Citrus Plant Care

We’ve been seeing a growing trend in the greenhouse recently.  More and more people are growing citrus plants.  Lemon, Lime, Calmondin and Grapefruit.  We’ve never had more requests for these indoor tropical plants!  Maybe it’s the intoxicating scent of the white blooms? Or, the tropical vibe of watching lemons and limes grow in your Calgary home on snowy winter day.  Whatever the reason, citrus plants are growing in popularity. We routinely bring in citrus plants of different sizes and varieties, so be sure to stop by Spruce It Up Garden Centre if you’d like to add one to your houseplant family.

Here are some care tips for how to successfully grow citrus in your home.

Sunlight: Your citrus plant needs lots of light to thrive.  Put it in a nice, sunny spot where it will get at least 6 hours of sun each day.  If you can’t find a spot with that much sun in your home, you can always consider adding a grow light.

Watering: Citrus plants should not sit in dry soil.  Wait until the soil is 70-80% dry and then give it a nice, thorough soak.  Ensure that the entire root ball is wet. If water is coming out the drainage holes at the bottom of your pot, it’s a good indication that the soil is adequately watered. Deep watering stimulates deeper root growth and strengthens the tree.  Check the drainage tray or interior pot and discard of any excess water so your plant isn’t sitting in water.  Your citrus plant will need to be watered more frequently in the heat of summer and when it’s in bloom.

Container:  You can keep your citrus plant in the plastic pot it came in or transplant it into terracotta or ceramic. Citrus are fine to be in a somewhat snug container, so don’t transplant into a bigger pot too quickly.  Make sure that the pot you choose has drainage holes at the bottom to ensure that water can flow out the bottom instead of staying in the pot and keeping the soil too moist.

 Fertilizer: When your Citrus plants are in bloom, fertilize with a 30-10-10 fertilizer every 2-3 weeks.  When your plant is not in bloom, we recommend using Rage Plus Organic fertilizer.

It’s a good idea to check all of your houseplants routinely for pests. Citrus plants could occasionally have scale, spider mites or whitefly. If you find these insects, treat your Citrus plant with Pure Spray Green or reach out to the Greenhouse team at Spruce It Up Garden Centre for more advice.