I’ve had a Kumquat tree for 53 years growing inside during the winter in Michigan. I keep it under T5 grow lights 14 hours per day and keep the room it’s in at 50-55 degrees Yearly I harvest 500+ kumquat in February-March.
Hi Bethany, It seems to me that some of your advice is just a mix of guess work and estimation. That's what we call guestimation! But don't be offended! I see that you are passionate about your citrus plants. I often think, there are no patent answers on citrus plants, because it depends where you are growing them. I too take my plants inside (here in central Germany). I think that once they are inside and have gone into the "winter vacation", you don't need to do much at all. I keep mine at around 5°C and give them about 8hrs of light (blue and red mix, winter light). Water, I test by sticking my finger into the soil and only give them just enough, after there is no humidity any more. They don't need too much, because if you look at the leaves, they are designed to retain water. As far as showering, I agree, but once at the start of winter must be enough. Finally, at the end of the winter season, here in Germany about end of February, cut back the foilage, just above growth nodes. No one should worry about cutting, you can cut off about 30% of any branch, there will be new growth! I think everyone will find the best way to treat there own plants, maybe with a little trial and error. You can't do too much wrong, except overseeing Parasites!! Thanks for your video. TC
Your right, I sprayed my citrus all winter with just plain water once or twice a day and I had much less leaf drop this year. Other years I've sprayed with soap, and still had trouble, but this year only frequent water spraying and that did the trick. I guess a few plants lost some leaves, but mostly shaded leaves and nothing like previous years. Also because my plants are large in large containers I just spray in place. I always leave my plants out until the last possible minute, usually carrying them inside in the middle of the night with snow falling on them so as they can get as much outdoor time as possible where they do best. Just depends when it starts to frost here (Upstate NY). Last fall I managed to keep them out until November, and got them back out in April, but had to bring them back in on colder nights even into May, usually in the middle of the night as I realize it's going to frost.
Wow thank you for the tip! Maybe my Meyer lemon will do well with being sprayed with water. I have some yellow leaves and was told it may be due to overwatering. But someone told me spraying is controversial and not known if it actually helps. Have you tried spraying it with Epsom salt?
Thank you!! I live in Atlanta, Ga!! Did you use any grow light? I am a new gardener. I have a 2 year old kumquat, purchased in spring. It has six pea sized fruits. Thank you so much for your time
Thank you for the video! I just got a lemon and lime tree that are in the same pot and got a grow light for it as well! I can’t wait for spring to get it outside on the deck to really watch it come alive!! Mine are currently 5’ tall.
I bring in 10 plus citrus each year here in Canada up to 25 gal pots and use cree LED lights from amazon. I put worm castings and bone meal in top of soil 2 weeks before going indoors for winter fertilizer. Seems to help. Cocktail grapefruit grafts easy to lemons have 2 of those trees.
Hello, I am in Canada and have a Meyer lemon tree. Do you think I can just use a citrus fertilizer without the bone meal? Also, any other tips? I have a grow light now, and I am not sure if I should water the plant once every two weeks or once a week, I have some yellow leaves but it is blooming.
Finger test soil should be moist 3" down or more before water once a week 2ltrs? The fruit will drop until there is enough roots so don't sweat it till the tree is 3 years or more old.@@underated17
My last year problem on the mayer lemon tree. Was fine during summer. After i move to indoor during winter use grow lights all leaf fall off and the tree turn brown little by little.
Very timely and informative video, thank you!! We live in east central Iowa, and just acquired a lemon tree over the summer, so need all the tips and tricks we can get. :) What fertilizer do you use and/or recommend?
Hi how are you... I think you should pick off all fruiting buds next time and fertilize your lemon plant, give it some time to establish and you'll be amazed to the amount of limons you'll be getting soon there after.
Thanks for the indoor lemon tree information . I been searching for year. last year I got Mayer lemon this year didn't make it. If please do u had the information for the soil.mix and the fertilizer u been using? Also I got some apsom salt did it really needed I got it few week ago. Lemon tree really scratch my head.
In my experience a grow light and spraying the leaves everyday with water have made the greatest difference. Spider mites are the biggest problem, but enough light and keeping the leaves moist once or twice a day seem to make the biggest difference. This winter was the first winter season doing this that I had no citrus plants crash. They usually would recover their leaves in the spring once they were back outdoors, but it's nice not to have them go through that. They like being out in the sun and rain best. Good luck. Ps. I also fertilize as much as I can, but I'm using compost, and compost tea, and this year added chicken poop. They love being fertilized as they are heavy feeders.
