Can anyone tell me what all they really need to survive winter indoors: A bright window or good lighting and temps at least 50 degrees. Ideally cool nights and warm days. Watch for bugs such as scale and spider mites. The closer you can keep them in the 50s-60s range, the better off you'll be from a pest point of view.

Also, do I need to prune them/shape them? If you want to keep them more compact, you can cut back the odd branch an inch or two whenever you want. But keep in mind your plants are still small. They'll need to put on more growth to be able to sustain fruit.

I can't speak to the lighter growth. But typically new growth is a lighter green. Eventually it darkens, unless there are cultural issues such as overwatering or too much moisture retention in the soil.

Generally speaking citrus does not need to be pruned for structured shape like other fruit trees do.

Because fruit on a citrus tree develops only on the new wood, if you prune your tree will not bear fruit. This is because pruning by its very act removes the new wood.

Where do you live. I am in zone 8-9 in SC 30 mi. from the ocean. I planted mine outdoors after 1 winter indoors. They suffered in my in house. The air was too dry for them. After 2 yrs outside the're so heavy with fruit I have to brace them to keep the fruit off of the ground. My biggest problem is ants.

They bring aphids and all of their other flora. So I keep close eye on them and pick off unwanted guest. I also spray them with dawn and water about twice a season.

I should have told you that the new growth you displayed is normal.

Mary Jo, what kind of citrus tree do you have outside? I am in 8a and always hopeful I could grow outdoors instead in in pots.

Thank you everyone so far. I guess no pruning for me, at least for now. It’s probably too late in the season anyway for it to recoup and make more new growth so perhaps next year if necessary.

Mary Jo, that’s a pretty impressive amount of fruit, what type of trees do you have? I live in Milwaukie, OR which is a suburb sort of just south of Portland. Although, from what I understand I’m 8b not 8a like Sammers. We had some really bad snow and a very cold winter last year so I’m not sure the trees would make it outdoors especially with how small they are.

Sammers what do you do with your trees in the winter here?

I would not prune now, plus your trees look great as they are. I can tell you that as far as the key limes and meyers, mine are more bush-like. However, I have two large key limes that are grafted trees that definitely have the tree shape and are quite tall. I have another one that is a cutting and is a bush. Either way I think they look nice.

Cassandra, All of mine (20 now yikes) are currently in pots, last year I brought the few I had into the garage and used cfls and a fan. The temps stayed between 34-50 degrees usually and while they didn't grow much they made it through just fine. This year since I have way more trees citrus, figs and brugmansia that need to come in, the figs and brugs will get the unheated garage and the citrus will be moved into a soon to be cleared out craft room of my house. It will be interesting to see the difference come spring time between the warmer house temps and the cool garage temps. We are hoping to move next year to a new house so for now I don't have any in ground. However I plan to put my Yuzu, Calamondin, and various mandarins in ground when we find a place we plan to be in for a while. They should be able to handle the weather with some protection for the first few years but its really going to be a trial and error. Its awesome to see another grower in the Portland vicinity, citrus can be an addiction so don't be surprised if you or your husband end up wanting more varieties. I prefer my trees to be more bush like, multiple branches mean more room for fruit to set and less weight on one central trunk but its up to you to decide what you'd like. Think of it as shaping more than pruning as you need new wood to get fruit, don't hack it back like crazy but give it a balanced appearance. I quite like the look of your trees so I wouldn't bother trimming them this season.

Don't trim them, let them grow stronger. They look nice!

Nulesm, just like I wrote. Citrus fruits only on new wood. Since you pruned your tree, enough time has passed for your tree to once again produce a flush of new wood. Therefore your tree's new wood was capable to once again fruit.

I have a Meyer's Lemon and a dwarf Orange. They have been outside for 4 yrs, The orange is 8 ft. tall. The Lemon is about 5 ft. I am in zone 9, I think .

When we are going to get frost I wrap the Lemon tree in a sheet.

Spray the plants before bringing indoors. Mist frequently (water) and water with room temp (not cold) water. Half strength fertilizer (with micros). Many of us use DynaGro Foliage pro.

Use a fan to deter spider mites. Inspect regularly!

I can't say how critical lighting is, but it's not too hard to find a lamp and a 6500K CFL bulb.

If you have these potted in regular potting soil, you will want to be mindful of overwatering which can lead to root rot.

So yes, definitely the consensus is to not prune them. Haha. I just wasn’t sure. I know with my berries I cut back all of the 2 year old canes after the season. So I wasn’t sure what the rule was. I have been trying to read what I can.

Sammers, I was going to ask why you were bringing the fig and brug in, but I’m assuming since they aren’t in the ground maybe you feel like they aren’t as hardy? 20 trees is a lot, but I know if they survive I’ll have an addiction, because the fact that you have a Yuzu excites me. I’m a chef and can think of so many uses! I have a lot of indoor plants though so potentially I’ll just have to see how these fare and what I have room for. Maybe some might make it in the ground. I will have to do more research.

