We’ve been growing citrus for around a decade now, and they thrive pretty effortlessly in our climate. That said, citrus can also do well in pots—even indoors! Meyer lemons and satsuma oranges are especially good choices for indoor growing.
Most citrus varieties share the same basic needs, though some handle cold better than others, and some adapt more easily to containers. Here’s what they all require:
- Plenty of sunlight and warmth—though they can still grow indoors if placed near a sunny window, especially in summer.
- Just one tree—citrus are self-fertile, so you don’t need multiple plants.
- Slightly acidic soil—aim for a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.
- Special citrus potting mix—if you’re planting in containers.
- Frequent watering—especially in summer. For potted trees, soak the soil thoroughly, then let it dry out before watering again.
- Lots of nutrients—citrus are heavy feeders and need nitrogen. You can buy citrus-specific fertilizers, but we skip those and use blood meal (from butchering), urine, and compost instead. (Avoid urine if you’re on medication!) Got young boys or grandsons around? They’ll likely love helping out with this part.
- Thinning the fruit—if the branches get overloaded. We’ve never done this, but it’s often recommended.
How Cold-Hardy Are Citrus Trees?
Like most things, there’s a quick answer and a more detailed one. Let’s start with the short version, courtesy of Texas A&M Horticulture:
- Citrons, lemons, and limes can handle temps down to the high 20s (°F).
- Sweet oranges and grapefruit tolerate the mid-20s.
- Tangerines and mandarins survive down to the low 20s.
- Kumquats and satsumas are the toughest, handling 20°F.
Note: These numbers apply to mature trees (not young ones) and indicate survival—not necessarily thriving.
Several factors affect these limits, like how long the cold lasts. A brief dip to these temps? The tree will likely be fine. A 12-hour freeze? Maybe not. Some branches might get damaged while others survive, and fruiting trees are less cold-resistant than dormant ones.
Personally, I play it safe and cover my citrus when temps drop into the 20s—though once, I forgot, and it snowed! Most trees pulled through, but they didn’t produce much the next year.
Citrus Pests
So far, we’ve been lucky with pests. A few orange leaves are browning, but I blame the heat and lack of water. I’ve been watering twice a week, but I’ll bump it up to every other day for a while. Our fruit’s a bit small, but again, I think it’s drought-related.
