Light Bulb for Lime Tree in Montana

Watch Reply
More
Mark unread Print Skip to new
picante Helena, MT(Zone 4b) Jan 26, 2010

My lime tree spends its summers outdoors growing leaves, and its winters indoors losing them. It's in front of a south window, but I think it wants longer hours of light.

Does anyone have a recommendation on an adequate light bulb I could put in a regular floor lamp? I don't want any big honkin' tube-type lights in our living room.

Post #7499781
Quote
edgeoftheworld Conneaut, OH(Zone 5a) Jan 27, 2010

I have a dwarf orange tree.I winter over under shop lights in the basement.Its on a timer for 16 hours of light a day.You could try a compact florescent bulb.I have seen 150 watt ones.Which is really like,I dunno 23 watts?Edge

Post #7501296
Quote
ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) Jan 27, 2010

It certainly won't hurt it to give it some more light, but I would also look at a few other potential culprits which I think are more likely to be the cause of the leaves dropping.

First would be watering--it's not going to go through water as fast indoors in the winter as it does outdoors in the summer so it is much easier to overwater. Because of the dry air inside, the top of the soil can get to looking dry very quickly, but underneath will still be plenty wet so I'd start doing the finger test (stick your finger down a couple inches into the pot) and see how the soil feels a few inches down before you water.

Next I would check for drafts and temperatures--since it's by a window, if the window isn't sealed tightly it's possible there's some cold air leaking in. Or at the very least the temperature can be a lot colder right up next to the window vs a few feet farther into the room. Or is there a door nearby and it would catch a cold draft every time the door is opened? I would also check that you don't have a heating vent blowing right on it--that can cause problems too.

Post #7501870
Quote
picante Helena, MT(Zone 4b) Jan 29, 2010

Thanks, ecrane and edgeoftheworld.
It's a couple of feet in front of the window, not right up next to it. I'm thinking you could be right about overwatering. Although the leaves fall off green, not yellow.
Will try some sort of light bulb, too.

Post #7509510
Quote

Post a Reply to this Thread

Please or sign up to post.
Back to Forum Homepage

More Indoor Gardening and Houseplants Threads

Go to all Indoor Gardening and Houseplants threads
BACK TO TOP