I have containerized citrus trees planted in a blend of cedar fiber mulch and potting mix. I"m using a blend of 50 percent cedar mulch, and 50 percent potting soil, a mix that supplies both good root zone oxygen, plus good water holding capacity. The trees have been planted in this medium for several months, and are doing, as expected, very well. However, it will take a year's watching to give this mix a final informed and tested evaluation. New citrus trees arriving with curled leaves is very common after shipping, especially trees shipped bare root. A good watering upon arrival should be all it needs. - Millet

Well done Patty !!!

One can see the plants are happy to be with you !!!

Well, so far, so good. But, just like Millet, time will tell as to how my potting medium will hold up over time. Since my pots are outside all year 'round, and we have fairly low relative humidity, I was looking for a medium that was a bit more water retentive, but would not compact and cause an issue with oxygen to the roots. Millet, where are you getting your cedar mulch, is it a brand that I might be able to source in my area? Same with the potting soil??

Why you want to have them in pots ?

The most impostant in pots is a drainage at the bottom.

To bring more air into it, I mix in the terracotta balls which are used in hydroculture.

All my pots have at least one large hole at the bottom of the pot, they drain very well. I'm extremely careful about not letting the root ball stay too wet. And my potting soil has a fairly large amount of pumice in it, so very similar to terracotta balls. It is working very well for me, for both my potted citrus as well as my many potted succulents.

still wonder why you just not grow them in ground ...

Well, I have over 60 citrus in the ground already, Sanguinello (possibly more, if you count some of my ornamental citrus that are really just ornamental landscaping plants, like my pretty row of variegated dwarf Calomondin that line the side of my driveway). I could put them in the ground if I wanted to, but I like the look of potted citrus, and made the decision to put a few citrus in pots for varying reasons: The Bergamot and Belle de Fleurs have magnificent blossoms that are extremely aromatic, so those are the two you see right outside my kitchen sliding glass door, so when open in the spring, the fragrance wafts into the house. Plus, our outdoor dining area is right there as well, so they look pretty and smell great if we're dining al fresco. My Buddha's Hand is in a pot because it is a talking point for guests, as the fruit is such an oddity, plus I can walk out and pick some easily, then put them in a bowl in the house for the fragrance. The Ortanique and Chironja are in pots, again, for their ornamental value on my patio, and plus this is the only Chironja I'll be able to get right now in the state of California, as the only grower in the state of California has stopped propagating them, and I can't get budwood, so to make sure it survives, I don't want it out in my orchard, where it could succumb to Phytophthora (its on Carizzo). I want it right under my nose, so I can keep an eye on it

So, in a nutshell, for beauty, smell and ornamental value - potted citrus look pretty on a patio, and for rarity's sake.

I see.
You want it near your house at your window and dining place.

I guess there is no room to plant them in ground ?

To have them in pot is just for to take them in when winter is too hard.

Otherwise the plant in ground will always be better and stronger, that means also more safe of deseases when planted in ground.
Of course you also get much more fruits from plants in ground.

Yes, to be close to my kitchen and to enjoy on the patio. No room in my planters or around the patio to plant in the ground as you can see:









This area of my property is pretty tight. What you can't see, is behind all the tropical landscaping (3rd photo from the top) is a fence. The yard drops down past that by about 15 feet. That's the lower part of my yard, and so this side yard is fairly narrow and very heavily planted. My citrus for the most part, is in two areas of my yard, both on the north side of my property. The majority being in the front of my house (house is set way back on the lot), and the rest in the back yard, again, on the north side of the lot. My lot slopes from north to south, so I tried to plant most of my citrus so that it got as much south sun as possible, and in the warmest parts of my yard. Now, that's relative, as it really never gets very cold here. Our two nights were we momentarily dropped to 31 degrees F (- 0.5C), are a rarity here. We hardly ever see temps that low. So, my citrus are in containers for decorative purposes, not because I have cold winters If you go to Italy, you'll see citrus in containers all over the place. Everyone has a lemon tree in a pot, whether you're in the colder, northern parts of Italy, or in Sicily.

