How to Grow CITRUS in Containers, Step by Step || Black Gumbo

[@theoverworkedgardener5648]

I'm in zone 7A and I lost lemon tree inside the house during that crazy super cold but we had like two years ago. Power went out and had dropped well below freezing in the house. We normally don't get that cold, but these last few years in Texas have been crazy. Great video as normal.

[@tiathompson6674]

Yepppp, southeast Texas here, it's been wild with the freezing.

[@MattyDemello]

Im in 7a in Massachusetts. I wrap the pot with the seed heating mat. Just to keep the roots warm during extremely cold days but so far my owari satsuma mandarin tree is surviving thank goodness.

[@gregleach5833]

I’ve learned over time about permanent container plants to use inorganic materials like coarse sand perlite and vermiculite. The organic materials can go into the top few inches like you said . I have two key limes in containers because I can’t grow them in the ground here . My other citrus trees are in ground . I use regular potting soil when it’s a temporary container . Great video !

[@jo-annjewett198]

I too am in 9b on the Texas coast. I lost my Meyer lemon and now have one in a large pot.

[@mariabiboso2050]

Hello, im a Filipino Canadian watching you on Canada. thank you for your video. Learned a lot...its the first time I saw addition of earthworms to pots! Yes a garden without pressure, only passion. I intend to retire in Philippines 2 years from now, where I have about 10 acres of farm property. I intend to get busy with farming for the rest of my life, while I return home with big family.

[@wandadavis276]

I moved my pepper plants and tomatoes in and out of my shed all winter and they kept producing!! Love container growing

[@DavidJ909]

10:15 That was awesome. Worm was right there

[@jessicaf316]

Glad I found your channel! Love Meyer lemons and now I’m in a growing zone where I can grow them on my Patio!

[@2075vj]

I can’t thank you enough for this video. I just moved to Fort Myers Florida and I’m on a golf course and unable to plant anything in my property so I have to use pots. So now I know I can grow citrus. Thank you again.

[@Runner466]

I bought an orange tree when I was in Florida over Christmas. It was a bare root tree where the roots were in a bag, and it had maybe 3 leaves on it. I put it a gallon sized pot in a south facing window. I live in zone 6 so there is no way it can ever go outside. But it’s doing great! It’s already doubled in size and I was shocked to even see it got a flower on it. I used just regular potting soil. Like miracle grow but an off brand that is cheaper. I plan to repot it after a year. And fertilize it once a month. I’ll get the citrus soil next time though. Thanks for the advice!

[@nycolefuller6792]

wow!! Thanks so glad to see Texas videos...I'm here in Austin and as a renter I grow all my plants in pots. From seed I have avocado (3), lemon (3), apple (1) and working on grapes and cherry. I see my error with my lemon tree when I transplanted to a bigger container I didn't break up the root at the bottom nor did I add fertilizer. to keep pest out I use orange peel boiled in water and neem oil and spray it every two days.

[@makadutaarzola9453]

Just found your channel and I am very excited to learn all I can. My husband and I are planting in buckets so we need to learn all we can. Looking forward to learning. Blessings 😁

[@lenadial4678]

Pls show bags of soil or potting mix fertilizer ty. Also the can of IV Organics, my husband paints, you can make a hole on 1 side & stick a golf tee, make sure burp to burp your can by pressing the center of can. Great video sir, good tips...

[@roger55es]

Great advice ,I planted my 1st lemon tree mixed gravel peatmoss & local garden clay Thanks

[@lauracoussens6207]

I grew up in inland southern California back when there was still vast orchards of citrus and they used what was called smudge pots to keep the trees from being badly affected by frosts.

[@Fi0434]

My Meyer Has tiny blooms starting I am soooo excited

[@Baxmom914]

I love Joseph’s nursery.. you have given me the push I needed to grow citrus in a container, I’m in Manvel, TX 😊

[@garydavenport2654]

Thanks so much for this information as I have 2 lemon trees and 1 lime tree that I've been growing in containers for the last 5 years and it's time to transfer them to larger containers. So I had lots of questions as to what to do. Been watching your videos and taking much of your advice over the years. And by watching and listening to your videos, I am ever inspired and learn just a bit more each time. Since I'm located in south San Antonio, the climate here is similar to your area as well. South SA is somewhat and slightly different than north SA since the southern half of the city connects to the coastal plains and the northern part of the city is connected more to the hill country.

