Growing Guide
The same rules apply for growing dwarf citrus as for normal citrus.
Soil – all citrus like soil that drains well. Avoid clay soil. For citrus in pots, use a good quality potting soil that drains well. Adding perlite will assist with the drainage. Also mix in a slow-release fertiliser. Before potting your citrus, add a layer of coarse gravel or rock to the bottom of the container to prevent the holes from clogging up.
Sun – make sure plants, including those in pots, receive at least six hours of sunlight a day.
Watering – do not overwater your trees. Water less when it is cool or wet, and water more when it is dry and hot. Let the soil dry out moderately between watering. To check push your finger deeply into the soil to check its moisture content. Don’t just scratch the surface of the soil. Also, increase the watering during flowering and fruit setting. If the tree is stressed, it will drop its flowers and fruit.
Pests – check regularly for pests. Citrus greening is spread by a disease-infected Psylla insect that results in inedible fruit. There are also red spider mites that reside under the leaves and can cause leaf drop. Control both by preventive spraying twice a month with Ludwig’s Insect Spray which has a smothering action or soapy water
Feeding – fertilise during the active growing months, from August to December. To encourage fruiting use a high potassium fertiliser like 5:1:5, or 3:2:7 or 8:1:5.
Pruning – prune your trees to keep it in the desired shape. On older trees, thin out the old branches in the centre of the tree. This will help bring in light and air movement to the inner part of the tree.
Cold protection – although this mini citrus is cold tolerant, protect it from frost with frost protection cloth or move pots indoors or into a sheltered area.
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