My diseases here are very few. The biggest catastrophic disease issue I deal with is Phytophthora in my soil. If I have a tree on susceptible rootstock (like this very rare and irreplaceable Chironja orangelo), I can almost guarantee its demise. And, since I cannot replace it, I will not risk putting it into the ground. Once it is large enough to take some budwood from, I will be grafting a couple of trees on C35, which can manage in my soils much better. Plus, it and the Ortanique Tangor (which is a very ornamental tree, in and of itself), look very pretty sitting behind the loveseat of this sitting area. I sit out here in the mornings, having my coffee and relaxing before I start work:








Citrus will do perfectly fine in containers, and thrive here in my 12-month growing season climate. And, they make spectacular potted landscaping specimens, as well as some interesting conversation starters. Have had lots of questions about my two Australian Fingerlimes that flank a small seating area on the other side of the pool:



I choose to landscape with citrus as they are beautiful, interesting, do well in containers, and are conversation pieces. Plus, I can protect rare cultivars and also provides beauty and enjoyment in an area I, my family and friends spend a lot of time in. So, that's why I have citrus in containers. Not many, just a few (about maybe 10 to 12), but enough to brighten my patio area.

OH !!!

That must be of an MAGAZINE !!!

It is just PERFECT !!!

Thank you so much for sharing it with me !!!

You're welcome It's our "little piece of Paradise", and we were just over the moon when we found out we finally, after 13 years of being gone, having the ability to move back to S. California, and where we call home. I'm about 6-7 miles from the ocean, have a lovely ocean view from our upstairs balcony, and are just out of the "fog belt", so we have sun all the time. We live outside on that patio 12 months a year, just like living in Italy on the coast. In fact, if you look at the 4th photo down from the top, on the right side of the photo, underneath the Bougainvillea (which will not stop blooming), you'll see our wonderful Traeger smoker. We're smoking three huge racks of baby back ribs right this minute! We barbeque and smoke all year round. It is sunny (after a gentle morning rain) and in the mid-60's (18C) right now. We're going to have a gorgeous, warm, sunny Christmas this year

Yes !!!

It looks all like Italy !
I think everyone can just envy you to that paradise !

It shows your good taste to create a little Italy there !

Chironja I can get, so even you loose it I could replace it.

I am not sure if I should buy it, for it should have some bitter after taste.

Thank you, I think it looks a lot like Italy, with a little bit of "California" tossed into the mix! My mother-in-law will sometimes cry out here. I asked her one day if everything was okay, and she said it was tear of joy, saying it looking like where her dad was from (coast of Bologna). I wish my dad could see our place, he would just love it, I'd never get him out of the yard, same with my grandmother. Sadly, they're both gone, now. I even have my St. Francis statue in my garden on the other side. Along the top edge of the back yard, on the north side (where some of my citrus are), are a row of 20 producing olive trees. Underneath, the hillside is covered with lavender and rosemary. In the summer, my yard hums with the sound of millions busy bees. It is so peaceful and tranquil. And full of lovely citrus. When I get my knot garden spiffed up, I'll snap photos of that. I have little Meiwa kumquats in what appear to be terracotta pots, one in each of the 4 knot gardens. They have the bottoms knocked out, though, so the roots can grow downward into the ground. They are under tall rose trees. I need to get them updated and neatened up. Once I do, I'll post some pics. Certain things must be in your garden if you're of Italian heritage, like I am, or "it's not a real garden" according to my nonna, lol!! : Olive trees, fig trees, lemon trees, an herb garden with rosemary, basil, oregano, margoram and thyme, and lavender. If you don't have all that, it's simply not a real Italian garden! And of course, the requisite tomatoes and eggplants. And, a climbing rose over the arbor. Have it all, just wish nonna were her to see it.

Villa Paradiso !

Imagine your garden it would be just same I would plant !

Maybe I could send some seeds of italian tomatoes ...

Do you have San Marzano, Romanesco or Cherry tomatoes ?

No garden, landscape, or yard, is a complete garden, landscape or yard, without a statue of a Saint as great as St. Francis . - Millet