The airy and graceful presence of diminutive green trees will lend freshness to any decor.
Combine this pleasant atmosphere with the novelty of fruit and flowers, and you have a conversation piece and a continued point of interest in the home.
Dwarf Lemon Trees
Dwarf lemon trees (Citrus I. ponderosa), with their almost uninterrupted procession of blossoms and fruit, have long been cherished by indoor gardeners who desire the unusual.
The broad, blunt leaves, which emit a lemony aroma if bruised, and the white, perfumed flowers, combine to make a most delightful house plant.
In my town, an automobile showroom has housed one of these trees for at least eight years.
Receiving morning sunlight and a minimum of care, it is seldom seen without at least one lemon and a few flowers.
It has never been plunged into the ground outdoors in summer as is advised for the dwarf fruit tree.
It possesses an inherent toughness that keeps it in fair condition despite neglect. But there are other dwarfs besides the lemon.
Otaheite Dwarf Orange
Even more in evidence this year is the Otaheite dwarf orange (C. taitensis) with leaves smaller than those of the lemon, the showy oranges appearing all at one time after the summer flowering.
Blossoms are fragrant, and the fruit plentiful. The oranges begin to color as early as October, with a few entirely ripened by Christmas, thereby considering it as a gift plant.
Most of the oranges ripen more slowly, remaining on the plant, with some still adhering when the flowering time rolls around again.
This year my 18-inch tree in a 6-inch pot produced about 50 oranges, the smallest the size of a marble, the largest no bigger than a golf ball.
Nearly all of them were still on the tree in April, their white flowers faintly flushed with pink inside and having the usual orange-blossom fragrance.
Dwarf Kumquat
The dwarf kumquat (Fortunella margarita) seldom has flowers or fruit. White, fragrant flowers are followed by the lively orange-yellow fruit, approximately an inch in diameter.
Dwarf Limes and Pomegranates
Dwarf limes and pomegranates are available. The pomegranate (Punica granatum nana), is a neat, dainty tree with attractive orange-red fruit of interesting form.
Fig Tree
Not actually a dwarf but sold in-house plant size and so satisfactory as to deserve mention is the fig tree (Ficus carica), grown in pots or small tubs for use as a floor plant in a sunroom or patio.
The beautifully-lobed leaves are ornamental indeed, but the sweet edible fruit makes it still more of a curiosity.
Chinese Dwarf Banana
Among curiosities, we find Musa nana cavendishi, the Chinese dwarf banana. M. velutina, not a dwarf, is pink-stemmed and bears a small cluster of a miniature red, velvety fruit.
Though a dwarf cavendish is a large-leaved plant, requiring much more space than other dwarfs. It has about the same needs as the pomegranate except that it should be kept moist and wet.
Planting Conditions
Dwarf trees do well in a sunny window and withstand home temperatures from 65° to 80° degrees Fahrenheit.
They have few demands except rich soil, sun, water, and a container that allows proper drainage. Soil should be loose, rather coarse, and humusy.
Citrus trees should dry out, then be watered profusely. The pomegranate and fig must be kept moist without the roots being immersed and waterlogged.
Sinking pots into the ground in summer is recommended to set the fruit, and I am sure this is a beneficial practice.
However, I have relied on a sunny, airy room because I like the safety of an indoor location for all house plants—away from the wind, dust, and excessive heat of the open.
Dwarf Fruit Tree Problems
Dropping buds or young fruit might be a problem if sun or water is insufficient during the flowering or setting of fruit.
My own experience has been that the trees are easily kept free of insect pests. In fact, so far, I have found none whatsoever.
Nevertheless, this does not mean that I am not constantly looking for scale, red spiders, or other undesirables with the intent of squelching them should they appear.
Nicotine sulfate banishes most unwanted insect life, even scale in its early stages (or it may be picked off), and a heavy spray of clear water now and then helps to dislodge pests and keeps the foliage shining.
It is easier to examine plants when buying them and to choose only clean stock than using poisons in the home.
44659 by Edith Saylor Abbott