Indoor Lime Tree Tips
- Lime trees adapt well to container gardening indoors.John Foxx/Stockbyte/Getty Images
Limes and other citrus trees need not be limited to outdoor orchards in the warm subtropical climates of the southern and western United States. American citrus tree gardeners can adapt lime trees and other citrus trees to growing indoors in large containers. While many types of trees do well in container gardening, it requires some skill for trees to thrive and produce a bounty of limes. The correct plant selection, container, growing conditions and pollination techniques help the indoor lime tree thrive and become fruitful. - Though limes generally do well when planted in containers, selecting a healthy, well-adapted plant is the first step in establishing a successful plant. The key lime and bears lime generally adapt well to container gardening. Another trick is to look for limes grafted onto dwarf root stock, suggests the National Gardening Association. These trees are naturally adapted to grow in smaller, more confined areas.
- Selecting the correct pot for growing a lime tree indoors is of equal importance to selecting a well-adapted plant. Clay pots and half whiskey barrels work well, while plastic containers may cause the roots to become overheated, according to the National Gardening Association. Be sure the pot is a minimum of 24 inches wide and deep, though a pot between 30 and 36 inches wide and a minimum of 24 inches deep also works nicely. Be sure there are an adequate amount of drainage holes in the bottom of the container, or be prepared to drill additional holes. Inside the container, place a wire mesh over the drainage holes to prevent the soil from washing out, recommends the University of Florida IFAS Extension website. Be sure to use a potting soil adapted for container gardening, as traditional garden soils and citrus soils become too dense inside a pot.
- Citrus trees like the lime thrive in areas with humid conditions and require direct sunlight for healthy growth and fruiting. These two conditions are perhaps the most difficult to recreate when growing an indoor plant. Purchasing a grow light and housing the lime tree in the sunniest room in the home helps provide adequate light; about six to eight hours of sunlight or grow light use a day is ideal. To increase the humidity around the plant, place a tray of garden pebbles under the growing container, suggests the National Gardening Association. Maintaining ideal temperatures is another key environmental factor in establishing well-adapted lime trees. Do not allow the temperature in the home to dip near freezing and keep temperatures as steady as possible. In the winter, move the lime tree away from drafty windows and doors, suggests the University of Florida website.
- Overwatering causes significant problems for container-grown fruit trees, including root rot, according to the University of Florida IFAS Extension website. When the top 3 inches of the soil feel dry to the touch, water the soil until water begins to run out of the drainage holes. Excessive watering also causes the nutrients in the soil to be washed away, according to the National Gardening Association.
- Apply a controlled-release fertilizer to the plant, mixing it into the soil at the time of planting. Generally, it is best to reapply the fertilizer in the spring, as the lime tree begins to blossom. All fertilizer brands and types differ from one another; consult the fertilizer's label to determine the amount and recommended frequency of fertilizer applications.
- Limes, like many other fruit trees, often rely on bees and other pollinating bugs to help pollinate the flowers in the spring. Consult the nursery where the lime tree was purchased to determine if the tree is self-pollinating. If the tree requires cross-pollination, it is necessary to grow another lime variety as well. To help aid indoor limes in the pollination process, use a soft paintbrush or cotton swab to rub pollen into the flowers, suggests garden columnist Marion Owen of the Plantea website.