[@sheraldtaylor1297]

Yes, citrus blossoms smell so good. I have 2 lemons, a variegated pink lemon and a lime growing in pots. They are fertilized monthly with a liquid citrus fertilizer. I do bring them inside for winter. However I must not be acclimating them well, because I always experience leaf drop while they are in the house. Still learning about growing citrus. Thanks for the tips.

[@ScottHead]

They will drop leaves at the slightest change in routine. They usually snap out of it.

[@ceecee-thetransplantedgardener]

I am so glad you mentioned the wonderful aroma of citrus blossoms. I grew up in central FL, surrounded by miles and miles of citrus groves. Nothing like a warm evening and that beautiful scent wafting through on a breeze. Great stuff today - and I hope you do a vid on your first key lime pie. :)

[@shelleygh6476]

I decided to grow some lemons, limes, and maybe oranges. I watched many videos & found yours to be more comforting to follow. so now I'll be following you. thanks for explaining the step-by-step so clearly. God bless ya & happy planting.

[@WILLITGROW]

your so right scott the soil is key to a healthy plant.i enjoyed this video.

[@karenblake6616]

Perfect timing. Just got my two semi-dwarf sumo trees in.

[@Nurtureddreams815]

It’s good to watch southern gardener’s videos. They’re more beneficial for me. It gives me a better sense of how to take care of my plants. I’m waiting for 2 citrus trees to arrive in the next 2-3 weeks. 🌱🌿🌳

[@silverskyranch]

Good timing. My dwarf Meyer Lemon is ready to be up-potted this spring. Currently in Dallas but might end up moving to Austin area.

[@kikibeaumont1139]

Very thorough. Always fun to see your pooch too! Thanks.

[@slamrock17]

My lemon soil mix is pearlite vermiculite, black cow, homemade biochar, and peat moss.

[@craigstephens9075]

Good video and timing is perfect for me after losing all of my Citrus to Freeze for the second time here in North Florida.Starting over this time in containers in a Greenhouse as I've been successful with Tomatoes Through the Freezes down to 25 degrees. I have always been told absolutely no mulch on Citrus.

[@pattilemonhouse7911]

I made up several potted citrus trees for clients First I choose a more compact variety, on a semi dwarf graft. I often used irish moss as a ground cover, or planted strawberries that could dangle out. I'd put the pot on a rolling coaster, to easily move. You might want to move it when entertaining, and you can occasionally rotate it to get it to grow more evenly. In some cases you may not want to move it to progressively larger pots. You can remove the overgrown tree from the pot, crumble away excess dirt from the dirt ball, trim off the overly long, wrapping roots, then replant as normal. My favorite soil products come from Gardener and Bloom, my favorite fertilizer is Gro-Power Plus. 😊

[@ScottSellsSoCal]

Great video Scott! First time seeing your videos. Subscribed!

[@melissakingery4393]

Omg Scott that looks delicious!! Yum yum

[@pamelabrown667]

You hit all the marks! This is THE BEST video I've ever seen for citrus trees! I'm following!!!

[@JesinstarSangmaa-hj7hh]

Thankyou so much senior teacher...your video inspire me somuch

[@devbachu7072]

Thanks I have some grafted to put u. Container slime an lemon here it's tropical so I am lucky

[@kaidentoysngarden5497]

Hi Scott, I live in TX and past couple years we had very low freeze, I lost most of my tropical trees during last year freeze below 16F. I bought a myer lemon 🍋 and grow it in a pot. During the freeze this year, I moved it inside garage after it go down below 16F. It looked ok for now, hopefully it will last survive thru the winter ☺️🙏🥰

[@tiffanitexas09036]

Thanks for the simple and informative video!!

[@kenmoffett9435]

My key lime survived the freezes in the garage but I lost a lot of leaves. Now its back out and has a few leaves but is full of blooms Another great video I think I'm going to have to go out and get a lemon tree now.

[@susanrand512]

I went out to Joseph's Nursery a few weeks ago, bought tomato and banana pepper plants. I have 2 meyer trees , second year for both enjoyed your video, subscribing to your channel.

[@lynnerskine3346]

I just found your channel in the last few weeks. Really like your traching style. Have learned so much from you. Thank you.

[@ArtworkProductions1]

Hi, thank you for sharing all your knowledge!! I just bought a key lime with flowers and tiny lemons and wanted to know when I should transplant it to a bigger pot.

[@Lulu-dz5wj]

I like the Palm Cactus & citrus mix from Kellogg. It’s sandier and even has some pumice!

[@vnxettitw4879]

Great video! I up potted all my citrus into 20gal from nursery & they all are thriving so I don't know if gradual upsizing is needed. You make me want to add more varieties now tho!

[@oreopaksun2512]

So glad to hear Lucy will make it back, it is a little shocking to see her absolutely bare! Could you please show us how you will trim the branches to help her grow back better than ever? Thank you.

[@ScottHead]

I will do that, thanks.

[@TheNlopez91]

Thank you for this video. I have one lime tree in zone 8a in a container. We successfully harvested a good amount of limes this past season but I have learned a lot watching this video

[@crazydee1955]

How many years did it take to bear fruit?

[@jackiehorsley9263]

I appreciate all the tips you mentioned on how to grow citrus I have been thinking about growing some myself It does get really cold In the winter time here In Oklahoma but I should be able to bring them Inside

[@gigicrowley]

We have a 10+ year-old citrus tree. We aren't sure, but think it could be a grapefruit. Going to try to get it to fruit, this year. We are in MA and bring it in, in the winter. Last year, we, for the first time, got apples on a tree planted from a seed. It is about 10 years old, as well. Thanks for the info. Hope we get fruit.

[@thecashflowconductor]

I learned so much! Thank you for sharing and making it so easy to understand. I'm looking forward to growing my first lemon tree! 🍋 😊

[@HOLLYHOUSE11]

Scott, I saved my lemon tree after freezes in the Pacific NW (Mine is named Don LeMon and LuluLemon lol) with Electroculture and Pearl powder from Cultivate Elevate.. They love the copper. Don looked deader than a doornail. Wrap clockwise a piece of copper wire around a stick and put it a few inches into the soul on the south side of the tree. Cheers and thank you!

[@theapopkagardener2485]

Thank you BG! Very helpful.

[@harvestheim]

Great video, as always. This gives me hope for growing citrus in NW Ohio.

[@mari3693]

Very informative! Thank you!!!

[@SowGoodGardener]

I’m a new subscriber to your channel and I’m so glad it popped up in my recommendations! I’m growing (3) citrus 🍊trees in containers here in Fort Worth and they’re all thriving. They’re all still indoors right now but I plan to put them back outside next month. I have a thornless key lime, Dancy tangerine, and a Meyer lemon. Thank you for sharing your tips and suggestions! It’s very appreciated! -Calvin

[@maryloubrieger4763]

How do you treat pot before bringing in? I brought roaches in years ago and vowed not to do that again.

[@thezfunk]

Those blood oranges would look great in an Old Fashioned.

[@ScottHead]

Now I have to try it.

[@scottlarkin4748]

Love your videos Scott

[@Kashikoi82]

I regretted not grabbing a few seeds of blood oranges while in Sicily...Lucky you 😊

[@MysticalMe131]

So Awesome. We are in Channelview Texas. I lost my Meyer Lemon tree. Due to the freeze. It had been growing for 10 years or more. Im so afraid to plant another. But now maybe i will plant one in A pot that i can take inside if we have a freeze this year.

[@yaima0901]

Omg that’s so sad to hear!!! I would be devastated hope you’re trying in a container!

[@matthewkheyfets1309]

Interesting video. I'd suggest planting Citrus in nearly pure inert materials if you can. Of course you need a balance of weight and coarseness. The sand is extremely heavy but Perlite doesn't look like soil lol I'm personally fed up with commercial mixes. They've never worked for me long term on a single plant ever except for Aloe plants but they're practically indestructible. So I'm just making my own mixes and trying to make my own brand that provides what I'm personally looking for. I agree largely with our analysis of Citrus potting medium :)

[@Marlene612]

Good help here. I just ordered som IV fert, and IV 3 in 1 on the way. I’ve several china de pais here in PR, sweet, no acid, in the ground, very young, and i may dig them up and add perlite; my limes and Meyers are in large containers. This was very informative, thank you.

[@gretaknebel8495]

Lots of good information!

[@lanettelawrence6308]

Control is what I need to keep trees small and controlling for the height.

[@rosannaburgess714]

Greetings! 😍👋 Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and experience with us.

