California Gardening: 10 Secrets for Growing Citrus in Containers (Soil Mix, Drainage, Fertilizer)

Many of you ask how I get so many fruits from my citrus trees in containers. In this video, I walk you through my complete, step-by-step method for growing healthy, productive citrus trees in pots – from choosing the right container size all the way to pruning and fertilizing on a schedule.

You’ll see exactly why I prefer growing citrus in containers instead of in the ground, and how controlling soil, pH, nutrients, and watering can dramatically increase fruit production while keeping your trees compact and manageable.

In this video, we cover:
✅ Why containers often produce more fruit than in-ground citrus
✅ Best container sizes for citrus (including 24-gallon pots & whiskey barrels)
✅ How much sun your citrus really needs (minimum vs ideal hours)
✅ Proper drainage: drilling extra holes & avoiding standing water
✅ My mineral-based potting mix recipe (peat moss, perlite, pumice, decomposed granite + charcoal)
✅ Why you should avoid heavy organic mixes in the root zone
✅ How to correctly plant citrus in containers (protecting the root collar)
✅ Watering tips so you don’t cause root rot or stress the tree
✅ Managing excess water on patios/pavers and how I use the GreenStalk Spinner
✅ Organic pest control for citrus leaf miner using spinosad + horticultural oil
✅ How and when to prune citrus trees in containers
✅ The most common mistakes to avoid: garden soil in pots, no drainage holes, letting soil bone-dry, poor light, and skipping fertilizer
✅ My recommended fertilizer schedule (every 3 months from February through November)

🌿 Products Used in This Video

• 24-Gallon Whiskey Barrel / Wine Barrel Containers
👉 https://amzn.to/4rkuCgw

• 15-Gallon Nursery Pot
👉 https://amzn.to/4inBS7m

• Mineral-Based Potting Mix Components:
– Peat Moss
👉 https://amzn.to/4affzyw
– Perlite
👉 https://amzn.to/4p6nMtA
– Pumice
👉 https://amzn.to/4okSsWG
– Decomposed Granite (DG)
👉 https://amzn.to/4rmyKwp
– Professional Growing Mix (Pro-Mix, Sunshine Mix)
👉 https://amzn.to/3JWBIHp

• Charcoal for Soil Mix
👉 https://amzn.to/4pwgTS3

• Citrus Fertilizer (e.g., Citrus-Tone by Espoma)
👉 https://amzn.to/3XgFnCX

• Drip Irrigation Emitters / Drip System Kit
👉 https://amzn.to/4rod6YS

• Hose Watering Wand (Shower Mode)
👉 https://amzn.to/43QUAOC

• GreenStalk Spinner Base (with Optional Wheel Kit)
👉 https://rstr.co/greenstalkgarden/cag
Coupon Code: CAG

• Pruning Tools / Clean Bypass Pruners
👉 https://amzn.to/49Cx0sH

• Spinosad (Organic Insecticide)
👉 https://amzn.to/4rh2vPf

• Horticultural Oil
👉 https://amzn.to/4pwtapz

If you’re growing lemons, limes, oranges, mandarins or tangerines in pots on your patio, balcony, or backyard, this video will give you a complete system you can follow. The idea of a mineral based potting mix is by Gary from Laguna Hills nursery. Here is another video I made in the past on his Top Pot mix: Yes, I am a great fan of Gary too. I had made a video on his potting mix 4 years ago on how he uses a mineral based potting mix! https://youtu.be/eS-o6CDimZA

👉 Check the description for links to the containers, soil components, and GreenStalk Spinner I use.
👉 Use coupon code CAG on https://rstr.co/greenstalkgarden/cag for a discount.

Happy gardening and enjoy your homegrown citrus! 🍋🌿

Chapters

00:00 – Tip 1: Why Grow Citrus in Containers?
01:01 – Tip 2: Best Container Size (7 gal vs 15 gal vs 24 gal vs 100 gal)
02:57 – Tip 3: Location & Sunlight Requirements (5–8 hours minimum)
03:18 – Tip 4: Proper Drainage (Drilling holes, saucers, avoiding standing water)
04:16 – Tip 5: The Best Mineral-Based Potting Mix (Full recipe + what NOT to use)
10:04 – Tip 6: How to Properly Plant a Citrus Tree (Root collar, organic top layer, fertilizer)
12:57 – Tip 7: Ongoing Watering Routine (Drip system, hand watering, soil drying cycles)
18:45 – Tip 8: Pest Control (Leaf miner, organic spinosad + horticultural oil spray)
20:28 – Tip 9: Pruning Citrus Trees (Airflow, shape, dead wood, avoiding over-pruning)
23:33 – Tip 10: Common Mistakes to Avoid (Soil, drainage, sunlight, fertilizer schedule)
27:00 – Outro & Thank You (Like, subscribe, comment)

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