The lime is popular for soft drinks, but - typical for citrus plants - it is something special to care for. If that doesn't stop you, you can even plant limes in temperate latitudes.
The lime originally comes from the tropics and subtropics, so it is guaranteed to get too cold outdoors in our latitudes in winter. In general, a lime tree likes it warm and sunny. But what else is important when it comes to care? And can you grow a lime tree yourself? We will answer these and many other questions for you.
Plant Limes
Due to its origin and the not nearly as warm temperatures in our winter months, the lime has to be put in the bucket for better or worse. Growing in the garden she would freeze to death. Planted in a pot, you can easily move the lime tree to a warmer environment for wintering.
The right location for a lime tree
The ideal location for your lime tree is as sunny as possible. Limes require even more heat and light than lemons or oranges. The lime plants put the sun's energy into the aroma of their fruit. As a result, flavor suffers when the lime plant is shaded too much.
Location requirements of the lime at a glance:
- Sunny, warm location
- In the summer in the garden, on the terrace or on the balcony
Tip: Limes don't like warm feet. If the roots of the lime get too warm, they stop absorbing water and nutrients. This means that the pot must not be exposed to too much sun, so that it does not heat up. The underfloor heating should therefore not be switched on in the winter quarters.
Substrate and Planter
We only consider keeping lime trees in pots. To avoid heating up the roots, a light-colored pot can be used. In any case, it should have holes so that excess water can drain away. Alsowhen filling the substrate, you should make sure that the drainage is given. The lime loves moist soil and needs it on hot days, but waterlogging should be avoided at all costs. In addition to a slightly acidic environment, i.e. a pH value of 5.5 to 6.5, the composition and structural stability of citrus soil is particularly important, since lime trees are reluctant to be repotted. You can either use special soils on the market or mix your own. To do this, use around 70 percent suitable soil, for example our Plantura organic universal soil, and 30 percent broken expanded clay or grit. The coconut fibers it contains help to loosen up the substrate. While it can retain moisture, it can also drain excess water quickly.
Finally, after potting, you can cover the soil with pine bark, such as our Plantura organic pine bark - this protects the soil from drying out too quickly and is slightly acidic when it decomposes, which is good for the lime.
Grow your own lime tree
Especially with the Mexican lime (Citrus x aurantiifolia), but also with all other types of lime, it can happen that seeds are found in a fruit. But can you multiply the lime with it? Yes, a lime tree can be grown from a seed. Here, however, you run the risk that the plants will later bear completely different fruits than expected. Because in this way no varietal propagation is possible. It is not uncommon for limes to contain seeds from what is known as apomixis. These contain the same genome as the mother plant, so they produce clones. Because a lime seedling only flowers and bears fruit after several years, it takes a lot of patience to determine this.
Vegetative propagation by cuttings is also possible, but very demanding.
In any case, the right growing soil is important. To promote root growth, you should use a loose and nutrient-poor soil such as our Plantura organic herb and seed soil.
Tip: Any type of lime propagation is challenging and requires a bit of skill and experience. So don't despair if you don't get it right the first time.
Grow your own lime tree:
- Generative propagation (with seeds): This method involves the risk of not getting any fruit or getting inedible fruit. In addition, it takes about 8 years until the grown trees blossom and bear fruit.
- Vegetative propagation (cuttings):Cut head cuttings with 15 - 20 cm and about 5 - 11 buds; remove leaves; Put cuttings with 3 - 5 buds in potting soil; moisten soil and cuttings; root under foil at 20 - 25 °C; the first flowers can be expected after about 2 to 3 years.
Did you know that there are many different types of limes? In our profile on the lime, we explain where it comes from and how the fruit is stored correctly.
Care for Lime Tree
In order to give your lime tree a long life and to get a rich harvest, some care measures for your lime tree are necessary. Below are tips for repotting, watering, fertilizing and pruning your lime tree.
Pruning Lime Tree
Limes grow very slowly, so regular topiary is not necessary for your lime tree. You should remove dead branches, as well as the water shoots that often occur in summer. Annual pruning in spring is possible for a more compact growth. Because the lime blossoms and bears fruit on one-year-old wood, fruit that has been removed should be taken back up to the point at which a young side shoot branches off. Branches that grow too strong and vertical, as well as those that grow inwards and cross with other branches, can be removed or shortened. Always use sharp secateurs for lime tree trimming.
Water and fertilize properly
The water and fertilizer requirements of the lime depend on its growth, which varies greatly depending on the weather. The motto here is to water and fertilize as needed - rather water carefully and not too much. You can preferably use rainwater for watering, but you can also use tap water.
The lime has quite high demands on its fertilizer. It is best to use a special fertilizer such as our Plantura Organic Citrus & Mediterranean Fertilizer. This is ideally adapted to the needs of citrus plants and can be used quickly and easily with the irrigation water. In the main growth period from March to October, we recommend fertilizing about once a week.
Tip: Very old limes that are rarely or never repotted should definitely be given an annual dose of granular fertilizer that provides sufficient phosphorus. ThenLiquid fertilizers often contain little or no phosphorus, as this can react unfavorably with other fertilizer components in the formulation. For example, use our Plantura organic flower fertilizer, which is simply distributed under the mulch material and poured on. It then unfolds its long-term effect over at least three months.
Repot Lime Tree
Citrus plants such as limes should not be repotted too often as they do not tolerate damage to their roots. For this reason, a new container that is as large as possible should be selected directly when repotting. The time for repotting has come when the pot is completely rooted. This is the case with younger limes about every two years. The best time for this is in March, before the plant sprout again. Here, too, make sure there is sufficient drainage and examine the root ball for he alth. Cut away dead root material.
Lime Tree Repotting Procedure:
- Repot lime tree when rooting is complete
- Choose the largest possible vessel
- Mix potting soil with 30% expanded clay and cover with pine bark
- Put drainage material in the pot
- Insert root ball and align
- Fill the pot with soil
- Water well
Common Pests and Diseases
Citrus plants are particularly susceptible to pests such as spider mites (Tetranychidae) or scale insects (Coccoidea) and mealybugs ( Pseudococcidae). That's why you should have a good look at your lime plant then.
Winter Lime Tree
No matter what kind of lime you have - they all have one thing in common: Lime trees are not hardy! You therefore need a warm, sheltered place to hibernate the citrus plant. The plant does not hibernate and needs as much light as possible even in winter. Temperatures between 8 and 15 °C are optimal for a successful overwintering of the lime. The warmer the winter quarters, the brighter it should be. This means that in places where there is a lack of light in winter, it must not be too warm for the lime. If the ratio of light to temperature is not optimal, the lime threatens to lose leaves. But don't worry: With increasing heat, light and an initial fertilization, the lime will sprout again in spring. by the waythe lime needs much less watering in winter and can stand a little drier.
How to overwinter the lime:
- Temperatures of 8 - 15 °C are ideal.
- As warm and bright as possible, or cool and dark.
- Water rarely.
Tip: Unfortunately, our winters are often cloudy and dark. Plant lighting is therefore recommended for the lime (Citrus x aurantiifolia).
Have we sparked your interest in citrus fruits? We have pro tips on planting lemons and an article on orange trees.