No Backyard? No Worries! How to Grow Citrus in Small Spaces with Conni

Don’t let a small space hold you back from your big gardening dreams!

Even the tiniest balcony or courtyard can become a mini fruit orchard – and with spring right around the corner, now is the perfect time to begin.

That’s why we’ve teamed up with urban permaculture gardener and author Connie Cao from @connieandluna to show you how a citrus tree can be the ideal first step toward a potted orchard of your own.

"Citrus are compact, evergreen trees that thrive in pots; I grow numerous citrus this way simply because they’re happy living in them!"

Balcony, courtyard, or backyard — here’s everything you need to grow your own citrus this season.

What You’ll Need

1. A Citrus Tree on Dwarf Rootstock

Head to your local nursery and look for citrus trees labelled ‘dwarf’ or ‘flying dragon rootstock’: these are easy to manage and perfect for pots. They typically grow to 1.5–2 m tall and wide.

A few citrus varieties to look for:

Lemons, Tahitian limes, Makrut limes, Yuzu
Mandarins, tangelos, oranges
Finger limes

Connie's Top Tip: "Look for double grafted trees, which are two different varieties on one tree – this means you can enjoy two types of fruit from one tree, saving space in your garden or pots. Popular combos include lemon/lime, lemon/orange, and orange/mandarin."

2. Fruit/Citrus Potting Mix

The simplest way to set your citrus up for success is to use a specially formulated potting mix; this contains the perfect soil texture and nutrient balance to keep your citrus sitting pretty (and thriving!).

3. A Pot or Container

Look for a pot one to two sizes larger than the nursery pot.

The best way to repot citrus trees is to move them into slightly bigger pots over the years, gradually. This helps the roots access water and nutrients more consistently, rather than sitting in excess water in a pot that’s too large.

Connie's Top Tip: "As much as I love self-watering pots, I recommend using a regular ‘old school’ pot when it comes to citrus trees (one with drainage holes!). Citrus roots don’t enjoy sitting in water - it can lead to root rot. They much prefer to dry out a little between waterings, which keeps them happy and healthy."

4. Plus, Your Trusty Gardening Essentials

A reliable pair of gloves – Keep dirt from sneaking under your nails, and protect against prickly plants and citrus spikes. Gloves on, no worries!
Garden trowel – Perfect for planting, digging, and moving soil with ease.
Last but certainly not least, your Merry People Billie Clogs! Slip into gardening mode effortlessly; comfy, practical, and ready for all your outdoor adventures.

How to Repot Your Citrus Tree

Now that you’ve got the essentials, it’s time to dig in! Follow Connie’s step-by-step guide to move your citrus from its nursery pot to a new home:

Fill about ¼ of your new pot with fresh potting mix.
Gently remove your citrus from the nursery pot.
Position your tree in the center of the new pot.
Backfill with fresh potting mix, keeping the soil level the same as before.
Water well to settle the soil, adding extra mix if needed.
Place your plant in a sunny, sheltered spot.

Watch your citrus tree come to life as the weather warms up!

Connie's Tips for Ongoing Care

Water

The easiest way to determine how often to water your potted citrus tree is to check the top centimetre of the soil. If it’s moist, it doesn’t need watering. If it’s dried out, then it needs water.

Connie's Top Tip: "When watering, water deeply until water starts dripping out from below the pot. This ensures every bit of potting mix in the pot has soaked up water."

Nutrients

Potting mixes contain controlled-release nutrients that work for a period, but this will need topping up eventually. A good indication of when your tree needs a nutrient boost is to keep an eye out for its leaves.

Connie's Top Tip: "Yellowing leaves are a common sign of nutrient deficiency in citrus. A liquid feed of fish emulsion and seaweed tonic every few weeks can be helpful."

Repotting

It’s best to repot your trees at least every couple of years with fresh potting mix. This is because potting mix breaks down, compacts, and loses its nutrients over time. When repotting, go up a pot size until you reach your final desired pot size.

Fruiting

Most citrus trees flower from late winter to early summer. These flowers turn into fruit, which ripens from late autumn to winter.

Connie's Top Tip: "Grafted citrus trees will usually fruit from the second or third year. If you see any fruit before that, it’s best to remove it to encourage the plant to re-focus its energy into creating a strong foundation."

Pruning

The best time to prune citrus is from late spring to late summer, or after you’ve harvested all the fruit.

First, remove all dead, damaged and diseased branches.
Next, simply trim the longest branches to a shorter length

Connie's Top Tip: "When pruning, make sure to only focus on 1/3 of all branches max, per year."

From Connie’s Garden to Yours

From tangy yuzus and Tahitian limes to mini mandarins and juicy tangelos, citrus can make a big impact in a small space. Their glossy dark green leaves, fragrant spring flowers, and vibrant fruits bring joy and flavour to your space all year round!

Ready to dig into Connie's picks for your next gardening adventure?

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