Last Updated on November 8, 2021 by Guillermina
Growing clementine trees indoors is a wise choice for home gardeners. But whether it is your first time gardening or you are an avid planter, you will be going to love having a small clementine orange in your home.
So, what is a clementine tree, and how does clementine grow? Like most citrus varieties, these trees only grow in regions with cold hardiness zones 8 -11 as classified by the United States Depart of Agriculture. If your region does not belong in any of these, your best choice of growing these trees is by planting them indoors.
Clementine trees are normally tall. But you can look for trees grafted onto dwarf and trained to grow low. Semi-dwarf or rootstocks are often labeled as “clementine” in nurseries, so it is very easy to spot them. Dwarf clementine should be 5-6 feet only.
Tips In Growing Clementine Trees Indoors Successfully
Are you excited to learn how to grow clementines? Read on the following steps to learn.
- Set the tree close to a window to get full sun exposure. “Clementine” leaves yellow and the tree neglects the natural product without adequate sun. Set the pot outside during summer to expand light exposure, and bring it inside for winter. Then again, hang a full-range grow light, 2 feet over the tree. Expose it for a day to give it some growing.
- When growing clementine trees indoors, you have to teel the soil in the pot every day. Then water when the main 1 inch starts to feel dry. Pour water onto the dirt with a watering can just until the overabundance starts to deplete from the lower part of the pot. Get rid of excess water because it may cause waterlog issues and root decay.
- Treat indoor pruned Clementines all year with fertilizer. The 13-7-13 mix would be ideal. These trees don’t enter a genuine lethargic stage, so they require progressing preparation. Sprinkle 1/2 cups on top of the soil, a couple crawls from the storage compartment, for trees under 3 feet tall, or up to 3 cups for trees up to 5 feet tall. Water following application so the fertilizer drenches into the dirt. Reapply the manure each a few months.
- Trim off any suckers that develop along with the pot. When cutting use some sterilized sheers to prevent bacterial development on the open portion due to cutting.
- Remove broken or dead branches at any time. You can manage unattractive branches from along the trunk to give the Clementine a more adjusted appearance. As part of how to grow clementines when growing them indoors is to prune them. This helps them train to grow not so tall. Moreover, it encourages them to follow the shape and height that they want to achieve.
- Screen the tree for common indoor pests such as aphids and mites. Take the tree outside or set it in a bath, and afterward splash the leaves with a sharp shower of water to unstick and wash away these nuisances. If you take your Clementine outside in the late spring, completely flush the foliage before bringing the tree back inside for winter.
Growing Clementine Trees Indoors
So how do clementines grow? Clementine oranges are generally grown from seeds. These plants can grow high but you can graft them. Grafted clementine are those dwarf oranges, which are normally grown indoors.
When planting from seeds, you have to get the seeds off the fruit. Then rinse them well under lukewarm water. You need to ensure that you have gotten rid of the juice. Any juice or fruit left around the seed will result in mold or fungus, which might destroy the seeds.
Then, you need to dry the seeds for a couple of days. Once the seed has dried, you can start planting them in your pot. When given the proper clementine tree care it needs, it can grow well.
The following are Clementine trees at a glance:
- Easy-to-peel fruit
- Virtually seedless fruit
- Pest resistant
- Great houseplants
- Can fruit in the first to third year
- Fruit ripens early
How Does It Look?
Clementine trees have around and glossy canopy of dark green leaves. It keeps its colors all year round, which makes them attractive especially when grown indoors. Dwarf clementine still has the color except that they are less tall and quite manageable.
In spring, they produce fragrant white blossoms that bloom and then become bright orange fruits. You can start picking the fruit from November to January.
In general, your clementine tree will start producing fruits within 2-3 years of planting.
However, growing clementine trees indoors will have you fruits during the first year. They will not ripen once picked, so choose your time wisely. You can tell when they are ready when their green skin turns completely orange.
You can store your clementines in the pantry for approximately a week. Leave it in a cool area so they don’t rot easily.
Common Problems When Growing Clementine Trees Indoors
The most common issue with growing clementine trees indoors is yellowing leaves. The reason for this is the absence of daylight. What you can do is move the tree to the area with direct sunlight.
Note that these trees are not tolerant to cold. So, if the weather is cold or it is about to change a season, you need to move your tree indoor. Give it a warm spot with the proper temperature level for growing. Moreover, you may notice that its fruits will attract fruit flies. Instead of spraying pesticides or insecticides, you can use horticultural oil. Keep the tree clean and remove rotten fruits, which can attract more pests.
In conclusion, clementine trees can make great indoor plants. When you know the proper way to care for this plant, you can even grow a couple of them in your kitchen. It is very convenient and beneficial to have clementine fruits within your reach whenever you need them. It saves you a trip to the grocery plus it saves you money and time.
Read more about Top Secrets In Growing Zucchini From Seed Indoors