I got a Meyer lemon this fall. I brought it in when the overnight temps fell below 50 degrees. I keep it Nader a grow light 9 hours a day. It has lost half its leaves the past month but is growing dom new ones. I only water it, throughly, every three weeks when the oil is dry. I did put a little 3-4-4 on it when I repotted it six weeks ago. I used a citrus potting soil. It is about two feet tall. Why is it dropping leaves?
I tilt it sideways so the water doesn’t get in the pot, or at least not a lot of water. I have no idea what I’m going to do when it’s too large for that 😆
I use a sprayer that I fill with water, then pressurize. It probably holds two or three gallons of water, and because I don't use toxic pesticides the sprayer is clean.
I live in Virginia.. I just brought my lemon tree inside and notice there are those pink bulbs popping up all over the branches which indicate flowers.. now I am just as confused as the plant is .. lol Anyone ever had this happened
I get flowers popping up each winter! I spray them with a spray bottle bc I read the dry air can cause the blooms to fall off. I also hand pollinate them!
I’ve had a Kumquat tree for 53 years growing inside during the winter in Michigan. I keep it under T5 grow lights 14 hours per day and keep the room it’s in at 50-55 degrees Yearly I harvest 500+ kumquat in February-March.
One of the best reasons to have plants inside is that they clean the air and I just love plants because they bring "life" 🙂
Hi Bethany, It seems to me that some of your advice is just a mix of guess work and estimation. That's what we call guestimation! But don't be offended! I see that you are passionate about your citrus plants. I often think, there are no patent answers on citrus plants, because it depends where you are growing them. I too take my plants inside (here in central Germany). I think that once they are inside and have gone into the "winter vacation", you don't need to do much at all. I keep mine at around 5°C and give them about 8hrs of light (blue and red mix, winter light). Water, I test by sticking my finger into the soil and only give them just enough, after there is no humidity any more. They don't need too much, because if you look at the leaves, they are designed to retain water. As far as showering, I agree, but once at the start of winter must be enough. Finally, at the end of the winter season, here in Germany about end of February, cut back the foilage, just above growth nodes. No one should worry about cutting, you can cut off about 30% of any branch, there will be new growth! I think everyone will find the best way to treat there own plants, maybe with a little trial and error. You can't do too much wrong, except overseeing Parasites!! Thanks for your video. TC
Hello, Bethany! It was interesting to hear about your lemon tree. I find your style very professional yet very pleasant - - a very nice mix!
Thank you so much!!
This is the best video with lots of good information. What fertilizer do you use and how long grow light is used daily on your lemon tree?
Your right, I sprayed my citrus all winter with just plain water once or twice a day and I had much less leaf drop this year. Other years I've sprayed with soap, and still had trouble, but this year only frequent water spraying and that did the trick. I guess a few plants lost some leaves, but mostly shaded leaves and nothing like previous years. Also because my plants are large in large containers I just spray in place. I always leave my plants out until the last possible minute, usually carrying them inside in the middle of the night with snow falling on them so as they can get as much outdoor time as possible where they do best. Just depends when it starts to frost here (Upstate NY). Last fall I managed to keep them out until November, and got them back out in April, but had to bring them back in on colder nights even into May, usually in the middle of the night as I realize it's going to frost.
Wow thank you for the tip! Maybe my Meyer lemon will do well with being sprayed with water. I have some yellow leaves and was told it may be due to overwatering. But someone told me spraying is controversial and not known if it actually helps. Have you tried spraying it with Epsom salt?
Thanks. It might be the change in humidity from outside to inside. I will spritz it several times a day from now on.
Thank you!! I live in Atlanta, Ga!! Did you use any grow light? I am a new gardener. I have a 2 year old kumquat, purchased in spring. It has six pea sized fruits. Thank you so much for your time
I live inn IL as well and this was hugely helpful for me for planning for my first winter with this.
That means so much! I would say my biggest issue bringing it inside is scale, so just keep an eye out for that.
Excellent Idea 🎉🎉 Thank you for sharing your knowledge 🙏
Excellent tips 👍
I enjoyed your video. I know people think I’m nuts trying a lemon tree in Chicago but it makes me happy. I’m looking forward to my first 2 lemons 🙂.
I think people think I’m nuts too but it is so much fun!!
Thank you for the video! I just got a lemon and lime tree that are in the same pot and got a grow light for it as well! I can’t wait for spring to get it outside on the deck to really watch it come alive!! Mine are currently 5’ tall.
5 feet! That’s amazing. I can’t wait for mine to be that tall.
I bring in 10 plus citrus each year here in Canada up to 25 gal pots and use cree LED lights from amazon. I put worm castings and bone meal in top of soil 2 weeks before going indoors for winter fertilizer. Seems to help. Cocktail grapefruit grafts easy to lemons have 2 of those trees.
Do you deal with scale at all and have any tips? That seems to be the one pest that shows up every year for me on this tree!
