Look at Home Depot for orange trees, clementine trees, grapefruit trees, lemon trees, or lime trees. If you’re interested in a tree with various citrus types (you read that right!) try a fruit salad tree.
If you’re planting multiple trees, be sure to allow for 12–15 feet (3. 7–4. 6 m) of space in between each tree.
If you’re planting a grafted citrus, the tree should be elevated a bit higher, about 4–6 inches (10–15 cm) above the surrounding soil. Before moving on, check that your tree isn’t standing on a tilt.
Since you’re planting indoors, feel free to start your citrus tree any time of the year.
Consider a dwarf variety, like the “Improved Meyer” lemon or “Calamondin” orange.
Consider using plastic, terra cotta, or wooden containers—and be sure to pick one that looks great in your home (maybe one with a fun decoration!). If you plan to move your plant outdoors in warmer months, plastic will be the lightest. Be sure to choose a container with drainage holes in the bottom.
Place the seed in a small container with a diameter of just a few inches (a plastic cup would work fine). Double-check that your container has a hole for drainage in the bottom.
To determine whether you’re watering enough, look at the leaves. If they’re cupped or yellowed, it’s likely that you’re overwatering.
1 year old trees need 1–1. 5 pounds (0. 45–0. 68 kg), so ~. 5 pounds (0. 23 kg) pounds three times during the year. 2 year old trees need 2–3 pounds (0. 91–1. 36 kg), so ~1 pound (0. 45 kg) three times during the year. 3 year old trees need 3–4 pounds (1. 4–1. 8 kg) pounds, so ~1. 5 pounds (0. 68 kg) pounds three times during the year.
If you planted outdoors but worry about frost, try a frost blanket. Or, Christmas lights have been proven to keep citrus warm through winter. Just make sure to leave them on all night! If your plant is suffering from weeds, go with hand removal. With mature citrus trees, pre-emergent herbicides are an option as well (but never post-emergent!), though they should be used only rarely.
You can easily hand prune younger trees. As the tree grows into maturity, use pruning shears to make clean cuts on the tree.
Products like Tanglefoot can create a barrier around the tree trunk and prevent bugs from climbing up. For a DIY solution, wrap sticky tape on the outside of your tree. The key is to have the sticky side facing out, so bugs get stuck on their way up. You can also dislodge critters naturally by pointing your water hose up at the underside of your citrus’ leaves to knock the bugs off.
Color change—for all citrus fruits besides lime, a noticeable color change will let you know that it’s ready for eating. Taste—if you try a fruit on the tree and it’s just right, then there’s a good chance that the rest of your fruit is about ready as well. If it’s still bitter, then you’ll want to give the fruit more time to mature.
