When looking for interesting perennial ornamental plants, it is worth stopping at citrus, paying particular attention to lemon Citrus limon, Citrofortunellla citrum or Fortunella kumquat. These are plants that are ideal for growing even by novice gardeners. In addition, they are distinguished by abundant fruiting. The success in growing the mentioned citrus will surely encourage us to find their wonderful relatives, able to turn any terrace into a charming, fragrant oasis.
Citrus for balcony and terrace
Citrus aurantifolia lime has been very popular in recent years, as it is quite a small shrub or tree distinguished by its compact habit.At the same time, this modest plant provides a good harvest every year. Citrus aurantium bitter orange has very interesting varieties. They bear fruit with a horned outgrowth ('Corniculata'), a skin with darker stripes ('Fasciata') or stripes ('Consolei'), or they are distinguished by wrinkled ('Crispifolia') or very narrow ('Salicifolia') leaves. On the other hand, another species of citrus - cider (citron) Citrus medica amazes with its exceptionally large fruits up to 30 cm in diameter and weighing up to 2.5 kg. One of the varieties of cider, called "Buddha's hand", has fruits divided into several "fingers", covered with a pleasantly fragrant peel.
A few manicured trees are enough to decorate a balcony or terrace. From May to October, citrus is best suited to staying in a sunny place in the open air. Here, under the influence of heat and light, plants accumulate the energy needed for flowering and fruiting. However, be careful that the harsh rays of the sun do not heat the containers too much. A very warm substrate makes it difficult for the roots, which cannot take up water under these conditions, which is manifested by the rapid wilting of the leaves.In winter, always green plants from the South should spend in a bright place by the window. The ideal conditions are provided by a room with a temperature of 3-12 ° C, even without artificial light. Thermophilic species, such as lime, protect the polystyrene pads from cooling down.
Citrus care
In winter, water plants in the same way as in summer. If we water it abundantly, but it should be done only when the soil in the pot is dry. If we constantly supply water in small doses, only the upper layer of the substrate remains moist, while the lower roots are dry. Conversely, when the soil is very humid for a long time, the roots are in danger of rot, because too little oxygen reaches them. The consequence of unfavorable processes in the substrate is leaf fall and shoot tip death. Make sure that the containers have large openings and that they stand on pads that allow good drainage of excess water. Plants are planted in a plump and aerated substrate. Good citrus soil contains a lot of absorbent pieces, e.g.expanded clay, which prevents it from getting wet. Recent research refutes the notion that citrus is calcium intolerant. On the contrary, plants need its s alts. Therefore, you should forget about watering with boiled water or rainwater. Medium hard tap water is best. It contains enough compounds necessary for life calcium. Alkaline s alts prevent acidification of the substrate, enabling the roots to efficiently absorb nutrients.
Many years of experience have shown that citrus fruits do not like liquid fertilizers. They contain little nitrogen (N) and the doses recommended are too low. By increasing fertilization, we enrich the substrate primarily with phosphorus. Yellow leaves (chlorosis) in citrus plants are not so much a symptom of - as is most often believed - a symptom of iron deficiency, but rather a symptom of nitrogen and magnesium deficiency. Experts advise you to feed citrus with a good complete fertilizer, preferably a special mixture for garden plants. In spring, we fertilize citrus every two weeks, from June to September every week.