Hello, I am in Canada and have a Meyer lemon tree. Do you think I can just use a citrus fertilizer without the bone meal? Also, any other tips? I have a grow light now, and I am not sure if I should water the plant once every two weeks or once a week, I have some yellow leaves but it is blooming.
Finger test soil should be moist 3" down or more before water once a week 2ltrs? The fruit will drop until there is enough roots so don't sweat it till the tree is 3 years or more old.@@underated17
Yeesh.😅 living in Texas, I can take my Meyer lemon tree indoors for 2 weeks a year and right back out 😂😂 southern gardeners are blessed
I’m so jealous of your weather!
Good luck with your gardening, your a swell lady
My last year problem on the mayer lemon tree. Was fine during summer. After i move to indoor during winter use grow lights all leaf fall off and the tree turn brown little by little.
Very timely and informative video, thank you!! We live in east central Iowa, and just acquired a lemon tree over the summer, so need all the tips and tricks we can get. :) What fertilizer do you use and/or recommend?
I use espoma citrus tone! It was recommended by the garden center where I got the tree.
I feel like the whole overwintering situation with this plant is the same with hibiscus, they are just picky
Hi how are you... I think you should pick off all fruiting buds next time and fertilize your lemon plant, give it some time to establish and you'll be amazed to the amount of limons you'll be getting soon there after.
Have you ever grown edible flowers? My wife and I really want to try them. Cool lemon tree!
I’ve grown nasturtium and pansies! I really like nasturtium leaves as well.
You only get 2 🍋 all year,is not bad actually is better than nothing.even me I don't get that because my lemons too small
They will grow over time, maybe you're not watering your tree deep enough
Have 3 of them and 2 Owari Satsuma... going to be my first overwintering. Hopefully won't kill em all😢😢😢
Chicago suburbs won't keep em alive
Wishing you luck!! Mine do well inside, but they are prone to getting scale so I keep a close eye on that.
Thanks for the indoor lemon tree information . I been searching for year. last year I got Mayer lemon this year didn't make it. If please do u had the information for the soil.mix and the fertilizer u been using? Also I got some apsom salt did it really needed I got it few week ago. Lemon tree really scratch my head.
In my experience a grow light and spraying the leaves everyday with water have made the greatest difference. Spider mites are the biggest problem, but enough light and keeping the leaves moist once or twice a day seem to make the biggest difference. This winter was the first winter season doing this that I had no citrus plants crash. They usually would recover their leaves in the spring once they were back outdoors, but it's nice not to have them go through that. They like being out in the sun and rain best. Good luck. Ps. I also fertilize as much as I can, but I'm using compost, and compost tea, and this year added chicken poop. They love being fertilized as they are heavy feeders.
I got a Meyer lemon this fall. I brought it in when the overnight temps fell below 50 degrees. I keep it Nader a grow light 9 hours a day. It has lost half its leaves the past month but is growing dom new ones. I only water it, throughly, every three weeks when the oil is dry. I did put a little 3-4-4 on it when I repotted it six weeks ago. I used a citrus potting soil. It is about two feet tall. Why is it dropping leaves?
Mine always drops leave from moving it to a new environnement and then puts out new ones!
@@ChicagoGardener that explains it. I was afraid it might be overwatered.
I have a south facing window in my bathroom. Do you think I could get away with putting it in there?
I think the bathroom is a great idea since there’s always humidity in there from the showers
@@sheilabrown8675 that was my thinking. Seems to really like it in there so far.
Is it necessary to have a grow light.
Mine was much happier after adding a grow light but I do have friends who keep theirs alive over winter in a south facing window.
@@ChicagoGardener ok thanks
How do you avoid overwatering it if you are blasting it with water every morning?
I tilt it sideways so the water doesn’t get in the pot, or at least not a lot of water. I have no idea what I’m going to do when it’s too large for that 😆
I use a sprayer that I fill with water, then pressurize. It probably holds two or three gallons of water, and because I don't use toxic pesticides the sprayer is clean.
Lack of fruiting? Could be due to lack of fertilizer, or maybe you're not hand pollinating?
I’m hand pollinating like crazy this winter, so I’m hoping I’ll have more fruit this year!
Is that an improved Myers lemon tree?
I can’t remember the variety but I know it wasn’t a Myers
I live in Virginia.. I just brought my lemon tree inside and notice there are those pink bulbs popping up all over the branches which indicate flowers.. now I am just as confused as the plant is .. lol
Anyone ever had this happened
I get flowers popping up each winter! I spray them with a spray bottle bc I read the dry air can cause the blooms to fall off. I also hand pollinate them!
What pot size is that?
14”
@@ChicagoGardener thanks
The only reason that I'm watching this video is because you're cute