Homegrown Citrus

By Sherri Sanders
White County Extension Agent - Agriculture

Not many citrus trees can survive outdoors in Arkansas, but many home gardeners are successfully raising lemons, limes and even oranges. They grow them in large pots outside for the summer months and then move them indoors or into a hobby greenhouse for the winter. 

Probably the easiest of the citrus plants to grow indoors are Meyer lemon and the Calamondin orange, but once you get the knack for it, branch out and you can have your own "orangery" indoors.

Dwarf varieties are better suited to indoor and pot culture.

Citrus trees need bright light — up to 12 hours per day is ideal, but at least 6-8 hours minimum.  If you don't have a bright sunny window, there are great indoor plant lights available. 

The size of the container can be an issue. The bigger the pot, the bigger the plant can grow, but the larger the container, the more weight is involved which makes moving it inside and out a problem. Opt for a large lightweight container, and make sure it has drainage holes. Use lightweight potting soil. Indoors, cut back on the watering during the winter months. Even though they don't go dormant indoors, their growth slows during the winter months. 

Humidity is also low inside during the winter because of heaters. To increase humidity, you can put the pot on top of a shallow tray filled with pebbles and water. As the water evaporates, it raises the humidity.  Fruit trees don't like wet feet, so don't let them stand in water, and let them dry out a bit in between watering.

Make sure all chances of frost have passed before you move them outdoors for the summer. Citrus plants make beautiful and fragrant houseplants, and the edible showy fruits are a bonus as well.

Fore more information, contact Sherri Sanders, (501) 268-5394 or ssanders@uada.edu

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Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.