Plants and trees
Sadly Ron (Greensage) hasn't been on for a while but I do know there are many other gardeners on this site so I come to you for help.
It's a family tradition for everyone to have their own plant or tree and we're thinking of growing a mandarin orange tree for Spaz. Of course we wont have somewhere to plant the tree for a long while so it'll have to live in a really big pot, which I know is doable.
Errik and I know nothing when it comes to gardening and shiznits and we were wondering, how do we go about picking out a healthy tree, if there's any other trees or plants you would suggest that would work better for apartment living and anything else we'd need to know so the tree doesn't die?
I'd also love to get an aloe plant and I know he'd love to grow his own herbs.
Our current experiences are:
Me: I can't even grow a Chia pet
Him: None
It's a family tradition for everyone to have their own plant or tree and we're thinking of growing a mandarin orange tree for Spaz. Of course we wont have somewhere to plant the tree for a long while so it'll have to live in a really big pot, which I know is doable.
Errik and I know nothing when it comes to gardening and shiznits and we were wondering, how do we go about picking out a healthy tree, if there's any other trees or plants you would suggest that would work better for apartment living and anything else we'd need to know so the tree doesn't die?
I'd also love to get an aloe plant and I know he'd love to grow his own herbs.
Our current experiences are:
Me: I can't even grow a Chia pet
Him: None
Comments
Jesse
I'd love a lemon tree too...and an avocado tree.
Hell our patio is going to turn into a forest.
Most of the herbs do fine indoors, just keep an eye on making sure the air doesn't get too dry, and that they're getting enough sunlight. I've got basil, sage, lemon balm, and oregano growing indoors, with everything else outdoors. My avocados didn't do too well indoors, so I switched them outside where they're doing great.
Basil has been the easiest for me to grow. Have had no probs with it whatsoever, and it grows like crazy. It's been great to have around for cooking
Happy nesting...
Snf
The idea of growing a citrus indoors is a very doable prospect. It wouldn't even require too big of a pot either. The citrus would grow slower in a smaller container which is helpful for roomsake until the future presents itself.
The ideals for the citrus would encompass a breeze and a bit of humidity. The breeze helps keep pests from forming and reduces any risk of mold or mildew with humidity.
So indoors I would make it a habit to spritz the young tree with water and put a fan on it. I would recommend when watering to place it in the shower and give it a good rainstorm to reduce dust and pests.
White fly and spider mites may pose your biggest threat so keeping an eye out for those would be useful at all times. Look on the undersides of the leaves often.
Then the only other component is sunlight. The citrus can take a diffused light but it requires a full days worth. No curtains during the day and on good days direct outdoor light keeps the leaves thick and strong. Leaves that are allowed to develop as "tender" should be slowly introduced into direct sun as those times permit. Once the tree arrives to the time when it can be planted more permanently I would recommend that it be done in early spring to allow a full year of growth and root development.
I hope this helped. Ideally though, unless there is a rarity to the plant or tree, I would say that the chances of finding young healthy trees when the time comes to plant permenantly is very good. Mandarin oranges would be an easy low-cost tree that should be readily available from most nurseries or growers. Why not wait until that time comes. Instead try some "at home" citrus. Take the seeds from oranges, lemons, and grapefruit that come from the local grocery and plant them. The seeds only grow when they come directly from the fruit to the ground, never allowing the seeds to dry at all. Then in two weeks you will have baby citrus plants. They grow like weeds and they will give you all the "trial and error" methods at keeping them strong.
Take care,
Ron
Jesse