Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →

How to Grow a Citrus in a Greenhouse

Louis XIV of 17th century France grew 3,000 orange trees in a greenhouse called an orangerie, and so have others who crave a glass of fresh juice in climates that are too cold for citrus to grow outdoors. If you select a dwarf variety of orange, lemon, lime or tangerine, it will fit nicely into even a small greenhouse. Growing your citrus in a large pot is helpful, because all types of citrus trees love the natural sunlight and will benefit if you move them outdoors, as Louis did, in the summer months.

Plant your citrus tree in a large pot with at least one drainage hole, using a standard potting soil mix. Make sure to leave the root collar above the soil line and the root crown just below. Move it into your greenhouse in fall, before your first frost.

Provide sufficient light for your citrus tree: if your greenhouse does not receive at least eight hours of sun, hang a grow light or a fluorescent shop light above your tree.

  • Louis XIV of 17th century France grew 3,000 orange trees in a greenhouse called an orangerie, and so have others who crave a glass of fresh juice in climates that are too cold for citrus to grow outdoors.
  • Growing your citrus in a large pot is helpful, because all types of citrus trees love the natural sunlight and will benefit if you move them outdoors, as Louis did, in the summer months.

Maintain a temperature between 55 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit.

Water your tree when the soil becomes slightly dry.

Fertilize your citrus tree with a plant food designed for citrus or one having an N-P-K ratio of 3-1-1 because they need a good amount of nitrogen. Repeat your fertilizer application every two months during the tree’s active growing season (spring through late summer). Don’t fertilize during winter.

Prune suckers and water sprouts from the base of your citrus tree when you see them starting to form. You can also prune your citrus tree to keep it a manageable size for your greenhouse.

  • Maintain a temperature between 55 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Prune suckers and water sprouts from the base of your citrus tree when you see them starting to form.

Tip

Avoid pruning your tree when it has flowers or small fruit. Move your citrus into a sunny location in your yard after your final spring frost and then continue to care for it as instructed.

Warning

Treat insect pests with insecticidal soap if they occur. Control snails and slugs with organic iron phosphate granules (“Sluggo”) or traditional snail bait.

Related Articles

How to Make My Mandarins Grow Sweeter
How to Make My Mandarins Grow Sweeter
How to Prune Dwarf Citrus Trees
How to Prune Dwarf Citrus Trees
How to Grow a Clementine Tree in Your House
How to Grow a Clementine Tree in Your House
How to Grow a Key Lime Tree in a Pot
How to Grow a Key Lime Tree in a Pot
How to Grow Plumeria As a House Plant
How to Grow Plumeria As a House Plant
How to Plant Citrus Trees in Arizona
How to Plant Citrus Trees in Arizona
How to Care for an Indoor Orange Tree
How to Care for an Indoor Orange Tree
How to Grow Citrus Trees in the Midwest
How to Grow Citrus Trees in the Midwest
Growing Meyer Lemons in Florida
Growing Meyer Lemons in Florida
How to Care for a Mandarin Orange Tree
How to Care for a Mandarin Orange Tree
How to Make a Bonsai Lemon Tree
How to Make a Bonsai Lemon Tree
Garden Guides
×