Lime Tree (Citrus hystrix) Kaffir Lime

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I have never gotten fruit to set. Have seen one or two blooms, fertilized it, and even one teeny fruit, but it never matured. But that’s indoors in winter and I thnk the plant is just stressed.

These plants love high heat and humidity. If you have dry heat in your region, and your tree is outdoors, water a couple of times a week at the base of the trunk. Do so in the morning, and avoid wetting foliage. Overall, about an inch of water per week is adequate with the right humidity. Allow the soil around the tree to dry out in between waterings so as not to waterlog it. Drip irrigation or soaker hoses are optimal for watering, but any other gentle irrigation method works. Do not water if there has been a lot of rain. In the growing season during the fruiting phase, water a few times per week to help fruit form and bulk up. Soil The first thing you need to know about the kaffir lime (Citrus hystrix) is that it’s a tropical tree. The best growing conditions are those that mimic its original habitat as close as possible. In other words, it loves high levels of humidity, plenty of full sun, and plenty of water. For reference: in the hot days of summer, our mature makrut lime tree in a 20″ x 20″ pot gets about 1.5 gallons of water daily. In the winter, it might only get 0.5 gallons of water per day. However, as best as food historians and linguists can tell, the word “kaffir lime” did not actually start off with the intention of being a racist slur or a disparaging name for the fruit. Instead, its etymology is most likely owing to two alternative factors:

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Inspect the roots of the tree and make sure they are loose and in good condition. Cut away entangled ones. Fill the pot with a good potting mix leaving enough space at the top. The soil needs to be well-drained and the pot has to have plenty of drainage holes. Dig a deep hole in the pot to fit the root ball of the tree. When growing makruts in pots in cooler climate zones, you will likely have to bring them inside for months at a time. If so, make sure they’re placed in a sunny, south-facing window, under a high quality grow light, in a sunroom, or similar setup. Makrut limes have a long history of health/medicinal use in cultures throughout Southeast Asia and modern research is providing evidence for some of these uses.

We use large 20″ tall x 20″ diameter pots, the largest we could find at our local Lowes. (We use plastic pots because ceramic is too heavy and often breaks.) Tip: Buy your pots in late summer or early fall when they’re on clearance sale! C. hystrix is grown worldwide in suitable climates as a garden shrub for home fruit production. It is well suited to container gardens and for large garden pots on patios, terraces, and in conservatories. Finding a lime tree online is a piece of cake and growing a citrus tree is fairly easy as well. However, we still need to properly care for a Kaffir lime tree to make sure it is alive and fruit bearing for years to come. Like other lemon lime tree fruits, the optimal time for harvesting Kaffir lime trees can be a bit baffling. Limes are generally harvested while still green for us to get the zest we need and the best taste we are looking for; fully ripe limes’ exterior are yellow, and the juice is bitter. Makrut lime oil is used as raw material in many fields, including pharmaceutical, agronomic, food, sanitary, cosmetic, and perfume industries. It is also used extensively in aromatherapy and as an essential ingredient in various cosmetic and beauty products. [33]Kaffir limes prefer full sun in moist, well-drained soil. If grown indoors, keep near a sunny window. The Kaffir lime tree appreciates water and somewhat humid conditions during the growing season. Keep in mind, however, that this tree is prone to root rot if kept too wet, so allow the soil to dry out some between waterings. Regular misting helps with humidity levels. Despite the fact that Kaffir lime trees are tolerant of less than ideal conditions, there are specific needs that should be met for optimal growth.