollinate it by using a paintbrush to gently transfer pollen from flower to flower.”