Growing delicious fruit trees in your home may seem like a bit of a stretch, but people do it everyday. We’re planning on doing a deep dive into different trees soon (and we’ll link to it here), but in the meantime we’ve put together a few tips to get you started. These tips are pretty universal, and will apply regardless of the type of fruit tree you want to grow.
Start With Dwarf Trees
Dwarf trees are just like regular ones just smaller. They’re specifically bred to not grow as large, but still produce normal fruit.
Dwarf trees end up taking up a lot less space, and this makes them much easier to care for. Their small size also means that it’s fairly easy to move them if you need to. If you’re planning to grow inside or in a container, dwarf trees are a great place to start. That said, they still are a tree, so sizes of 8’-10’ are not uncommon if given the space.
Citrus Are Easier To Grow
Of the various fruits, citrus like lemon and lime are some of the easiest to grow. They typically have the lowest requirements for care, including light which is usually the hardest thing to provide enough of indoors.
If you’re a first time tree grower then starting with citrus is a good idea. It’s also a good option for those that have less than perfect growing areas as they’ll have a better chance of producing fruit. Lemon trees are a great place to start.
Lighting is Still a Premium
Of all the care, regardless of the tree, getting the proper amount of light is always going to be one of the most difficult aspects of care. Fruit trees need a lot of light, and it can be difficult to get enough in most homes. This is especially true in the winter when natural light is less intense.
Even lower light varieties (like citrus mentioned above) usually need 8+ hours of light per day. For many, grow lights are a terrific option that can help reach this amount. Many tree growers supplement natural light with a few hours of artificial light.
Moving Outdoors can Be Good
During the summer, it can be a smart move to give your plant some outdoor time. The bright light of the sun helps feed your plant and helps them grow stronger. Also, the wind and beneficial bugs can also help make sure your plant is pollinated properly.
Be careful though, you want to be absolutely sure a fruit tree doesn’t experience any sort of frost. Even a mild frost or dip to colder temperatures can cause irreparable damage to your tree. You should also make sure to check your plant for pests when you bring it back indoors. This isn’t true for all fruit trees, some are quite hardy, but many of the most popular kinds people choose to grow are very frost adverse.
Keep Humidity Up During the Winter
Lastly, being mostly tropical plants, you want to keep the humidity levels high around your tree. This is especially important during the winter when the warm, dry air can be harmful to your plant.
Luckily, we’ve put together a quick guide to increasing the humidity around your plants. Follow the tips there, and it will help keep your plant in it’s ideal environment even during the winter.
Growing Fruit Trees Indoor
As we mentioned, we’ll be going more in depth for some popular fruit trees soon, so check back soon. Hopefully though for now the above will suffice and help you grow your very own fruit tree. While it can be challenging, there’s nothing better than biting into a fresh piece of fruit you grew yourself. It’s well worth the effort!
