Calamondin - Grow Citrus Indoors and Outdoors

Calamondin along with other citrus is a group of plants that can handle cooler temperatures but also move indoors and outdoors.

What is Citrus? Citrus is the "Orange Tree" family

If you have less than suitable climate conditions or maybe you're limited on space you can still enjoy citrus trees by growing them in containers. One Important note: If you plan on eating the fruit be very careful what you spray on them. When possible go with a natural pest solution.

The dividing line between growing citrus outdoors or indoors is roughly a temperature of no lower than 25 degrees and plants should be protected from frost. For those of you in areas where the temperatures regularly drops below the 25 degree mark, look for a bright spot indoors.

Citrus Rules to Remember

Use a soil mix designed for potted plants and not soil from of the garden. We think of citrus being grown in the ground. Don't assume the same soil could be used in a pot.

Look for everblooming varieties:

• LIMES are the most tender of the citrus and usually quite thorny. Difficult to grow in the ground; much better suited to containers. Protect at 32 degrees; watch wind chill carefully.
• CALAMONDINS is a beautiful, cold tolerant ornamental tree with small, sour orange fruit. Grown more for looks than fruit. Great patio tree or clipped hedge. These will probably be the easiest of all to find at your nursery. Hardy to 20 degrees.
• LEMONS are the fastest growing citrus and very easy to grow in containers. Most are frost tender and should be covered or brought inside when temperatures reach 30 degrees. Varieties available here are usually ever-bearing.
• KUMQUAT is a heavy producer of small orange fruit that can be eaten peel and all. An excellent container plant, and extremely ornamental, this tree tolerates cold better than any other citrus. Hardy to 18 degrees.

These varieties will most likely set fruit indoors in the winter. Other citrus varieties will grow and flower but don't expect much in the way of fruit.

Try to keep the plants above 55 degrees. Below this temperature the plants could begin to go dormant.

In the watering department, soak the rootball thoroughly until water drains out the bottom, don't water again until the top quarter of the soil is dry.

When the weather breaks and you can move your citrus outdoors - do it gradually. In at night out during the day. For about a month.

Also, remember that indoors any additional light and extra humidity you can provide will be helpful.
Citrus has been grown in Europe in containers for centuries. In the US we don't think much about citrus as indoor house plants - but them make excellent indoor plants.

Why not give them a try?