My mother had one of those super-dwarf tangerines. They used to be popular at one point, I guess. It lived a really long time, but it was really scraggly-looking, and the fruit output was, well, pathetic to non-existent.
Most plants will do best in full sun, but quite a lot of them will do badly when suddenly moved to full sun after they've been grown in shade. I would think that if you gradually move the plants into the sun, most of them would be happy there eventually.
I would think that you would have a lot of trouble getting a citrus tree with full-size rootstock to grow indoors, but I don't see why you should have a problem with even with a dwarf tree, and you could probably find some rootstock that likes to be even smaller. It's pretty much standard practice to grow fruit trees which are grafted so that the top (fruiting) part of the tree is a different tree from the roots.
Even if you do get a tree which doesn't outgrow its roots, unless you put the thing in a really massive pot, the amount of fruit you get off it will still be much smaller than normal, because it's limited by the amount of water the tree can draw from the roots. Normal citrus trees seem to have very large fruit production, though, so if your expectations aren't that high maybe it will meet them.
Citrus trees are already prone to mite infections, and putting them indoors where the wind and spiders don't help get rid of the mites would probably make this worse. It shouldn't be a prohibitive problem, though.
I've been thinking about getting a kaffir lime tree for quite some time, in order to use the leaves as a spice.
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Re: Greenthumb blegging
Mon Mar 26, 2012 at 11:51:57 AM EST
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Even if you do get a tree which doesn't outgrow its roots, unless you put the thing in a really massive pot, the amount of fruit you get off it will still be much smaller than normal, because it's limited by the amount of water the tree can draw from the roots. Normal citrus trees seem to have very large fruit production, though, so if your expectations aren't that high maybe it will meet them.
Its a pretty big space - we can probably fit a decent sized pot in there. We'll see how it goes, I guess.
Citrus trees are already prone to mite infections, and putting them indoors where the wind and spiders don't help get rid of the mites would probably make this worse. It shouldn't be a prohibitive problem, though.
Yeah, no kidding - we're fighting off a white fly infestation at the moment (it came in with a lavender plant as best we can tell). Nothing new until that's under control, but I think we've got a handle on it now.
I've been thinking about getting a kaffir lime tree for quite some time, in order to use the leaves as a spice.
After doing a bit more research, yeah - either that or a Meyer lemon tree looks like the way to go. kaffir limes themselves aren't bad, either, but the leaves are pure win for Asian cooking.
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Re: Greenthumb blegging
Thu Mar 29, 2012 at 11:15:24 AM EST
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> we're fighting off a white fly infestation at the moment
Perhaps you take up a hobby in keeping praying mantids as pets. Sounds like it would go well with your wife's hobby, but on the downside you'd always have to be careful to look before sitting down.
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Re: Greenthumb blegging
Thu Mar 29, 2012 at 12:58:04 PM EST
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My dog will eat anything that moves and is rodent size or smaller. And I mean anything. Snails, roaches, hamsters, leaves blowing in the wind - if it moves and can fit in his mouth, it will be eaten. The mantis wouldn't last 6 hours :)
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Re: Greenthumb blegging
Thu Mar 29, 2012 at 01:14:51 PM EST
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We'd have a similar problem with our cat. Her favorites are doll hair and small rocks. On the plus side, we haven't had to call the exterminator since we got the cat from the rescue place. On the downside, we clean up a lot of cat puke.
Lemon, grapefruit, and orange trees survived in my parents' backyard despite total neglect and halfhearted attempts to kill them. Citrus trees are very hardy and resistant, the main problem with them is the flowers- bees love them and they play hell with allergies in some people. The trees are mostly self-sufficient and don't require much, if you're concerned about roots then just chop them with a shovel, they aren't very substantial.
I got more styles than prison got bricks- ain't that some shit?
Would solve the root trimming issue, me thinks.
