When To Fertilize Citrus Trees In Pots? Here's The Answer!

Today, you no longer need an old-fashioned, spacious backyard space to have fresh-picked citrus fruits on hand. Citrus containers are always available for you to create your own citrus mature trees. All it takes is new dwarf varieties and straightforward citrus basics, and you can enjoy zesty fruit and fragrance in any climate, even when the weather is cold. A minor problem for beginners is when to fertilize citrus trees in pots.

You should feed your plants only during the growing season, from late March to early August. Fertilize twice, at least in midsummer and spring, to encourage the plant’s growth. In this article, Swipe Garden will give you a detailed answer!

Table of Contents show

When To Fertilize Citrus Trees In Pots?

Feed orange trees in summer and spring

How often to fertilize citrus trees? Although every fertilizer package will come with guidelines and a fertilizing schedule for gardeners to follow, there are some solid rules you need to remember:

During months of active growth – usually in the summer and spring: feed your potted plants once a month.
During periods of dormant growth – most often in winter months: keep from feeding your greeneries as they will remain dormant and not need plentiful nutrients.
In cold climates: move the containers indoors since frost can damage new growth. However, low temperatures (above 40ºF) could do wonders for limes and help promote fruit production and more flowers.
Once the plants start to bear fruits, decrease feedings during dormant and active months.

In short, new growth starts in the early spring and late winter. At this point, you should proceed with active fertilizer for citrus trees in pots.

The native soil is also too hard and won’t let the roots get the air they need.

Please remember that container oranges will need fewer nutrients and far less often fertilizing than planted ones as they work with less soil.

How Often Should You Fertilize Potted Citrus Trees?

Treat your citrus trees and lime trees once a month during the growing season

Container greeneries can’t search for other food sources apart from your water and nutrients, so they will die if you don’t supply what they need.

The more frequent watering required in the containers causes nutrients to absorb into the soil faster. Slow-release granular fertilizers include trace minerals, such as iron, manganese, and zinc, and are beneficial for potted limes.

The applicable frequency will vary depending on the sort of fertilizer and the age and size of your citrus tree. The best idea is to feed it once a month during the active or growing season.

A hint to know your plants are lacking nutrients or you’re overwatering is yellow leaves.

What Months Do You Fertilize Citrus Trees?

You should feed your greeneries from late March to early August, which is the growing season, and with organic, liquid fertilizer, like seaweed, fish emulsion, or liquid kelp, or organic granular products every 2-3 weeks.

You should avoid providing nutrients in the winter months when newborn growth shouldn’t occur.

Also, you will need to apply a tiny organic fertilizer amount during late March to stimulate new growth from the beginning of the growing season.

How Do You Fertilize Citrus Trees In Pots?

There are three types of fertilizer for lemon trees in pots

Three methods of applying nutrients to your container lemon tree, and citrus tree include liquid, spikes, and dry.

Each comes with upsides and downsides. Also, keep your tree’s size, environmental factors, and location in mind when selecting the right technique.

Liquid Fertilizer

Farmers often focus on this method and dilute it before applying it. Stick to the package directions and measure the pot’s size used to keep the citrus plants.

Pros: Liquid fertilizer is highly available and offers large amounts enough to use for an extended period.
Cons: Hard to drain away

Dry Fertilizer

You should scatter granular fertilizer over the top of the soil as it will be slower to release. Gently dig a hole in the topsoil and apply the composite.

Pros: slow-releasing and could last for three months.
Cons: becomes clumped together as exposed to high humidity, which is hazardous to children and animals if they find those clumps on the soil top and eat.

Spike Fertilizer

It is a small container holding a decent amount of fertilizer for specific-period use. Check the installation instructions before using, particularly how much to apply to your pot.

Pros: Pre-measured. If you check the pot’s size and use a proper amount, there’s no need to worry about over-fertilizing.
Cons: If you don’t push it into your soil correctly, children or pets might accidentally pull it free and eat it.

How Do I Get My Citrus Tree To Bear Fruit?

Seasonal feeding, quick-draining soil, sunshine, infrequent deep watering, and airflow are critical to successfully growing oranges.

This family loves sunshine. Expose them to the sunlight five hours per day for the best fruiting. Remember to place them in the north-facing direction, sunny and warm position. When winter approaches, bring the containers inside.

Because citrus roots need air, it’s important to plant them deep.

Besides, lemons trees thrive when provided with water, which doesn’t pool in their citrus tree roots zone and leaches away quickly.

Conclusion

Although growing citrus in containers takes a lot of effort, learning, and care, it’s a rewarding process. Nothing beats the taste of your own Bearss limes, Calamondin, or Satsuma oranges.

Knowing when to fertilize citrus trees in potting soil contributes greatly to the path to your citrus success.

Put what you’ve learned into practice, and enjoy the fruitful result!

Related Articles: