If you're looking for an indoor tree that is both decorative and unique, consider fruit trees! Although many of these plants reach enormous proportions and are often best suited to permanent sunshine, there are a number of dwarf varieties that can thrive, and even bear fruit, in a large container in your living space or office.
The first and most crucial question is whether or not fruit trees can be successfully grown in a residential setting. Though difficult, this is by no means an insurmountable obstacle. Besides, the flowers of a fruit tree often have a pleasant scent, and the fruits can add a splash of colour to your decor. So it's no surprise that growing one is a popular alternative to growing traditional houseplants.
If you're interested in making an investment in one of these perennial edible plants, this blog will walk you through selecting the best plant for your environment and providing the basic care it needs to thrive for years to come.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST FRUIT TREES TO GROW INDOORS
Dwarf varieties of common Fruit Trees are the best choice for the home environment. This helps make up for the fact that most of our homes have limited height and space. Proper drainage is crucial for all your planters, similar to how it is with all indoor plants. You should think about the planter's durability in addition to its weight and size, particularly if you need to move your plant because of changes in light during the course of the year or if it needs to be replanted.
Be sure to also think about where you want to put your soon-to-be-new houseplants. Your fruit tree needs a lot of light to grow and give you a good harvest, so give this some thought.
Many indoor fruit trees are suitable as patio plants. In contrast, in colder climates, they must be brought indoors for the winter. In the summer, when there is no longer a chance of frost and it is warm enough, they can return to the outside. In the autumn, bring them inside before the nighttime temperatures fall to avoid stress on your plant. Also, spray them with a spray that kills pests, to stop them from bringing any unwanted vagrants with them. Read up more on Houseplant Pests treatment here.
Without a greenhouse, you can't expect indoor fruit trees to produce a lot of fresh fruit. But many dwarf fruit trees will give you regular small harvests if you give them the right conditions, so you can enjoy your harvest no matter how small it is.
CITRUS
There are many different kinds of citrus trees for sale, from the rare Finger Lime to the more common Sweet Orange, Kumquat, or traditional Lemon Trees. Citrus is a fruit that originated in parts of tropical Asia and has since spread all over the world.
When lemons, limes, and sour oranges were brought to Europe after the Crusades, nobles and wealthy merchants liked them right away. With this, they started to grow it in almost every palace and garden in Europe, for either ornamental, medicinal, or edible reasons.
Lemons and limes commonly have sharp thorns, but there are cultivars available that don't have thorns. These are said to taste less good and produce less fruit. Some varieties of orange only have small, blunt thorns at the base of the leaves.
At the end of each stem, groups of fragrant white flowers grow. Depending on the type, most citrus trees bloom in the spring and produce fruit in the autumn and winter. Some, like lemons, limes, and kumquats, may flower and fruit at different times all year.
WHY DO WE LIKE IT?
Citrus trees are known for their broad, glossy leaves and their adaptability to being trained into a variety of shapes and sizes. Furthermore, if you give them the right lighting conditions, you should get a steady harvest.
Overall, they produce sweetly fragrant flowers that are self-pollinating, so you won't have to worry about doing any extra work to ensure a healthy crop.
THE BEST WAY TO CARE FOR CITRUS PLANTS INDOORS
The more light you give to your citrus tree, the better it will grow. As a result, the best spot is the sunniest window in the house. But drafts from open doors, heaters, air conditioners, or cracked windows can hurt the look of your plant.
Be certain the chosen planter has adequate drainage before watering your plants. Citrus hates sitting in soggy soil, which leads to leaf drop and brown tips on the foliage. You could say the same thing about letting the soil dry out too much. The best results will come from finding a good middle ground.
If you want your plant to produce good fruit, you must feed it. Nitrogen is often the main ingredient in a general-purpose fertilizer, and citrus trees love it. But you could also think about using fertilizer made especially for citrus trees or something that is Seaweed based, such as Kelpak. Feeding regularly is essential for success.