Citrus fruits (lemons, mandarins, limequats, oranges, kumquats) - Care Guide

Citrice (lamai, mandarin, limequat, portocal, kumquat) - Ghid de Ingrijire

Caring for citrus plants is easier than you think if you follow a few basic principles. We offer you the following care guide for citrus plants—lemons, mandarins—calamondin, kumquat, orange, or limequat—in pots.

Placement: near a window or another well-lit spot. Good sun exposure promotes flowering and harmonious plant development, but the newly purchased plant should be gradually acclimated to the sun to avoid shock.

In the warm season, plants can be kept and grown outdoors, but consider the intensity of the sun and the pot size. Small plants will have small pots—which means the substrate dries out very quickly and requires frequent and abundant watering if grown in direct sun during summer.

It is essential that in the cold season, plants are kept away from heat sources (e.g., radiators) or cold sources (e.g., frequently opened windows, cold drafts).

Watering should be adjusted according to the microclimate (especially ambient temperature) and substrate. Ideally, watering is done when the substrate is completely dry. Too frequent watering leads to root rot and irreparably damaged plants. Too infrequent watering causes yellowing and drying of leaves—a plant in need of water shows visibly wilted/dehydrated leaves.

Fertilization:

Proper fertilization is necessary for the plant to thrive, develop, and produce fruit;
During the growing period, from April - May until September - October, fertilize weekly using a fertilizer designed for citrus plants. For the rest of the year, a single monthly fertilization is sufficient—or fertilization can be stopped completely—this will be evaluated based on the microclimate of the space where the plants are kept during winter.

Pruning:

Pruning of citrus trees will be done as needed and according to the plant's stage, avoiding disruption of the natural flowering and fruiting cycle. Pruning aims to rejuvenate the plant and improve its appearance (both aesthetically and practically).
Pruning should be done when the plant is dormant or when it has dry/damaged parts affected by pests.

Repotting:

Although citrus plants require low maintenance, repotting done in spring can help maintain the plant's health;
There are two approaches - either repotting into a larger pot or simply replacing part of the original substrate (refreshing the soil) in the pot where the plant already is (preferably with minimal disturbance to the roots). During this process, degraded roots can be removed (if any). Moving to a larger container means choosing a pot about 2-3 cm bigger than the original - the new container will provide more space for root system development. Then, fresh substrate or clay balls are placed at the bottom of the pot, enough to raise the plant to the correct level at the top. Finally, substrate is added around the edges, gently pressed with fingers. Remember: do not compact the new substrate too much - it must remain permeable to allow new root growth.
When repotting, use a special substrate for citrus plants

The general repotting guide is available here: Repotting - When and How to Do It

Pests:

Among the possible pests are aphids, armored scale insects, woolly aphids, thrips, and mites (the red spider mite being the most common and aggressive). A complete range of insecticides/acaricides can be found here: Plant Treatments

There are also biological or homemade treatments, but their effectiveness is questionable or not scientifically proven.

Regularly checking your plants will work wonders - regularly examine the leaves and immediately apply the necessary phytosanitary treatment if pests appear. The earlier they are identified, the better the chances of getting rid of them without permanent/significant damage to the plants. In early stages, they can be removed by handpicking or cleaning the leaves with a water jet - but this is a temporary solution until the appropriate phytosanitary treatment is applied.

Tips and tricks:

citrus plants tend to lose fruit and a large part of their foliage when they experience poor fertilization or an unsuitable/aged substrate (with too little or too much water retention, lacking minerals, etc.). Generally, fruit is lost when the plant shows iron deficiency or serious care deficiencies.
some articles and growers claim that incorporating simple iron nails in the pot provides citrus plants with a natural iron supply, released gradually. Such a theory has not been proven - while this procedure cannot harm the plant, we still recommend using a fertilizer designed for citrus instead of relying on "old wives' remedies."
at each repotting, place a layer of clay balls, pumice stone, or simple gravel at the bottom of the pot for better drainage;
plants grown indoors can be pollinated using a fine brush, with which you will touch the center of each flower. Citrus plants do not necessarily need this procedure, as they are generally self-fertile - however, this effort can improve the harvest (the quantity of fruit);