Citrus Peel Plates: Create citrus peel plates by cutting oranges, grapefruits, or other citrus fruits in half. Scoop out the flesh and enjoy the juicy treat. Then, place the hollowed-out halves in your garden, filled with a small amount of water. Butterflies will be attracted to these natural nectar stations, providing them with a valuable food source. Secondly, the scent from the citrus is one that many pests and scavengers will not like. It acts as a natural deterrent to keep unwanted animals away from your compost. This is a great way to make sure that your composting mixture attracts no rats, voles, gophers, raccoons, or any other scavenger. Once it’s mixed well, set aside, and add any gravel or hugelkultur materials to the bottom of the pot Another of the best uses for lemon peels in the garden is grating these for repelling insects. Protect your outdoor spaces by using grated citrus peels strategically around your porch, patio, and garden. Grating the peels releases citrus oil, which acts as a natural mosquito repellent. Add your homemade potting mix to fill about 1/3 of the pot (depending on the size of pot you’re using)

This is possible with the right mix of materials and fresh potting soil for the plant. It is vital to have well-drained and fertile soil for healthy growth. The dwarf citrus varieties are incredible sights with ever-green leaves and a sweet citrus smell. The first step is to get the container for the plant right. Remove the peel from the citrus fruit, and split up the segments of the fruit before you pop it into your compost. You can even go one step further and chop it all up into smaller pieces. This creates more surface area for the microbes and bacteria to work on, speeding up the decomposition process. Drying out the citrus peels before adding them is another step that helps make the process more efficient. Keep Your Compost Balanced The next day, water your plants as usual with citrus-infused water. Your plants will receive citrus peel benefits along with hydration, promoting healthier growth and stronger resistance to pests and diseases. The truth behind this matter is that, while non-organic citrus fruit may have had pesticides used on them, microorganisms in the compost do a good job of breaking up these substances. This turns them into inert elements and thus makes the compost safe to use. Fact 4: Pesticides Can EvaporateWhen you plant your lime tree, fill the container with the citrus compost or the potting soil by around a third. Carefully remove the plant from its container to expose the root ball and put it in the new container so the top of the root ball is where the compost will reach. Only plant them to the depth they were in their original pot. Firstly, it’s not that citrus peels don’t decompose, it’s that they take a longer time than average to break down. This is because of their adipose cells being resistant to decomposition. These are the same cells that contain the oils that give a citrus fruit its characteristic scent. Whichever soil mix you choose, know that you can’t really go wrong. Just make sure to have a rich, slightly acidic, and well-draining soil, and your citrus tree will be happy for years on end! How to Transplant the Tree With the New Soil All of the above are equal parts. So for Soil Mix 1, it’s 1/3 sand, 1/3 worm castings, and 1/3 peat.

Citrus like cool, but not cold, conditions in winter, as a little growth does take place. A minimum winter night temperature of 10°C (50°F) is fine for lemons. Calamondin oranges need at least a minimum winter night temperature of 13°C (55°F). Other species will tolerate cooler conditions, not falling below 7°C (45°F). Watering As such, if your oranges are moldy, do not be afraid to add them and their peels inside the pile. Just be careful not to place them there if the mold is a result of a disease, as the disease might live on inside the compost and later in the garden. Citrus peels can serve as a natural and effective way to attract certain butterfly species to your garden, adding a burst of color and beauty to your outdoor space. Every 3-4 years, when your citrus tree outgrows its pot, simply repeat the steps above to transfer it to its new pot. When and How to Amend Potting Soil

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There is a huge range of citrus plants to choose from, including lemons, oranges, mandarins, limes, grapefruits, kumquats, limequats, calamondin oranges, tangelos, citrons, kaffir limes and more. Some varieties produce fruits that can be eaten straight off the tree, while others are just for cooking or for juice.

You should also use additional bulking agents like wood chips or shredded cardboard to offset the moisture and keep your compost in optimal condition. You can also add the moldy citrus straps to the center of the pile on top of dry leaves and help speed up the process. Can You Compost Oranges? A tangy favorite, lemons are another ever-present citrus in homes around the world. As with the other citrus fruits, they have a high acid content, which you need to bear in mind when composting. They’re a good source of important nutrients for your compost, and the peels and fruit can all be composted. Grapefruits Certainly, you can compost oranges. Oranges and their peels make good compost material when you incorporate them correctly. They introduce nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus into your compost heap. These nutrients aid in the waste breakdown within your pile and help enrich your final compost medium. Light: Citrus plants can cope with our outdoor and glasshouse light levels but should be given a high level of light indoors (either through windows or artificial lighting) being careful no Lime trees are a type of citrus related to lemons and oranges. They grow on ornamental evergreen trees usually spanning between 1.5 metres and 1.8m once fully established. Lime trees are not particularly resistant to the cold weather of Britain so they work best when grown in pots and containers so that you can put them outside at the end of spring and summer and then bring them inside your home or heated a greenhouse for the winter.

However, there are cases when you won’t need to amend the soil completely, but inject some extra nutrients into it. In these cases, you can simply add a 1-2 inch layer of compost to the top of the soil a couple of times a year (spring and summer are the best times). A frost-free greenhouse may be suitable for some, but others may need warmer conditions, such as in a conservatory. A few lemons , for example, will be fine as low as 5°C (42°F), kumquats often need 7°C (45°F) or more, limes and grapefruits should be kept above 10°C (50°F) and calamondin oranges may need at least 13°C (55°F). Centrally heated homes are usually too warm in winter, and the air tends to be too dry. Gently scoop out soil from the tree’s current pot, until you reach the top of the tree’s roots. Grasp your citrus tree at the base and lightly pull and wiggle it out of the old pot, and place into the center of the new pot. So, the cost of a high-quality soil is likely worth the investment, especially if you only need a small amount.