Citrus Plant

[peanut]

My mother has given me a little citrus tree which she thinks she grew from a tasty clementine seed.
I know nothing about growing citrus.
Help!
Any advice and tips would be appreciated.

[Plot70]

They need a mix of lime free compost and normal garden soil.
Look out for scale insects.
I have also got a germinated clementine seedling.

[ameno]

They should be put outside for the summer, and brought in for the winter. Although even in the winter they need as bright a location as possible, and ideally on the cooler side (10-15c is ideal, but they should be fine with anything above 5c). Watering in the winter should be reduced, with new water only given then the soil dries out almost completely.

As well as the above mentioned scale insects, watch out for spider mite. They make the leaves go all mottled with white/yellow dots, and eventually the leaves may drop off.

I grow mine in a mix of garden soil, compost, and sharp sand, with a spoon of powdered sulphur to adjust pH. A soil-based mix is certainly best. Repot as it grows larger.
Feed every couple of weeks in the growing season, and monthly in the winter.

Sadly, it's unlikely to flower any time soon. Citrus trees often take 10+ years to flower from seed.

[peanut]

Thank you Plot70 and ameno for your advice. Looks like citrus are a long term investment.
Would a mix of ericaceous compost and garden soil be an ok mix?

[Nicos]

I have grown one on the windowsill previously and had both scale insect and spider mite. You really do need to keep a look out for them very regularly.
Question….where on earth do these pests come from?
I didn’t …and mine died Do learn from my mistakes

[ChingfordHarry]

I have tangerines and Moro oranges (from seed) that are ~20 years old and have never shown the slightest hint of flowering! I had a grapefruit once that flowered and set (one!) fruit, but a blackbird picked it off and that was the end of that.

If you have them in pots (particularly outside) watch out for vine weevil.