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CITRUS GROWN ON DWARF ROOTSTOCK 

Dwarf citrus are ideal for growing in containers because they're grafted on to Flying Dragon root stock that will significantly dwarf the tree to around a third less of the usual size.  

Citrus trees that containerize well are - Meyer, Tahitian and Kaffir Lime, Clementine, Corsica No 2, Satsuma varieties, Tangelo, and Kumquat Calamondin or Nagami 

CONTAINER GROWING

Whatever kind of container you choose, make sure it has good drainage.  To facilitate drainage and allow good air circulation around the container, raise the container slightly off the ground.

In summer it is good to have a saucer at the base of your pot, but in winter turn the saucer over, or remove it, so that the plant is not sitting in a pool of water during the wet winter months. 

If using a terracotta pot, paint with a sealer before potting up to keep the moisture in. 

POTTING UP, WATERING & FERTILISING

Use a very good citrus potting mix when potting up. Never use ordinary garden soil or compost for containerizing citrus, whilst fine in the ground it will not work in a container, as if confined in a container, most garden soils are too dense and water drains too slowly.

Plants in containers require more frequent watering than the same plants in open soil and citrus are no exception, especially during hot, dry or windy weather, daily watering may be necessary.

Frequent watering causes much needed nutrients to wash through the soil quickly; you need to replace these nutrients with a controlled release fertilizers - using a slow release fertilizer reduces the number of fertiliser applications necessary through the year.  

Use a Citrus fertilizer, to keep plants in containers healthy; fertilizer little and often, preferably every 2nd month. 

If containerised citrus are kept watered and fertilized, pests and diseases should not be a problem.

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Wairere Nursery
826 Gordonton Road, R D 1, Hamilton 3281 Ph: (07) 824 3430 Email: