Vitax Citrus Feed for Winter Soluble Plant Feeds,

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When there is no danger of frost, citrus plants like to be outside through the summer months. However, they must be acclimatised gradually to the new light level, by being moved first to a slightly shaded area outside for 2-3 weeks before being put in their sheltered, sunny spot for the summer. Equally, when being brought indoors in winter, they should be kept in the shade for 2-3 weeks before coming inside. This reduces any stress to the leaves that the sudden light change could cause. Citrus plants need to be periodically repotted to maintain a healthy plant - once a year or once every 2 years for trees up to 6ft in height. For trees over 6ft you can usually just top up the compost once a year and repot every 3 or 4 years. Citrus plants aren’t generally hardy in the UK, even though some may be marketed as suitable to grow outdoors in a warm location. A few can tolerate temperatures down to 5°C/41°F (such as some lemons), but others need at least 13°C/55°F (such as calamondins). So they are best kept in greenhouse, conservatory, glazed porch or similarly bright frost-free location over winter, if not all year round. Make sure you have the right conditions for them before you buy. There are so many different types of fertilizer, with plenty made specifically for citrus trees. Let’s run down a list of the types of citrus plant fertilizer on the market today. While there are formulas that are designed for high performance, the best citrus fertilizer will be one suited to your needs and your schedule. Citrus Fertilizer Spikes

High nitrogen feeds are good for foliage plants, helping them produce lots of big, healthy leaves. On the other hand, flowering houseplants need a high potash (potassium) feed which boosts the production of flowers. Specialist feeds are available for many plants, including cacti and succulents, citrus plants and orchids. How to feed houseplantsIn winter, when plants are indoors, allow the surface of the compost to partially dry out before watering, then water thoroughly with tepid rainwater, allowing the excess to drain away. Overwatering in winter is one of the commonest problems, so err on the dry side. And never leave pots standing in water, as this can cause the roots to rot. Yellowing of the leaves or shedding leaves can be signs of overwatering. TOP TIP You can apply your citrus feed as a foliar feed to help get the nutrients directly to the affected leaves. Simply make it up at half strength and water the solution directly on to the leaves and new shoots. Be sure to do this in the morning or evening so that bright sunlight does not scorch the leaves. Ideally, you want to move your plants indoors during the winter. Growing them in pots might make it easier to move them inside when the weather turns, which is why we always recommend growing citrus in containers. This simply affords your citrus tree warmer temperatures, whether it is inside your home or in a greenhouse.

Since citrus trees are heavy feeders, you may benefit from plant food that can be applied throughout the season. Enter liquid fertilzers! To help your tree produce more fruit, and promote active growth, use these every 3 to 4 weeks. Simply water the drip line, and then apply the fertilizer from the bottle attached to a hose. Try not to wet other areas of the garden, and focus the fertilizer on your orange or grapefruit tree. Because these are formulated to feed differently, consult the label to determine how much to use. Slow-Release

Where to grow a citrus tree 

How often you will need to water depends on: Air temperature, wind, location (light/dark situation), the size of your plant in relation to its pot and the type of soil. Additional sprays can come in the form of humic and fulvic acid, which improve soil and assist other fertilizers and plant food by promoting the uptake of organic and synthetic ingredients alike. They in turn improve the quality of fruit as well. When to Fertilize Citrus Trees For heavy-yielding varieties, you may need to fertilize slightly more often. Source: romaryka Winter Citrus Feed contains proportionately more Phosphorus and Potassium to help your plant set and develop fruits. Indoors try to keep your plant away from any radiators, under floor heating or draughts and if on a windowsill keep the leaves from touching the glass. Older citrus plants can be repotted into the same pot if needed. In this case you should cut away some of the root with a knife or secateurs (approximately a few centimetres) and remove as much of the old soil with your fingers as possible before repotting as above with fresh soil. Problem solving

Outside the growing period, you will find that you are watering less often so every other watering might be once ever 3 weeks which is fine. The fruits will develop using the energy that has been stored up in the leaves and stems of the plants throughout the growing period. There is a huge range of citrus plants to choose from, including lemons, oranges, mandarins, limes, grapefruits, kumquats, limequats, calamondin oranges, tangelos, citrons, kaffir limes and more. Some varieties produce fruits that can be eaten straight off the tree, while others are just for cooking or for juice. Remove any water shoots (fast-growing straight shoots that appear near the base of the plant). Also, remove any shoots that grow from below the graft point on the main trunk.

During the winter, you need to be on the lookout for leaf drop. If the temperatures change dramatically, it can cause the leaves to fall. When the skies get darker and the days get shorter, the limited light makes it difficult on certain citrus trees and this can cause the leaves to droop and even drop. Citrus plants generally like a well-drained, slightly acidic soil but they do grow well in a variety of soils and more dense clay soils taking longer to drain water through than bark based compost. When the surface of the soil dries out on top, remove the plastic pot from any pot cover or basket and water the plant heavily until the water runs freely through the soil and out of the holes in the bottom of the plastic pot. You might find it easiest to do this in a sink or outside. Don’t forget to throw the excess water away and never let the pot sit in a pool of water.