Grow a Citrus Tree as a Houseplant

You might not immediately think of a lemon or orange tree as a houseplant. I bet that growing your own grapefruit as a houseplant most definitely seems out of the question. Citrus trees, however, make wonderful houseplants and are even fairly easy to grow.

The citrus is an evergreen tree that can grow to be 6-feet-tall. The oval leaves usually release a nice fragrance when bruised, and the white flowers produced in the spring are also quite fragrant. The edible fruit follows in the summer.

You can plant your citrus tree in an all-purpose potting mix. Let it dry out a bit between waterings. [See Watering Houseplants: Identifying Problems.] Fertilize during the spring and summer growing season using a fertilizer for acid-loving plants. [Check out my article on Houseplants: Understanding Fertilizer.]

Citrus trees grown exclusively indoors may or may not produce flowers and fruit. (Usually they will not.) For this reason, if you want your tree to bear edible fruit, move it outdoors during the summer months. Place it in bright light. (In the South, you may want to put it where it has some protection from the very hot afternoon sun.) Indoors, your citrus tree needs direct light and medium to high humidity. Citrus trees can sometimes be plagued by spider mites and scale insects. [Refer to: Ridding Houseplants of 4 Common Pests.]

You can actually start a citrus tree from seeds saved from fruit bought at the grocery store or farmers market. Just allow them to dry out for a couple of days and then plant in the potting soil that you have fixed up for your citrus trees.

There are some varieties of citrus trees that are most commonly grown as houseplants. These include:
Calamondin Orange (C. x citrofortunella mitis or just C. mitis): This variety produces miniature oranges, with the fruit and flowers often appearing at the same time. Height: 3 feet.

Orange (C. sinensis): The fruit of this orange tree is pale to deep orange in color with rinds that can be either smooth or rough. You will also notice sharp spines on the stems. Height: 5 feet.

Meyer Lemon (C. limon 'Meyer'): This dwarf version is generally considered to be the hardiest of all of the citrus trees grown as houseplants. It produces 3-inch-sized fruit. Height: 4 feet.

Grapefruit (C. x paradisi): The fruit can be yellow, light orange, or a greenish color with a smooth rind. Height: 5 feet.

You do not have to live in Florida or California to raise your own citrus trees. Raising them in your own home can not only reward you with some fruit but also prove to be a lot of fun.

References:

DeWolf, Jr., Gordon, ed. Taylor's Guide to Houseplants. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin, 1987.

Horan, Anne, and Robert G. Mason. Foliage Houseplants. Alexandria, VA: Time-Life Books, 1988.