[@terber6700]

Scott thanks for the info about the new nursery you found. I went over there this morning since you said they had lots of citrus, mentioned to them you had talked about their nursery on your YT channel and found something I had been looking for over 3 years, a sweet kumquat tree. My two young lemon trees died (well one tried to come back from the root ball) this past freeze even though I covered them lightly. Just wasn't enough I guess. Excited to finally find the kumquat tree I have been looking for. I now have a celeste fig, an Italian Honey fig, 2 pawpaw trees, a jujube tree, 2 hazelnut trees, a Gold Nugget Loquat tree, a triple grafted asian pear tree from Dave Wilson nurseries, and a Sam Houston peach tree, so this kumquat will be a great addition to my little food forest yard.

[@paulawhite496]

Never heard of using latex paint! Only whitewash/lime wash. Thanks for the tutorial. Have a satsuma in a 5 gal grow bag which has kept it alive, but not ideal. Now I know what to do with the tree!

[@btlan6121]

I don’t know if Lucy comes back by now or not but even the branch or branches are healthy … they would not have fruits because those are runners. I agree with you about having them in pots.

[@K-Zone]

Hi, I've seen that Meyer lemons can survive down to 18-20 degrees in ground. What about in a pot? Should I shelter it when it gets to 25, or is it still Hardy to near 20 in a container? Thanks!

[@ScottHead]

In a pot it can freeze at higher freezing temps because it doesn't have the who mass of the ground to insulate the roots. If its in a pot, you ought to not risk it and put it in the garage or indoors.

[@ladydi4051]

Thanks for your growing citrus tree video.This is my first time ever hearing about "blood oranges".

[@cindyburst]

Thanks for the video Scott. I wonder about the thorns on the citrus. I have memories of my dad planting his citrus seeds in buckets after he ate the fruit. We used to tease him about them being weapons. Can you clip them or what?

[@ScottHead]

I'm not sure yet about clipping the thorns. Working on that myself. Need more research.

[@maeganrose9591]

Wonderful video, thanks for sharing!

[@zacharymbradleyjr]

Thank you for the wonderful information! I just bought a Cara Cara, Meyer, and an Fuete and I wasn't sure where to plant them because of some future landscaping I want to do. This really helps with the trees surviving and keeps them mobile! I can't thank you enough. I used your promo code so we both got a little something!

[@ScottHead]

Thanks so much, hope you have a delicious harvest!

[@missmary1712]

Thanks for telling us about Joseph’s Nursery. I picked up a couple of citrus trees today! 😊

[@trebledog]

I love blood oranges. The first time I ever heard or seen a blood orange was in a town called Jalalabad in Eastern Afghanistan close to the Pakistan border. In a vendor's stall in the bazaar. It was early summer. I was curious when I saw these oranges that had a deep burgumdy blush over a third of the round. Not knowing what I bought a couple of kilos and that changed my relationship with citrus ever since. I've been a huge fan of blood oranges since. However that first taste some 50 years ago was the juiciest, sweetest fruit not to be topped in the intervening years. Whatever was in the soil in that town close to the Khyber Pass to produce a fruit like that is truly food for thought.

[@Lesley_T]

I’ve got a similar story as well… now I have new citrus trees in planters on casters- and hoping I can haul them in the house lol 🥶 Thank you for making this! Since we are in the same neck of the woods, this has been a great and resourceful video!

[@DracoTriste]

So glad this came across my feed. I have a small suburban lot, and even though it looks like I have little space to grow trees in ground, I have even less than it appears because of buried wires, pipes, and sewage lines. I have been gifted a nursery calamondin and I have several Meyer lemons I’ve started from seeds. I’d love to add a lime. Are there any limitations on which varieties work best for containers and which don’t work well at all?

[@ritalr15]

I soak a couple of scoops of cow manure in a 5 gallon bucket and steep it and then water a few hours later, and it loves it.

[@quiltmaker8461]

Thank you

[@CarolRockwell-g1z]

Great video, I learned some great information!

[@cathyjamieson5298]

Some had a good tip to use th husks that you take for the gut!!!😇😇😇

[@kamiller4812]

I live in Southern California and I have just started my seedlings.

[@DEdwards247]

I’m in Florida and just bought one from Walmart! Wish me luck ! 🍋

[@ScottHead]

Good luck!!

[@beverlycharles6534]

In FLORIDA you should have no problem...I am in Northern KY so it will be a battle. 🤣 GL🤞🏼to us both.

[@candyhanching721]

Hi Scott I planted Lemons trees in container since 2016 and used Citrus & Palm potting soil I have not repotted the plant yet When should repotting?

