Home & Family Facts and Notes

If you’re an experienced gardener, chances are you’ve heard of specialty trees designed to thrive just as well indoors as outdoors. In the past few years, indoor fruit trees have come into prominence, as people discover the fun and sense of accomplishment when their indoor tree yields a bountiful crop of fruit.

If you’re experienced with indoor fruit trees, you’ve heard of the Meyer lemon, perhaps the most well known tree of this type. The Meyer lemon is perfect for container growing as it is hearty, easy care, and prolific. Building on the positive reputation of the Meyer, other varieties of citrus trees are now being introduced, all appropriate for container gardeners, and suited for indoor growing. Let’s take a look at a few.

Key Lime Tree - Key limes are the most popular lime trees in the United States, and can be quite successfully grown in containers. The limes are somewhat smaller than you’ll typically see in a grocery store, but sweeter.

Ponderosa Lemon - The Ponderosa lemon yields the biggest lemons we’ve ever seen! Just when you assume they’re ready to pick, they keep growing. Our Ponderosa lemon tree routinely produces 1 1/2 to 2 pound lemons, and the fruit holds onto our small tree very well.

Washington Navel Orange - If you didn’t think oranges could be grown indoors, guess again. This unique dwarf citrus produces fruit in the winter. The fruit itself is extremely enjoyable … seedless and sweet!

Calamondin Tree - Just what is a calamondin? Well, it’s very common in southeast Asia, and claimed as part of both the orange and lime family. This tree grows beautifully in a container and yields a fruit that tastes like a cross between an orange and a lime.

Fingered Citron - Another unusual tree species, but common in Asia. The fingered citron derives its name from how the fruit looks when ripe, as the sections resemble a hand. Delightfully fragrant, it is a prolific fruit producer when given proper care. The fruit itself is similar to a lemon, in terms of use and taste, although somewhat milder.

Indoor citrus trees are available in these and many more varieties. They’re perfect for any level of gardener, but particularly appropriate for beginners. These trees are a great way to instill confidence within the beginner, especially when they begin to yield fruit. Compact and affordable, indoor citrus trees can be shipped at any time of year to even the coldest climates.

Tags: abode, shelter