Loquat to Owari: Winter Citrus Care

A couple of weeks back, we put the spotlight on unique citrus to celebrate Halloween and beyond. But now that Halloween has come and gone (and the holidays are coming so soon!), it’s time to discuss long-term care and maintenance for your unique citrus or winter citrus, from the Loquat to the Owari and beyond.

Thankfully, it’s easy to help these interesting little cultivars thrive. And with our tips and tricks, you’ll be well on your way to gorgeous growth indoors, despite the chilly weather outdoors.

What is the Loquat and Winter Citrus?

First, it’s important that we cover a few different types of well-suited citrus trees to grow indoors during the wintry weather months. To keep it simple, we’ll cover our top three citrus plants for seasonal care.

1. The Loquat Tree

How to Move Indoors: A Checklist

1. Check the Weather

   First, wait until the temperatures stay above 40 to 50 degrees and there is absolutely no chance for frost before moving your tree.

2. Don’t Strain the Tree

   If your citrus tree seems too difficult to move, place it on a plant tray with wheels for more effortless movement.

3. Gradually Increase Time Indoors

   Your citrus needs to build tolerance, so give your tree an hour of direct sunlight during its first day outside, and then move it into the shade. For about two weeks, slowly increase the amount of time that your tree spends in the direct sunlight.

4. Adjust the Watering Schedule

   Outdoor growth often means that you need to water your citrus a bit more frequently. As you move your Loquat, Owari or Meyer Lemon indoors, watering will need to be adjusted.

5. Don’t Panic

   Leaf drop and fruit drop are normal, so don’t panic! Keep in mind that this isn’t a sign of danger – instead, this is a sign of the tree adjusting to its new indoor environment. If all the leaves die, simply pick them off the branches – you should see new leaves in about six weeks.

6. Thin the Crop

   By removing any smaller fruit your tree is growing, it will focus its energy on adjusting to the indoors instead of growing tons of new fruit – your fruit will eventually grow larger and fuller as a result.

7. Bug Defense

   Before bringing trees inside for the colder months, spray them with an all-natural, organic pesticide to keep bugs away.

Citrus Loves Container Growth

Basically, Citrus Trees are wonderfully suited for container growing. Beautiful foliage meets fragrant blooms and succulent fruit for a plant that ticks all the boxes of a must-have. And most importantly, they can be kept at a manageable size in a container. From the Loquat to the Owari or Meyer, here are our main three tips to keep in mind:

• These trees thrive best if they are not overwatered – ensure that you let your plants dry between waterings.
• Once you move your plants indoors, air circulation will become important for them, so it’s best to increase the humidity in your plants’ environment. To do this, you can either mist the leaves daily with a spray bottle, or you can place your plants on top of moist pebbles.
• Indoor plants also typically need at least six hours of sunlight a day. You can use a grow light can as a substitute, or simply place them in an area where they will receive as much light as possible – a sun-soaked, South-facing window should do just fine.

Cover all these bases, and you’re good to go. Growing your unique, delectable citrus indoors, especially during the winter months, is as easy as 1-2-3.