[@ScottHead]

How tall are they? If the canopy is much larger than the pots it might be good time to pot them up or give them a good trim back.

[@dorindafulton]

Great video 😊 thanks for sharing and have a great day and happy gardening 🌿🌱😊🤗🍊🍊🍊🍊🍊

[@cherryfireice8216]

Am way out of the zones for citrus. Suggest be because of the weight use pots with casters. When you bring in you need light and humidity and don't overwater. An unhappy tree may drop all its leaves indoors but will leaf out again if the stems are healthy.

[@jojomarie5218]

Question: I must bring my citrus and avocado tree inside for the winter, as I live in zone 6. Can a citrus tree be pruned to be dwarf size and must the roots be trimmed as if you were keeping a bonsai?

[@slowpoke4557]

I've watched a bunch of bonsai how to videos and they say that ANY tree can be kept/ grown as a bonsai, you just have to keep it pruned

[@ScottHead]

Yes, just prune for size and you may have to root prune every 4-5 years or so.

[@slowpoke4557]

@ScottHead I want to grow a key lime bonsai, just because I think it would look interesting and different. Only problem is finding seeds

[@jojomarie5218]

@@ScottHead Thank you Soooo much

[@MulletJoe368]

Ive got six lemon tree saplings going now.

[@ogdabree6527]

Can you do a video on how to keep your trees small

[@margaritavivero4776]

What they use in the south, is lime with water (not latex paint) . Yes, to prevent sunburn but also to prevent insects climbing up the tree.

[@MariannaLam]

Enjoyed your show

[@miriamgrutz2132]

Thanks I have been wanting to plant a citrus tree in my area Tampa fl. Great video. 👍 😊

[@debbybrady1246]

I'm planning on a lemon tree since ours also froze.

[@ArnoldScott-gv3wf]

Ii love your videos on citrus fruit channel it is very good thank you!

[@MichelleM0704]

I was going to ask you where you buy your trees. I'll have to go by there and check them out. Also, I checked out Grow A Little Fruit Tree by Ann Ralph at the library and it's a great book!

[@Exaris79]

Chinese Pomelo farmers have pots that are over a foot wide in diameter.

[@michelenix1562]

❤ EXCELLENT citrus video. I'm definitely subscribing to your channel. 😊

[@lravenhill]

In a freeze you just have to put a sheet over it that night. On your in ground lemon tree

[@tedparr2711]

I have some lemon trees that now have dozens of baby lemons - do I need to prune the amount of growing fruit, especially if I want to tree canopy to grow a bit bigger?

[@ScottHead]

If you want to encourage foliage, yes, prune the number of fruits.

[@MichaelJosephJr934]

Great video Scott. Wish I could do these here in Chicago. I could move them in and out maybe.

[@Dj_Medic]

You should and could grow citrus and pots in Chicago that's what I do mine are currently indoors under some grow lights for the Winter right now. I'm currently growing a naval Orange, a calamondin and a pink verigated lemon and they are doing wonderfully I've had them for 2 years now. They even have fruit on them right now for the 1st time since I got them.

[@charlesecrowdersr3251]

Also have a Meyer lemon in a pot , have reported into a larger container last year from HD , trunk is green , looks good , should I pot it even larger , put it on casters in my garage when freezing is on us ?

[@ScottHead]

Never hurts to up-pot a tree.

[@MattyDemello]

My owari satsuma mandarin tree didn't like that "cactus and citrus miracle gro" it was too heavy and didn't drain as great as i thought it would. My leaves got all crumbly and weird looking so i replanted it and mixed a TON of perlite in that miracle gro soil and now its on the rebound. Looking better. Even the leaves got all shiny now. It wasn't happy just in that soil without perlite. How did your tree do in just that soil?

[@ScottHead]

So far they are doing well. I'm about to up-pot a couple of lime trees, I might add some perlite. Good idea.

[@bibubageldeluxe]

I recently up potted my calamondin (that I got from Joseph’s last year). It’s not doing well at all 🥲 droopy yellow green leaves. Hopefully it’s just transplant shock.

[@ritalr15]

Scott, have you seen how the Millenial Gardener saved his citrus trees with water barrels and incandescent lights and ag fabric. I followed what he did, and my 2 trees made it. 1 of the plants didn't get the water in the barrel, and it looks just like your tree.

[@michellel564]

About killed mine with fertilizer! Trying to get it to bloom.