Citrus In Montana? YES

By Jan Cashman

Most of us love to eat oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruit. Citrus trees won’t survive our winters outdoors. So, grow them indoors in pots. Here are a few hints if you want to try growing citrus trees indoors:

• Choose dwarf varieties.

Those varieties that are grafted on dwarf or semi-dwarf root stock with an 8 to 10 foot mature height work well for growing indoors in containers. Sour lemons and limes are thought to do better indoors because they need less light than the sweeter citrus types. Meyer is one variety of dwarf lemon that is known to do well in a pot. Kumquats also grow well in pots.

• Plant in large pots with

drainage holes. Use a light, sterile potting soil that is acidic and well-drained, containing peat moss and perlite or vermiculite. One part shredded bark to two parts potting medium works well for good drainage.

• Place the trees in a sunny

spot in temperatures between 55 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Some web sites say citrus need 6 hours of sunlight a day to produce, others say 8. Most say over 12 is too much. Place your tree in a south facing window away from drafts. Not enough light? Use grow lights. Once nighttime temperatures outside get consistently over 50 degrees, you can slowly get your tree used to being outside for the summer. Be sure to watch the local weather reports for snow or unusually cold temperatures. • Keep the soil evenly moist, but do not let your tree stand in water for long. Citrus likes the sweet spot between not too wet and not too dry. Water with tepid, not cold, water. Montana winters can see indoor humidity extremely low, especially with baseboard or woodstove heat. To increase air moisture, fill the tray or liner under your tree with pebbles and let leftover drainage from watering stay in the tray. Raise the humidity around it by misting or a humidifier. Low humidity can cause the blossoms and fruit to drop. Moisture meters can be useful.

• Fertilize citrus every two weeks in the summer, when they are actively growing, with an all-purpose house plant fertilizer that contains trace minerals like manganese, iron, and zinc or use a citrus-specific fertilizer. Follow brandspecific directions. • Hand pollinate blossoms with a paintbrush.

• To control scale, wipe the leaves with liquid dish soap

Jan Cashman has operated Cashman Nursery in Bozeman with her husband, Jerry, since 1975.

mixed with water. Because citrus are susceptible to scale, spider mites, and mealybugs, you may need to use a systemic houseplant insecticide-fungicide-miticide occasionally. Or try Neem oil. Citrus trees with their glossy leaves, fragrant flowers, and edible fruit can brighten your home in the long winter months. Plant one in a pretty pot and enjoy!

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