Citrus plants aren’t hardy enough to grow in my zone (7b), so during late Fall or early Winter, I move them inside the house before frost hits. I have all of my Citrus trees planted in pots. I wanted to share what I’ve learned from being able to keep them alive indoors in the past. Here are some things to consider:
🍋 Make sure they’re going to get enough light. I have a couple of trees sitting next to a South facing window, and a couple of trees under grow lights.
🍋Indoor air is very dry so you’ll want to increase humidity level. You can use a humidifier or mist your trees once or twice a day.
🍋 Improve air circulation. You can either set up a fan or open the windows on sunny days when outside temps aren’t too cold.
🍋 You’ll have to water less while indoors, but make sure to keep their soil moist.
🍋 Slowly acclimate your trees first before completely moving them indoors in order to reduce stress. Move the plant for an hour or two inside, then gradually increase the time it stays inside. It’s normal to experience leaf drop once moved.
🍋 Based on personal experience, I would highly recommend you keep the trees planted in lightweight pots. I made the mistake last yr of putting one in a really heavy ceramic pot. It was inconvenient and was a struggle to move it in and out of the house.
🍋 I give my trees a good wash before I bring them in and inspect for any pests. It’s easy to miss them, but I do my best not to bring any bugs inside the house.
🍋 I listen to what my trees need as far as fertilizing during winter. You typically don’t want to fertilize them in the winter, but I had a tree last yr that looked so rough and bounced back once I fed it.
🍋 Last but not least, I enjoy them! Citrus trees are meant to be outdoors and enjoy warmth and sunshine, but since I can’t leave them outside during winter, I try to make a special place for them inside the house and enjoy their beauty.
Are you growing any citrus trees? 🍋🍊
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