Thank you again Mary Jo. Maybe next year I will try to put them in the ground and see how they do.

Hibiscus (one of my favorite flowers) thank you for all of the information! I’m going to spray all of the plants I need to bring indoors (I have an olive tree and a few other things as well) with Bayer 3 in 1 before they come in. I already am in the habit of misting my tropicals and I have a hygrometer to check humidity. I also fertilize with DynaGro Foliage pro (that Al is a wealth of knowledge). The trees are in 5:1:1 mix, but I had topped off the soil with mulch to try to keep out any weeds or pests that I will remove before bringing in the house. So I will buying a light and getting the bulb you recommended then. Also, a fan? Is that for air flow? This deters mites?

Thank you everyone again so much!

Yes, the fan helps battle the mites. Turn it off while you mist ;)

I didn't get mites on my citrus last year but they certainly found plenty of hiding spots on my other tropicals.

You are thinking !ogically now about increasing your collection. Good. Let me take a moment to tell you that kumquat plants are on the small side and as a chef, I'm sure you know how fun and unique and delicious they are.

Yes Cassandra the figs and brugs are in pots as well, the brugs and figs might be fine in ground but they would probably die back to the ground if we are going to get as much snow as they are predicting and have to completely regrow after winter. This way I am able to keep this years structure to build off of next year, for the brugs especially that's inciting to me because I want large specimens and for some of the figs it means i'll get brebas. The brugs apparently don't like it too wet and can rot in our area over the long rains. I plan to put some of the figs in ground after we move and take some cuttings and trial the brugs in ground too.

I am certainly a crazy plant lady, every time I come home with a new tree my boyfriend gives me this quizzical look and asks me if I need more trees/plants. I always say yes ;) My boyfriend owns our house so I am able to have much more than I did when I was in an apartment, it just seems silly to plant much in the ground if we know we aren't staying here but I can't wait! I am heading to the All About Fruit Show this weekend to try some varieties of PawPaws , Quince, and other exciting fruit that I want to put in my new yard, space allowing.

I once upon a time was a chef, I went to culinary school and cooked for a few years before trading it in for more traditional hours but that certainly motivates me to grow edibles and exotic things that I can't easily find in stores or can find but at a hefty price tag. One Green World Is where I got my Yuzu a few weeks ago, they don't have it listed as in stock on the website but he had a few recently grafted and he sold me one. It should be able to do just fine in ground here and would make some tasty dishes/drinks. He also has Australian Finger Limes, Buddhas Hand and Sudachi which also are fantastic/novel from a culinary standpoint. Bergamot if your into making your own tea blends and sour oranges if you like various Latin cuisines (or marmalade), Kaffirr limes for Thai cooking, Calamondin for Filipino foods, Kumquats for various things, you get the idea ;). The Sudachi is on my list as they are currently out of sock but I have the others (except for kumquats as I really don't like them) and they are some of my favorite trees, the Buddhas Hand in particular is my favorite tree due to its intoxicating smell and unique appearance and applications. I think loving to cook makes it easier to go overboard with the trees as I can see so many uses for them other than ornamental's. This is a link to Susanne's post asking what everyone grows and why, it can be dangerous/helpful in giving ideas of what to get. http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/4902158/what-varieties-do-you-all-have?n=116

Hibiscus, I did battle with some mites over the summer both inside and out. I had an Alocasia almost bute the dust but luckily I think I got to it just in time. They sure are a pain!

As for the kumquats, I have made a delicious candied kumquat and vanilla cake before and it was delicious. In spring I guess I will have to look more in to my options (that link Sammers gave me seems like a goldmine). This all depends on how they do inside and how I care for these two during winter.

Sammers it sounds like you and I both need a greenhouse! :) I have many of the same problems. We have a decent sized home and decent sized property but my home faces West and our backyard and one entire side of the front yard are both shaded by large birch trees. So my front is my only space for full sun plants/garden and much of it is grass. The garden layout is a work in progress. Our neighbor has a fig tree that is about 60 years old, and I know a lot of people out here that have them. I was thinking about buying a few types earlier this year but much of my gardening was sidelined by being pregnant and then having a new baby. Next season I will have a lot more time. I’m excited for you to be able to try out some more options when you make your move in to a new home! You’ll have to keep me posted.

I totally understand the chef thing. Once upon a time I worked crazy hours, weekends and every holiday and then when we moved here I traded that in for corporate cooking because it was mornings and M-F. Then I had a baby and for now I’ve decided to stay home!

How was the All About Fruit Show? That sounds amazing. I love Quince! You’ve officially peaked my interest with all of the citrus options. I didn’t realize so many were available here (when I think of them I think of tropical or foreign countries) and I didn’t really think they could grow here I guess either. My husband thankfully supports my crazy so we will see how it goes! :)