Whether or not you need to develop kumquats in your kitchen or fill your home with the candy aroma of lemon blossoms, rising citrus bushes indoors is a worthy pursuit. Nonetheless, these bushes do require a little bit of care. One of many important elements of maintaining your tree wholesome is offering the correct temperature and humidity. Uncertain how to do that? Comply with alongside for all you must find out about dwelling indoor citrus temperature and humidity necessities.
Key Takeaways
For optimum progress and fruit manufacturing, indoor citrus bushes favor heat temperatures between 60-90ºF with reasonable to excessive humidity all year long. Whereas some citrus, corresponding to yuzu and kumquats, can tolerate below-freezing temperatures, they are going to thrive in hotter temperatures.
Ideally suited Temperature and Humidity for Indoor Citrus Timber
Most indoor citrus bushes will develop the very best when air temperatures are between 60-90ºF.
Whereas that is best, most bushes can tolerate temperatures outdoors this vary.
Correctly hardened citrus bushes can survive freezing temperatures, and a few styles of kumquats, yuzu, and mandarins can survive temperatures within the low 20s. Nonetheless, this doesn’t imply you possibly can flip off your warmth and watch your tree flourish.
When planted outdoor, bushes sometimes expertise a gradual lower or enhance in temperature because the seasons change. This enables the tree to regulate to colder climate. When freezing temperatures arrive, the bushes are more likely to survive.
Then again, indoor bushes are sometimes stored at a comparatively constant temperature. In case your bushes expertise a sudden drop in temperature, they are going to doubtless undergo.
Yet another be aware: though bushes might survive temperatures outdoors their best vary, they gained’t thrive in these temperatures. Temperatures under 50º will typically set your tree again a bit.
Concerning humidity, all forms of indoor citrus bushes favor reasonable to excessive humidity.
The place to Place Your Tree
To maintain your citrus bushes blissful, I keep away from putting them in areas the place they expertise massive swings in temperature. This implies maintaining them away from air con vents, frequently-opened exterior doorways, and radiators.
Since citrus bushes like plenty of brilliant, direct mild, take into account putting them close to a south-facing or west-facing window. So long as this space doesn’t obtain intense swings in temperature, it’s a good selection in my expertise.
Methods to Enhance Humidity
Since citrus bushes love plenty of humidity, you may want to spice up the humidity ranges in your house. That is very true throughout the winter when heaters dry out the air.
Whereas a humidifier is one of the simplest ways to extend the humidity quickly, it’s not the one choice. I like to put my planter on a tray full of rocks and water, offering a pleasant, low-fuss humidity increase. Simply make sure that your plant isn’t sitting within the water.
Often misting the air round your tree with water may also enhance the humidity. Nonetheless, you’ll want to do that each day to maintain the humidity excessive, which could be a problem in my expertise.
Spring and Summer time Care
Since citrus bushes are native to areas with sizzling summers, maintaining temperatures excessive is crucial. Whereas this sometimes isn’t an issue outdoor, you may end up cranking the AC to maintain cool.
With this in thoughts, test the temperature of the room your tree is in. If it’s under 70º, take into account reducing the AC. Additionally, guarantee your tree is in a brilliant space, the place temperatures are typically barely hotter.
Another choice is to maneuver your tree to a sunny location outdoor. If the temperature is hotter outdoors, that is sometimes the very best transfer. Carry your tree again inside as soon as temperatures dip under 60ºF repeatedly.
Winter Care
As soon as the darker days of winter hit, citrus bushes can deal with a bit colder temperatures. With that mentioned, you’ll need to maintain temperatures above 60ºF.
One other factor to control throughout the winter is the humidity. As heaters dry out the air, your tree may have a lift of moisture. Set out a tray full of water, or give your tree a each day spritz.
Widespread Indicators The Temp & Humidity Aren’t Proper
Low Vigor
Whereas many individuals suppose chilly temperatures will trigger excessive injury, they’ll additionally influence bushes subtly. Whereas citrus bushes can survive temperatures round 50ºF, fixed publicity to those temperatures will gradual their progress.
In case your tree seems stunted or appears delayed in flowering and fruit set, your temperatures could also be too low. That is very true if summer season temperatures are under 60ºF.
Boosting your temperatures to 80ºF and even 70ºF will enhance your tree’s total well being.
Flower Drop
The second you’ve been ready for has arrived – your citrus tree produces these sweet-smelling flowers! Nonetheless, you discover many flowers or leaves have dropped earlier than fruits have shaped.
Some fruit drop is pure as bushes skinny their future fruit load. However a drop of greater than 50% is trigger for concern.
Whereas flower drop has quite a few doable causes, publicity to chilly temperatures is one chance. Hold your tree away from chilly drafts and make sure the temperature stays above 60ºF.
Crisp Leaf Edges
One thing is awry should you discover your tree’s leaves are creating discolored, crisp edges. The probably situation? Low humidity.
In case your lips and pores and skin really feel dry, the humidity is probably going too low in your tree. Even when your tree is well-watered, low humidity may cause points. In case your air is additional dry, you’ll want to spice up the humidity so it’s within the reasonable to excessive vary.
To do that, use a humidifier, set out a tray of water, or give the air round your tree a great mist.
Wrapping Up
Whereas citrus bushes could appear a bit intimidating to look after, all you want is the correct data. Now that you already know the perfect temperature and humidity for indoor citrus, you possibly can confidently add your tree of option to your own home.
Briana holds a B.S. in Plant Sciences from Penn State College. She manages a small market backyard the place she grows greens and herbs. She additionally enjoys rising flowers and houseplants at dwelling.
