Gardening the Garden » Landscaping » Citrus for Fragrance?
Citrus for Fragrance?
Question:
Is it worth growing a citrus tree as a houseplant for looks and for the fragrance of the blossoms? Which varieties might be recommended for these purposes? Any tips for care and cultivation, with blossom production as the goal?
Response:
: Is it worth growing a citrus tree as a houseplant for looks and for the : fragrance of the blossoms? Which varieties might be recommended for these : purposes? Any tips for care and cultivation, with blossom production as : the goal? The easiest is probably Calamondin Orange. As for care and cultivation, www.eat-it.com, Edible Landscaping’s site has lots of info. Lori Coulson — …Or do you still wait for me, Dream Giver… Just around the riverbend? Pocahontas
Response:
Is it worth growing a citrus tree as a houseplant for looks and for the fragrance of the blossoms? Which varieties might be recommended for these purposes? Any tips for care and cultivation, with blossom production as the goal?
Whether it’s worth it is a personal decision. The plant is going to need a grow-light and continuous care. Even if you deadhead, the bloom season is only going to last a couple of months each year. That being said: I plant my potted citrus in pure compost; soak with water, then drain very well, when the top 1/2" of the soil is dry; feed with manure tea diluted 1:10 monthly; and each is spotlighted with a grow light that is on 12 hours a day. Each pot is set in a 6" deep tray filled with gravel and water, with about 2" of the pot bottom buried in the gravel. Leaves get misted daily. Every year, I unpot the plants, trim the roots, and replace the compost with fresh, adding 1 c each of bone meal and powdered rock phosphorus per gallon of soil. The bonsai’d citrus are treated the same way, except that they get watered daily. All four trees bloom [and the fragrance is WONDERFUL], and set fruit every year. Chris Owens