My Citrus Trees - Inside Lighting

16 years ago

Hello;

I bought a Meyer Lemon, Lime and orange trees from Lowes this summer, maybe late July. They are each in about a 12" 3 gallon'ish pot. They are in primary cactus soil, with some additional sand mixed in. After mixing in some sand to increase the volume of the mix I had, I quickly had the feeling I should not have done it, as it was finer sand and slowed down the drainage. I considered moving the trees into a fast soil, such as what I would use for Bonsai, but they did quite well in the mix they are in.

I have them sitting in my kitchen currently (which is under construction and is on the cool side), and have taken them in and out a few times to protect them from potential frost.

They are small but healthy trees and I really have no concerns about them, other than winter lighting.

My plan is to put them on a table by my upstairs southern exposure window. However, I am worried this may not be enough light to properly sustain them.

I know the easy answer here is to provide them additional lighting...but I have a lot of trees / plants that would really be happiest if they had additional lighting, and it simple isn't practical to hang 15 shop lights in my house. So I have to make some practical decisions based on what plants really need the lighting the most. I've already prioritized the citrus and given them a prime spot at the southern exposure window.

How important is it to give these trees supplemental lighting if they are close to the southern exposure window? Will they likely do okay with just the window?

Anything else special I should consider doing for these trees, such as moving them into a faster soil now that I am moving them inside?

Thanks very much;

Jamie Dolan

Neenah, WI

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Comments (6)

displacer
16 years ago
If they are small trees, you might be able to make do with just window light, but it will be a difficult winter for them. Be sure to rotate the trees regularly (one-third every week) so that all sides get light, otherwise you will be looking at twig dieback long before spring.

If you really can't give them a lot of light, one option to consider is forcing them into dormancy by keeping them in cold temps. It would slow the trees' metabolism down, and make them draw down their energy stores more slowly. Citrus really aren't made for a winter dormancy, but some people have had success with it.
meyermike_1micha
16 years ago
Hi Jamie..

As for the soil mix.

You would be the best judge of that..There are many variables that would determine this for you..As for me, I have never succeeded with this type of mix because it would take too long for the pots to dry out, even in south facing windows...They were in clay too..Plastic would be worst.
It will also depend on how fast your mix will break down and compact, slowing the dry out process, suffocate the roots and pose root rot..That is why I have changed to fast draining porous soilless mixes that hold their structure over long periods of time..

As for the light..

A south facing window should be fine depending on the size of them..If they are going to be right up almost against the window and the sun is unobstructed from trees or other homes, it should be just fine..

Mine use to do very well in warm conditions, in south facing windows when I only had 2 or 3 that would share all day sun..Now I have so many, only 2 or 3 would do well, while the rest would suffer fighting over the sunny spaces..

MIke
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jamiedolan
Original Author
16 years ago
I think I will move them into Turface, which is a fired ceramic product that is frequently used for Bonsai. It drains fast and does not compact.

I'll make sure to rotate them when I water them.

Thanks
Jamie

Here is a link that might be useful: Citrus Tree Photos
mksmth zone 7a Tulsa Oklahoma
16 years ago
Jamie

the link below has some very great info on container soils.

Here is a link that might be useful: al's container mixes
displacer
16 years ago
What cute trees!

Those are small enough that window light should be sufficient for them. You may not even need to rotate them, but I still would just to be safe.
jamiedolan
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks. and thanks for the link on the soils. I have read his posts and have made several of his mixes for my plants. More recently; I've moved towards a high % to all turface where he mixed it with other items still. When I planted these citrus trees, I was still playing with bark mulch(had not started using turface yet), and I never got it to the right size, that is why I ended up with the cactus mix.

I have these on my list of things to re-pot.

Thanks

Jamie