How to Grow and Care for Citrus Trees Indoors

The amazing orangery at the gardens of Versailles, with more than 1,000 perfectly kept potted plants, might be the world's most famous showcase of citrus trees, indoors or out. But you don't need to be Louis XIV or have nearly as grand a setup to grow, display, and even harvest lemon, lime, and other citrus at home. With the right conditions—lots of light, warm temperatures, and well-draining soil—you can enjoy fresh fruit picked right from your own windowsill.

Types of Indoor Citrus Trees

Citrus trees are uniquely suited to indoor growth, since they don't mind a tight space for their roots and prefer warm temperatures. "Growing fruit trees is always a rewarding experience and growing citrus is no exception," says Joanna Glovinsky of Fruitstitute. "Citrus trees fruit at a relatively young age and a healthy tree can give an abundant amount of fruit all year round. Citrus is also a great candidate for growing in pots as they are happy growing in small spaces."

Expert-recommended citrus trees to grow indoors include Meyer lemons, Bearss limes, Trovita oranges, Mexican limes, kumquats, and smaller tangerine cultivars.

• Meyer Lemon: This semi-dwarf cultivar is a beautiful ornamental tree that's a good choice for beginner growers, says Carrie Spoonemore of Park Seed. "The tree blooms prolifically in clusters of showy, highly fragrant, waxy white blossoms with yellow anthers," she says.
• Bearss Lime: The fragrant white blossoms on this tree flaunt purple-tinged edges, says Spoonemore, "and produce an abundant crop of 2- to 3-inch fruit with a thin, smooth rind. The seedless flesh is juicy, acidic, and finely textured with a fresh flavor."
• Trovita Orange: Though growing this tree in a container will prevent it from reaching its full size, it will still provide plenty of oranges, says Spoonemore. "A heavy producer, the tree blooms prolifically in clusters of showy, highly fragrant, waxy white blossoms followed by an abundant crop of juicy, sweet oranges with a thin rind that's easy to peel."

How to Grow Indoor Citrus Trees

Citrus trees prefer plenty of light and warm temperatures in every season. "The key to growing citrus indoors is finding a spot that's full sun and does not get too cold in the winter," says Glovinsky.

Sunlight

It's no accident that most citrus is grown in the sunniest and warmest parts of the world; these trees need full sun. Though you can use natural light or grow lights, make sure your tree gets 8 to 12 hours of direct light per day, says Spoonemore.

Soil

Citrus trees are heavy feeders, says Glovinsky, and require thoughtful soil maintenance. "An essential component to caring for potted citrus is soil health," says Glovinsky. Look for a soil mix that allows for good drainage, says Spoonemore. "Citrus trees need evenly moist, well-draining sandy loams that have a slightly acidic pH" instead of "heavy, saturated soils," she says.

Water

Though proper watering is essential to the health and productivity of your plant, there's no set amount or frequency you can rely on. "Stick your finger about an inch or 2 deep into the soil near the base of the tree," says Spoonemore. "If the soil feels dry at that depth, it's time to water. Every environment is different, so you may need to fine-tune your watering schedule based on the specific conditions in your home."

Fertilizer

Improve the health of your soil with an organic compost or fertilizer. "Soil in pots is not part of a natural soil ecology where leaves, sticks, bugs, and all forms of life are living, dying, decaying, and maintaining soil organic matter," says Glovinksy. "We grow our topsoil by applying a homemade compost, organic fertilizer topped with woodchip mulch two times per year—this recipe is your cheat sheet to imitating the forest floor."

If you're buying a commercial product, Spoonemore recommends a balanced formula with 5 percent nitrogen, 2 percent phosphorus, and 6 percent potassium. (Look for one formulated for citrus trees that would also include iron, zinc, and manganese, she says.)

Temperature

Though your citrus tree needs lots of sunshine, you don't want it to get too hot, says Spoonemore. Keep your tree in an area where the temperature stays between 60 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. "Citrus trees prefer higher humidity levels," says Spoonemore. "If the air in your home is dry, consider using a humidifier or misting the leaves to increase humidity."

As the tree goes into its winter dormant season, continue paying attention to the ambient temperature and airflow. "Citrus trees are sensitive to cold drafts, so avoid placing them near doors or windows that might expose them to chilly air," says Spoonemore. "Keep them away from heaters or radiators that can dry out the air."

How to Choose a Pot for Indoor Citrus Trees

Though citrus trees don't mind an enclosed space for their roots, you should consider several features when choosing the best pot. Spoonemore recommends a pot with drainage holes ("to prevent waterlogged soil"), but says any material that coordinates with your home aesthetic—clay, ceramic, plastic, and fabric—will work with the right care.

The size of your pot depends on the type of citrus you're growing, says Glovinksy. The canopy of leaves on your tree needs to stay proportionate to the size of the root ball, but bigger fruits require bigger canopies. "You don't want to put a grapefruit tree in a small pot," she says. "The canopy needs to be large enough to produce that big fruit, so you would need a very large pot, minimum 2 feet in diameter, to grow a tree that can produce a handful of grapefruits. Put a kumquat tree in a 2-foot-diameter pot, and you'll have more kumquats than you know what to do with."

How to Repot a Citrus Tree

Expect your tree to outgrow its pot every two to three years, says Spoonemore. Choose a new pot with a diameter 1 to 2 inches larger than the current one, and follow these steps that Spoonemore provided:

1. Before repotting, inspect the roots of the citrus tree. If you notice any circling or excessively long roots, you can trim them slightly to encourage better root growth. Be cautious not to remove too many roots as this can stress the tree.
2. Water the citrus tree thoroughly a day or two before repotting. This helps ensure the soil is adequately moist and reduces stress on the plant during the repotting process.
3. Carefully remove the citrus tree from its current container. You can gently tap the sides of the pot or use a tool to help loosen the root ball. Be gentle to avoid damaging the roots.
4. Fill the bottom of the new container with fresh, citrus-specific potting mix. Create a small mound in the center of the container to place the citrus tree.
5. Position the citrus tree in the center of the new container on top of the mound of potting mix.
6. Fill the gaps around the root ball with the potting mix. Gently press the mix down to eliminate air pockets but avoid compacting the soil too much.
7. After repotting, water the citrus tree thoroughly until you see water draining out from the bottom of the container. This helps settle the soil and ensures the tree receives adequate moisture.

How to Prune an Indoor Citrus Tree

Whether you want to prune your tree for shape or size, Spoonemore recommends pruning during the growing season in spring or summer. Cut back dead, damaged, or diseased branches to the nearest healthy node or branch. "For a bushier appearance, you can selectively prune to encourage branching," she says. "Thinning the canopy can improve light penetration and air circulation, [but] be cautious not to remove too much foliage, as leaves are essential for their growth."

How to Get the Most Fruit From an Indoor Citrus Tree

If you dream of harvesting your own oranges, lemons, or limes, pay careful attention to the growing conditions in your home. "For citrus trees to fruit, they need a Southern California climate year round," says Glovinksy. "If you can create that environment indoors, it should work."

In addition to monitoring the temperature, moisture, soil, and light though, you'll also need to handle another task: "If you want your indoor tree to give fruit, then you're going to have to play the role of pollinator!" says Glovinsky. "Citrus are pollinated by moving pollen from one flower to another, which bees, moths, butterflies and other bugs are great at. When the tree is in flower, you can hand-pollinate by taking a paint brush and lightly moving pollen from flower to flower."