How to Dwarf Your Citrus Tree

In this crazy world where we have to rush from one thing to the next, finding something to keep us grounded is a must. Some people go on a retreat to the mountains or vacations near the beach to relax. But did you know that you can find your little piece of heaven right in your own back yard? Just start growing dwarf citrus trees and experience the joy of nurturing life as the trees grow. You will also find satisfaction when the trees start bearing colorful and healthy citrus fruits. Growing your own fruit provides peace, accomplishment, and joy.

Space is not a Problem

Don’t feel discouraged if you have little space at home for planting citrus trees. You can find dwarf citrus trees for sale like dwarf Citrus Cocktail Tree, or dwarf Citrus Navel Orange, and grow them in tiny spaces. Now you might be asking yourself, “How tall do dwarf citrus trees grow?” Dwarf citrus trees typically grow from 6 to 8 feet tall, but tend to be smaller when planted in a pot.

Now you might be worried that just because you are growing dwarf citrus they will bear small, inferior fruits – this couldn’t be further from the truth. Although the trees are dwarfed the fruits born from them are as big, juicy, tasty, and supreme as fruits from standard-sized trees.

Dwarfing Citrus

When you hear the word dwarf the first thing that comes to mind is a smaller version of a regular tree. Does that mean that you just keep a regular tree small thru judicious pruning? The answer is no. When you buy dwarf citrus trees for sale from a citrus nursery you, the trees are grafted onto a compatible dwarfing rootstock to slow down growth resulting in dwarf varieties. Furthermore, the size of the pot used is as much a limiting factor as the rootstock used.

Things to Consider

You must be excited by now and ready to start planting citrus trees. Before you go online and buy citrus trees, there are a few things you need to keep in mind.

  • If you have kids or pets at home, you may want to avoid citrus with thorns to prevent accidents. There are citrus tree varieties like the dwarf Eureka Lemon and the Bearss Lemon trees that are thornless, and safer around children and curious pets.
  • Once you get your newly purchased dwarf citrus tree, you need to re-pot it right away. You will need a pot with adequate drainage and aeration that is bigger than the one it came in, potting soil, and fertilizer. To make your life simple, you may want to check out HappyGrow Grow Kits available at Citrus.com. The HappyGrow Grow Kit comes with potting soil and plant food, while the HappyGrow Starter Kit comes with a durable European plastic pot bundled with an interior air pruning pot, potting soil, and citrus plant fertilizer. Both HappyGrow Kits are available for 1-Gallon and 3-Gallon Trees. 
  • Watering container-planted citrus trees should be done evenly as soon as the soil dries out or is only slightly damp. You should avoid over-watering nor let the soil dry out completely for more than a day as it may cause serious damage to the citrus tree.