Before Purchasing Your Citrus

• 1). Check the possibility of purchasing dwarf forms of some citrus. You can keep dwarf trees the same size for several years by pruning, root pruning and then re-potting into the original pot with new soil.
  
  
• 2). Find out whether your citrus can be indoor/outdoor plants. Use a hardiness zone map to determine your planting zone. (See Resources) Check your citrus variety for cold tolerance.
  
  
• 3). Purchase a potting soil mix formulated for citrus or make your own soil mix. One part potting soil, one part compost and two parts vermiculite or coarse sand will drain well and provide nutrients.
  
  

Potting Your Citrus

• 1). Choose a pot at least 16 inches in diameter so that the tree will not outgrow the pot too quickly. Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole and purchase a tray to prevent drips. Get a planter support with caster wheels if you'll be moving the tree seasonally.
  
  
• 2). Put a 1-inch layer of gravel or pottery chips in the bottom of the pot for drainage. Carefully cut the nursery container down the sides and remove the citrus tree. Wash off 1 inch of soil around the root ball to expose feeder roots to the new soil. Unwind and trim circling roots.
  
  
• 3). Put the citrus tree in the pot. Make sure the top of the citrus root ball is just under the lip of the pot.
  
  
• 4). Use a potting soil mix formulated for good drainage, or your own mix, and fill around the sides of the root ball. Do not cover the top of the root ball with soil. Firm in by hand.
  
  
• 5). Water the citrus tree. If the soil settles around the edges, add more and firm by hand.
  
  

Caring for Your Citrus

• 1). Mulch your citrus with a layer of rounded pebbles. Rock mulch retains moisture and radiates heat at night.
  
  
• 2). Put your citrus tree in a brightly lighted area in the house. According to the citrus growing experts at Four Winds Growers, citrus trees need eight hours of bright light per day.
  
  
• 3). Move citrus trees that spend the spring and summer outdoors into the shade before taking them inside for the winter. They need to adapt to lower light conditions to prevent fruit and leaf drop.
  
  
• 4). Water your citrus when the top two inches of soil feel dry. Use a moisture meter in the pot to get an accurate soil moisture level. Increase water during spring and summer when citrus grow most actively.
  
  
• 5). Mist the citrus tree to keep it moist. Ideal humidity for citrus is 50 percent. If the citrus will be on a sheltered porch for the winter put a drain tray under it at least 6 inches wider than its pot bottom. Fill the drain tray with gravel or pebbles and a thin layer of water to raise the humidity.
  
  
• 6). Citrus need large amounts of potassium, nitrogen and phosphates. Fertilize once a month starting in early spring and ending in early fall. Use a fertilizer with a higher content of nitrogen than potassium or phosphate.
  
  
• 7). Prune the citrus tree roots to provide room for new feeder roots to grow. Lack of seasonal growth and no fruit set on citrus that have been in a container for several years indicate a tree is rootbound. Remove it from the container, prune the top growth back by one-third and prune the roots back by one-third. Re-pot with new soil in the same container.