Indoor fruit growing has never been an outdated trend. There are many of you emailing our site asking for an article on these topics.
We asked the experts and received many answers with the following highlights:
- You should start with citrus trees, avocado, figs.
- You should place the buds in a well-lit place.
- Do not over-water the plants.
- Apply fertilizer from time to time to make the plant grow better.
Grant Higginson from West Coast Gardens
Planting indoor fruit trees is a great way to add some green to your life and eat healthy at the same time.
You’re probably wondering why you shouldn’t just buy an apple or orange in the grocery store for much less money, but there’s nothing quite like plucking fresh fruit off of a tree that you planted yourself.
The easiest trees to grow indoors are citrus trees, but it’s essential to give them enough light to produce fruits.
Air circulation & watering are also important to keep in mind, as many of us accidentally over-water our indoor fruit trees, and they tend to attract aphids.
Clive Harris from DIY Garden
In my opinion, one of the best trees to grow indoors is a citrus tree! Please see my tips for growing citrus trees indoors below.
Use black grower pots.
Use black grower pots as they keep the roots warm and the plants growing well all summer.
You can leave trees out a little longer with these pots since the trees chill at night. The pots then warm up the roots nicely during the day.
Keep the soil wet
When it comes to growing citrus trees, steer clear of Miracle-Gro or anything that keeps the soil wet.
I find that peat moss, perlite, pine bark, and coco peat work best for citrus trees, and this soil allows water to come out of the pot and doesn’t bog the roots down.
Don’t root prune
When you repot the citrus trees, don’t root prune unless the root is sickly wet (but you can generally avoid this by mixing pine bark in with the soil).
By avoiding pruning the roots, your trees will grow much bigger.
Citrus trees need a lot of light.
You’ll need a sunny window for at least 6 hours a day, or you will have to use grow lights.
You don’t need anything to fancy, but make sure they are full-spectrum lights, which means the plants get the whole rainbow of light required to grow.
Just make sure not to put your light too close, or it will chaff the leaves.
Attention when Growing Limes
They are the most tropical plant of all the citruses, so they need higher temperatures.
Jen Stark from Happy DIY Home
Figs
The pot size for this plant will determine how large it gets and how much fruit it produces.
It needs a loamy soil mix that includes sand and clay, and you should water it deeply once a week until water runs through the drainage holes.
They like indirect sunlight with regular misting to increase the humidity levels.
Olives
Olive trees are very low-maintenance, and they’ll self-pollinate. Put them in a medium to a large pot with a well-draining potting mix.
You’ll water them deeply, but you should only water them when the top inch of soil dries out to prevent over-watering.
They need 6 hours of direct sunlight a day, and they do best near a south-facing window.
Avocado
Get a grafted starter plant for this tree instead of growing from a pit.
Small breeds are best, and you’ll want to put sand in the bottom of the pot before filling it with a regular potting mix, so the bottom roots don’t sit in water and rot.
Water it lightly once a week without soaking the soil. Put it in a south-facing window where it gets plenty of light, and you can keep fruit hanging for weeks without a problem.
Michae lAlves from HelloGardening
An easy to grow indoor fruit tree is an Apricot Tree. Their preferred location is direct sunlight or can also tolerate half daylight and half shadow.
They will grow to 100cm – 150cm high (3-5ft) and are self-pollinating. It’s effortless to grow this variety and only needs watering once the soil starts to dry out.
They flower around the year and then will be ready to pick August – September. If you want to avoid having too many fruits on the branches, you should keep 7cm between each fruit to promote good fruit development.
You should apply fertilizer every spring to help with growth. This variety of apricot doesn’t need pruning; however, if you feel that it needs pruning, you can prune it every couple of years to help keep its shape.
Imani Francies from Clearsurance.com
Lemon Tree:
The dwarf version of these trees grows up to 8′ tall, and it is essential to prune the tree to keep it dry.
This is the most common indoor fruit tree because it is compact and can flourish in a well-lit room.
However, it needs close to 6 hours of sun a day and requires drained, slightly moist soil.
Peaches and Nectarines Tree:
If bought in a dwarf size, this can be grown indoors. It needs to be in a large pot, and the roots need to be snug in the pot.
It also needs to be fertilized regularly, get 6 hours of bright sun each day, and be stored with loamy soil.
Jordan Collins from Two Lions 11 Ltd
Indoor fruit trees general habitat
Indoor fruit trees thrive at a temperature of about 65 degrees F or 18 C. It’s okay if the temperature falls about 5 to 10 degrees during the night.
These trees prefer direct sunlight, but they can also get used to lower light. Just make sure that they’re not kept in complete shade or darkness as they won’t do very well.
It’s also advisable to ensure relative humidity. You can do this by using a humidifier during the cold months.
In terms of soil, they love organic soil like leaf mold, peat moss, or compost. They also require significant drainage, and a soggy bottom can completely destroy them.
How to take care of them
The watering routine for indoor fruit trees is quite similar to the rest of your houseplants. However, keep in mind that overwatering them will undoubtedly kill them.
Let the soil dry out completely before the next watering takes place. You also need to use fertilizer if you want them to bloom and flower.
If you notice that your indoor fruit trees are not giving any fruit, this may be because there is no pollination. You can help distribute the pollen throughout the tree by using a brush or cotton swab.
Keep in mind that they tend to get large and could turn into a shape that you’re not looking for. Pruning is essential for fruit trees and will help you manage them and keep them in the desired shape and size.
Conclusion
Growing a fruit tree indoors is an enjoyable experience that anyone should try.
It helps your home have more green space. It also provides a sense of satisfaction when you are harvesting the fruits you have grown yourself.
Hopefully, the species of plants suggested in our article and how to take care of them will give you a better start.
