Growing Dwarf Citrus Essential Tips

Water the tree immediately as freezing temperatures pull the moisture out of the tree's roots. 
Wait and determine the extent of damage before pruning in the spring or when the possibility of frost has passed.

Identify the graft or bud union, and make sure the fruiting wood above the graft is still green and healthy. If it is viable it should produce new buds in the spring. If all the leaves are brown
and curled, remove them and water the tree with a quarter cup of bone meal mixed in a gallon of water.

If the tree is viable it will take a few weeks for the appearance of new buds. After bud break you can prune the branches if desired.

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Preconditioning helps; trees exposed slowly to cold will fare better than those subjected to a sudden frost. Also, prolonged exposure to cold is more damaging than a brief plunge in temperature. Here are some methods we have used to help protect plants when freezing temperatures may pose a threat.

• Listen for news of cold fronts, and be prepared to take action!
• Water all garden plants thoroughly before a freeze, since freezing soil will pull sustaining moisture from the roots.
• Use anti-transpirant sprays. Common brands: Anti Stress and Cloud Cover.
• Put old fashioned, heat-producing Christmas lights in the trees or in landscape lighting under the trees. This method often yields excellent results for cold-sensitive lemons and limes. Hot bulbs can scorch leaves, so take care to angle them so that they directly touch foliage as little as possible.
• Use frost cover blankets, also known as floating row cover or Remay. This is a spun polyester material designed to cover trees and plants. It can be draped directly on the plants and secured at the ground to trap daytime heat. Unlike plastic covers, it can be left on during the day without fear of overheating the plants. Used in combination with lighting, it is a great way to protect cold-sensitive plants.

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Once the trees are about 3 years old, they are mature enough to handle fruit production without impacting branch and foliage growth. Often younger trees will bloom in the spring; however, we recommend pinching the blooms off to let the tree develop branches, roots and leaves to better support fruit production later.

For lemons and limes, the time from bloom to edible fruit is generally 6-9 months. For winter oranges and other citrus, it is generally 12 months. Keep in mind that all citrus fruits only ripen on the tree. The best way to determine ripeness is to pick a fruit and sample it, since rind color can be an unreliable indicator. 

Average Crop Yield
In appropriate climates, a mature Dwarf Citrus tree planted in the ground can produce about 2/3 as much fruit as a full sized standard citrus tree in the ground. Some varieties "hold" fruit well on the tree for extended periods, while others need to be picked promptly, because fruit quality will deteriorate quickly after ripening.

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1. In the ground, water deeply once a week.
2. In outdoor containers,(always water for pot size) -the larger the pot the more water it will need -water deeply once or twice a week.
   
3. Indoors, water deeply once a week or every other week.
   

Please bear in mind that each environment (micro-climate) is unique, so it is important to monitor your plants. What your tree requires in the hot summer temperatures, is not what it will require when it is indoors for the winter.

Keep in mind your location in the country matters!
Think Florida or sunny southern California before you pick-up the water hose.
You may live in Montana or Michigan and for you the summer is a blistering 85 degrees Fahrenheit, but Citrus are tropical plants and growers are in the tropical and subtropical regions of the USA. Citrus trees love the climate of Florida and California, so keep this is mind and don't over water.

A simple tool takes the guesswork out of watering and I highly recommend a moisture meter that reads from 1-10
Place the prong deep into the soil and water on 4-Then after watering check the soil again and make sure the meter reads 10.
This tool is very valuable in measuring moisture deep into the pot.
Never leave the meter in the pot when not in use.

Mulching will help retain moisture and nutrients in the soil where roots are active. But these should only be used in very warm climates in the south, not advisable to add coco fiber and mulch to potting mixes if you live in the northern areas of the United States and have to take your tree indoors for the winter. The added fiber and mulch will cause the tree to not dry out properly indoors, so it is best to avoid them.

Trees that are watered excessively will often show yellowing leaves.

For indoor trees you'll need a proper set-up to water the tree correctly without a lot of work.
You can read more here- https://lemoncitrustree.com/store/citrus-blog/2016/12/16/easy-setup-ideas-for-indoor-citrus-trees/

Lemon Citrus Tree
866-216-TREE (8733)

Since citrus trees are heavy nitrogen feeders, make sure your fertilizer contains more nitrogen (N) than phosphorous (P) and potassium (K). Use at least a 2-1-1 (N:P:K) ratio. or 3-1-1 ratio.
Nitrogen is always listed first on all fertilizers and Citrus requires it for fruiting. Many all-purpose products will work, as long as nitrogen is the highest element in the ratio.
You should start the fertilizing program once you have had the tree a month.

Trace minerals such as iron, zinc, and manganese are also important, so make sure those are included in your fertilizing schedule.
Foliar applications ( applying liquid fertilizer directly to their leaves)  of trace minerals may be derived from kelp or other soluble fertilizers, such as Dyna-Gro Foliage Pro.

Follow rates on the package carefully as fertilizers come in different strengths, release rates, and application schedules. Yellowing leaves indicate a lack of fertilizer, poor drainage, a pest or overwatering.  Dark lush green leaves with burned tips indicate excessive fertilizing, or a lack of moisture.

NEVER use fertilizer stakes in a pot, these can burn roots, even to the point of killing immature trees. Quality organic fertilizers are available in granular form, which can simply be applied to the soil surface or mixed in water.

Container grown trees require more fertilizing because when watering,  valuable nutrients get washed out of the pot, so a regular fertilizing schedule is important.
Trees in pots simply cannot get the required nutrients unless you provide them.

For fertilizing suggestions read our blog-  Feeding Recipe For A Happy Tree
https://lemoncitrustree.com/store/citrus-blog/2015/08/11/feeding-recipe-for-a-happy-tree/

Lemon Citrus Tree
866-216-TREE (8733)

Citrus may be pruned to any desired shape. Pruning is fine any time of year, except in the winter for outdoor trees. Pinching back tips of new growth is the best way to round out the trees without impacting future fruit.

Citrus will look fuller with occasional pruning to shape leggy branches. Very leggy branches indicate the need for more light.

Some trees may develop erratic juvenile growth above the graft. If so, prune for shape and balance. Any growth above the graft can eventually bear fruit.

Pruning to Optimize Fullness & Fruit Production 
Any branch with fruit is putting its energy into fruit production. Prune the other branches now, make the pruning cut just above a leaf without leaving a stub. If you take off more than 1/3 of the length, the tree will make multiple branches at the pruning cut, thereby making the tree more full.

Pruning Container-Grown Trees 
Pinch new growth when small to keep the tree in bounds for optimal container growing. The degree of pruning will depend on the desired size of the tree.

Lemon Citrus Tree
866-216-TREE (8733)