The Indoor Plant Everyone Is Talking About This Spring

Nature is never trendy. Incorporating lush greenery into your interiors is a design concept that’s been around for a while—and it’s definitely here to stay. But we do like to change the indoor plant selection we put into homes with the trends and styles of the day. We’ve seen this recently with the fiddle leaf fig; it became nearly impossible to find an interior without the gorgeous, leafy plant. But as this trend slowly fades out, we’re excited to reintroduce one of our favorite plants as a huge trend for this spring: the dwarf citrus tree.

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Why a dwarf citrus tree?

Just look at them…so adorable, how could you resist? But if you need some schooled reasoning outside of “they’re so freakin’ cute,” here it is:

1. 1. Shine in the Sun: The rich, shiny dark green foliage and polished rinds capture sunlight and reflect it into your home. More than other greenery options, an indoor citrus plant brings light into a space.
   2. Fragrant Blossoms: We love the intense, refreshing aroma indoor citrus plants bring into the home. They not only say “spring is here”… they sing “summer is coming,” as well!
   3. Add a Pop of Color: Citrus plants add a bright pop of color to your home (we especially love them in an all-white kitchen), and since there are so many kinds of miniature indoor citrus plants, you can really choose a plant that goes well with your color palette. Our personal favorite this season is the Dwarf Meyer Lemon, but Ponderosa lemons, Calamondin oranges, limes, kumquats, and satsuma can all grow in an indoor container.
   4. Keep Them Past Summer: Citrus plants love to bask in the spring and summer sun, but they’ll also thrive throughout the winter season, so the fun doesn’t have to end with the warm weather. What a bright and cheerful way to beat out the winter blues! 

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How do I care for a dwarf citrus tree?

 So you have the little guy…now what? Luckily, citrus plants aren’t too difficult to grow, and even the most amateur plant parents can produce a nice green houseplant. The tricky part comes when you’re trying to get your plant to bear fruit. For the best results, here are our guidelines:

1. 1. Proper pH and Drainage. A pH range of 5-8 is best. You can get a pH test kit from your local nursery (or sometimes even your local convenience store). To balance your pH, plant your tree in a mixture of 1 part sand, 1 part peat moss and 1 part bark, perlite or vermiculite. The soil should be loose enough to permit adequate drainage. You can buy any type of pot or planter, but be sure to use a 1-2 inch layer of gravel at the bottom to readily promote drainage.
   2. Soak Enough Sun. Citrus trees require a minimum of 5 hour of sunlight per day if you want them to bear fruit. Ideally, they should get 10-12. Supplemental lighting from a high intensity discharge light can be used to maximize your yield. One important thing to keep in mind is to slowly acclimate your trees if taking them from the outdoors to indoors for winter. 
   3. Humidity. Citrus trees will drop their leaves if the humidity grows too low in an indoor environment. Ideal humidity should be at 45 – 50%. 
   4. Regular Watering. Let’s take a moment to be honest with ourselves. The most likely reason our plants die is from forgetting to water them! Make sure that when the top two inches of soil are dry, you water (but don’t soak) the tree. If water pools in the saucer, empty the saucer. During warm summer months, you may need to water as often as twice daily. During winter months, water much more sparingly.

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Kathy Kuo Home Design Services