Tips for caring for citrus trees?

Question

I just bought a lemon and a grapefruit tree. I'm keeping them in terracotta pots. Any tips on how to care for them such as pruning? I know how to fertilize them.

thanks !

I live on the coast in Texas, if that helps.

Answer 1

I've had great luck growing dwarf citrus trees in pots. I would pass on three hints for success. First, and most important---make sure you have a BIG pots. I started with terra cotta, but switched to the foam pots as the trees got bigger. The terra cotta just got to heavy to move around. You need to check at least once a year to make sure that the plants are not root bound. Second, while it's correct that the plants do need lots of sun and heat---they need one more key ingredient---bees! The bees need to pollinate the blooms in order for the fruit to set. Make sure the trees are near other plants that will attract bees, and then they will find your citrus blooms with no trouble. Third, if you successfully execute on points one and two---then you'll be rewarded with lots of blooms and lots of new fruit However I would recommend you thin the fruit. For small young trees---less than 5 years old---it will be painful, but remove all the fruit. Then as the tree grows and gets older and stronger start out by leaving 5-6 small fruits then more and more as your plant grows. Then sit back with a gin and tonic and enjoy la dolce vita.

Answer 2

Terracotta pots are great for citrus so they wont be overwatered and drown, but in warm weather keep an eye on them coz young citrus dont like to be too dry. When they fruit, if there is an awful lot of fruit on the trees, trim the excess off just after the fruit buds have dropped the last petals. Too much fruit will stress the tree into having a bad growth season, and it may split the tree. When you prune them, only prune thick branches about 3/4 up the branch or remove the branch entirely. Other than that they can take a hard prune after fruiting, similar to roses but not quite that extreme.

Answer 3

I have tons of citrus plants in my yard so I know what I am doing. In caring for citrus plants, you need to give them lots of water when they are still small. Also, if your plant is not a scion, which is where they take a branch from an already producing plant and bud it to root stock so that it does not take 4-7 years to get fruit, it will die easier in the cold and heat. If they are budded, then you need to plant the scion point 4-6 inches below the soil and water daily. If you don't have it below the soil when a freeze comes it will die easier and in the heat it doesn't get as hot, then you will have to wait a long time to actually get fruit. If you re going to buy more citrus trees, then you'll want to buy them with Sour orange rootstock because they are droght resitant and they survive even though there is a lot of salt in the ground. The next best would be rough lemon rootstock but they don't really live for more than 15 years in this soil. When pruning citrus, you always trim the top off when thatt is as high as you want them to grow. If not then they will grow so high up you won't be able to pick the fruits. You also need to trim any small branches that are on the bottom of the plant. i also have lemons and grapefruits that I have grown from seed that do Okay in pots. If it helps I live In Kingsville Texas.

Answer 4

Open the link for the rest of care instructions
http://www.drymon.com/citrus/planting.htm
INSTRUCTIONS FOR PLANTING
AND CARE OF CITRUS TREES.
SELECTING THE PROPER PLACE TO PLANT:
1.) Select a place where no water stands in the summer months.
2.) A place that receives at least 50% sunlight during the day.
3.) If you have purchased more than one tree, place them at least 15 feet apart.
Good Luck!