Caring for a Citrus Bonsai is not difficult. It does, however, need careful attention to detail and some knowledge of the plant’s needs. This article will guide you through the process of caring for your new bonsai with step by step instructions.
Continue reading if you want to know more about the best Citrus Bonsai care guide.
What is a Citrus Bonsai?
A citrus bonsai is simply a miniature tree that is grown from a citrus plant. There are many different types of citrus plants, so there are many different types of citrus bonsais. The most popular type of citrus for bonsai is the orange, but there are also lemon, grapefruit, and tangerine bonsais.
There are many different varieties of orange, and each has its own unique shape to work with when it comes to bonsai styling. Some orange bonsais will be pyramidal in shape while others may resemble a full-sized tree; however, they all share the same type of foliage and flowers (if present). Citrus trees make great indoor bonsais since they require a fair amount of sunlight.
There are many types of citrus plants but the most commonly used for Bonsai are:
- Lemon (Citrus limon) : this is a small tree, with very spiky leaves when mature, and can be prone to getting aphids. It should only be used for indoor bonsai.
- Lime (Citrus aurantifolia) : this plant has rounded dark green leaves and is a good all-round indoor citrus
- Orange (Citrus sinensis) : this tree has glossy deep green leaves and is a good choice for both indoor and outdoor Bonsai. The orange fruit is edible.
- Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) : this tree does not have that many leaves, but they are very thick and shiny with sharp spines on them.
- Tangerine (Citrus tangerina) : this tree has small green leaves, but is very bushy in shape.
- Pumello (Citrus grandis): another bushy tree with lots of small green spiky leaves.
Step One: Finding a Suitable Container for your Citrus Bonsai
When you buy or make a pot, remember that it should be much bigger than the root ball. It needs to have drainage holes as well as good water retention abilities. A generous layer of gravel at the bottom will provide adequate drainage and prevent rot from occurring.
Step Two: Fertilizing your new bonsai
After you have planted your tree, fertilize it immediately with a half-strength liquid fertilizer and water well. Continue to feed weekly until the plant is established (usually around the time of the first blooms).
Thereafter, fertilize every two weeks during the growing season. Citrus trees are heavy feeders and will benefit from a balanced fertilizer (such as 20-20-20) diluted to half strength.
Step Three: Watering your new bonsai
Watering is critical for the health of your bonsai. Water deeply, but don’t water again until the top inch or so of soil has dried out. In hot weather, you may need to water daily; in cool weather, every other day will suffice. Check the moisture level of the soil before watering and adjust your schedule accordingly.
Step Four: Protecting your bonsai in winter
In cold climates, it is necessary to protect your bonsai from freezing temperatures. One option is to move the pot indoors (a sunny window is best). Another is to bury the pot in the ground, filling the space around it with insulating material such as straw, leaves or bark. Make sure to keep the tree watered during winter, even if you have to bring it indoors.
Step Five: Pruning your bonsai
Pruning is needed to train the tree and improve its shape. If you are lucky, your bonsai will come with clear instructions on how it should be pruned; if not, research carefully what type of growth you want to encourage or discourage (for example, removing seed pods encourages fruit production).
Step Six: Repotting your bonsai
Citrus trees need to be repotted every two or three years, depending on the size of the pot and the rate of growth. Choose a pot that is only slightly bigger than the current one; make sure it has good drainage abilities and plenty of holes in the bottom. Repot in spring, after the last frost.
Step Seven: Winter care for your bonsai
In cold climates, it is necessary to protect your bonsai from freezing temperatures. One option is to move the pot indoors (a sunny window is best). Another is to bury the pot in the ground, filling the space around it with insulating material such as straw, leaves or bark. Make sure to keep the tree watered during winter, even if you have to bring it indoors.
Final Thoughts
If you have never grown a citrus plant before, or any type of bonsai for that matter, there are a few things you will need to know before getting started. First and foremost, citrus plants need plenty of sunlight. They will not do well if they are kept in a dark room or closet.
Secondly, citrus plants need to be watered regularly. How often you water your bonsai will depend on the type of soil it is growing in, the weather, and how often it is being fertilized. You will want to water your citrus bonsai thoroughly when you do water, and then make sure to thoroughly dry the roots before watering again (a good indicator of this is when the soil begins to pull away from the sides of the pot).
Citrus plants are heavy feeders; in fact, they require very little fertilizer. You will want to fertilize your bonsai about once a month using a balanced 20-20-20 fertilizer. Be sure to read the instructions on the package carefully, as over-fertilizing can be just as harmful to your plant as under-fertilizing.
Last but not least, citrus plants need lots of room to grow. You will need to pinch your bonsai back regularly in order for it to grow properly. You can also topiary trim the tops of the branches, which will promote branch thickening and budding lower down on the tree. If you are looking for a more natural style of bonsai, then you will need to wait until your tree has outgrown its pot before repotting it into a larger container.
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