My family headed from Indy to Orlando last month for a wedding. Our Airbnb was located in a nearby suburb called Clermont. We had just one morning to relax by the pool and decided on carry-out for lunch. My main squeeze (see what I did with that citrus reference?) found great reviews online for a Venezuelan restaurant. Upon arrival, we discovered it was actually a food truck in the parking lot of a nearby produce stand. We placed our order and went to poke around the stand while waiting for our food. The R & R Fruit Stand  was a charming little place with a large variety of preserves, honey and Florida nosh. We picked out a few things to bring home. We planned to buy some oranges, but then the citrus trees caught my eye. And this is how you will learnhow to grow citrus in containers.

Growing Citrus in Containers

I’ve ALWAYS wanted to try them, but living in the midwest, knew they’d never be able to survive outdoors. I just always assumed that they wouldn’t do well inside. The proprietor noticed me looking and we started chatting. A transplanted Buckeye, she told me that she understood my concerns but that citrus does beautifully in pots. She even had a photo tacked up on the wall of a giant lemon tree, loaded with fruit on someone’s dining room table. She told me a customer from Connecticut sent it to her and that he never even moved it outdoors in the summer. I was sold. And since it happened to be my birthday, my better half decided it should be a gift.

I selected a tree teeming with buds and little fruits in various stages of development. The owner explained that it was called a “Cocktail Tree” and is a combination of Meyer Lemon and Key Limes. What I understood is that the fruits would be a blend of the two, but after some research it appears that I will have BOTH of these fruits growing on one plant. Nothing is big enough to ripen yet, so if some will be yellow (Meyer Lemons) that remains to be seen. For now, tons of green fruits. I can’t wait.

The following is the advice I was given at the store. I can say that so far my tree is thriving under these tips, so I am confident in passing them along to ensure your success. Here’s how to grow citrus in containers:

Pick a Citrus Plant

There are a multitude of choices, but here’s more info on the one I chose: The Cocktail Citrus Tree. It’s an ever-blooming, dwarf evergreen tree that produces fragrant blooms and will yield Meyer Lemon and Key Lime fruits in just one year. Once you have your first crop you will always have flowers and fruits on the tree all the time. It should never grow past 12 feet in height but is simple to prune to your desired shape and height.

Pick a Container 

I was advised to select a new container that was about twice as big as the nursery pot it came in. “Not too big,” she said. “And make sure it has plenty of drainage holes.” Because I know my plant will live outdoors in the summer and come inside for the rest of the year, I wanted a pot that would look good on my patio and in my living room. I went with a (3 gallon) cream-coloured glazed terracotta pot with a geometric design. Pretty for both locations and simple enough to still emphasise the plant’s beauty. 

Soil, Food & Water

A good, all-purpose soil was suggested as was a citrus fertiliser around the edge of the planter three times a year. I grabbed a bag of Pro-Mix at my local garden shop. This is a new product for me, but touts good moisture retention and so far, so good. It has some perlite in it, is light and fluffy and drains well. The plant is happy! Because citrus isn’t a big seller in Indiana, I had no luck finding fertiliser locally, but there was plenty to choose from on Amazon. Based on the reviews, I chose this product from Jobe’s which are slow-release plant food stakes. They feed your plant as they dissolve and you replace them about every 6 weeks. Again, a little more than was suggested to me, but this is an easy way to get the job done and less easy for me to forget. Water daily in the heat of summer and place in a sunny location. Citrus trees need 8 hours of light preferring morning sun and afternoon shade. If the temps in your area get down to 45 degrees, move your plant indoors to a sunny pot. 

Pruning Citrus Trees

When pruning citrus trees in containers, there are just a few things to remember. First, prune dead leaves and branches. Second, prune suckers that emerge from BELOW the graft union. They won’t produce fruit and steal energy from the plant. Finally, you can keep your tree manicured to the size and shape that works for you by pruning, just try to avoid the lower branches for best results.

Pro Tip:

If your tree is indoors and you want it to proved fruit, you will need to help it with pollination. Because you don’t have flying insects in your home. As the flowers open, lightly touch your fingertip to one blossom and rub the pollen on another. That’s it. Here’s a little more info from Seedsheet about hand pollinating.