Indoor Fruit Trees – Winter Care
by Jim Hofman
While indoor fruit trees grow more slowly in the winter than the summer, there are still some important care tips to help your tree thrive in colder months. In some ways, you’ll need to watch your tree just a bit closer in winter. For the most part, these care tips are preparatory and quite simple, but there are things to be aware of to ensure the continued health of your tree.
Pests – The Enemies of Your Indoor Fruit Tree
The old saying “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is especially appropriate for indoor fruit trees. Two common pests for these trees are vinegar flies and spider mites. While spider mites are the more destructive of the two, it’s best to keep both away from your tree.
Spider mites will cause damage to the leaves of your tree, causing them to turn yellow and sometimes deforming them. If you suspect spider mites, use a horticultural oil, sprayed directly on the leaves. A citrus based oil product is equally efficient.
You’ve probably seen vinegar flies before, and most likely called them fruit flies. Vinegar flies thrive on anything that’s decaying or fermenting, particularly fruit or over moist soil. To prevent vinegar flies, be sure to eliminate any dead fallen leaves, split fruit, or dead wood. Another key factor to preventing vinegar flies is to not over water your tree, as this causes a conducive environment for breeding vinegar flies.
Watering During Winter
The best time to water your indoor fruit tree is when the soil is completely dry, with no moistness at all. While this sounds almost too basic, it’s worth mentioning as many people tend to over water these trees. In winter, indoor fruit trees have a somewhat slower growth cycle and may need less watering. However, there’s no universal answer – you’ll have to check soil conditions and get a feel for how much water the tree needs. Typically, every week to 10 days is sufficient, assuming proper drainage conditions.
More Tips
There are just a few other tips to help your indoor fruit tree survive and thrive during the winter. First, make sure to remove any blooms which are wilting or brown. Next, prune any dead branches or stems. Finally, do your absolute best to keep the container temperature at or above 65 degrees. Sometimes rooms get colder than you think, and soil temperatures in containers are usually 10 degrees lower than air temperatures. There’s nothing wrong with using slightly warm water to help raise the soil temperature, if necessary.
With just a little care, your indoor fruit tree will happily exist during winter, and be ready for a vibrant, thriving spring and summer. Monitor the condition of your tree, and be sure to treat any condition that may occur. Caring for your tree in the winter is critical for a healthy, productive tree bearing you generous fruit for years to come.
With proper winter care, Indoor Fruit Trees will give you a vibrant, productive crop of fruit. For more information, care tips, and recommendations, be sure to visit our comprehensive resource site for Indoor Fruit Trees . You are welcome to reprint this article – but get your own unique content version here.
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