Whether lemon, orange or tangerine trees: citrus plants (Citrus) are popular potted plants for balconies and terraces. Many a lemon tree owner also hopes that they will soon be able to harvest their own fruit. But until then, such a tree needs a lot of light, the right care and optimal growth conditions. This also includes using the right substrate for planting. In this article you will find out which citrus soil is suitable and what you should pay attention to when buying it.

Peat-free soil is always preferable

Our recommendations

our recommendation
Compo SANA citrus plant soil with 12 weeks fertilizer for all citrus plants and Mediterranean plants, growing medium, 10 liters
8.99 EUR To the product
quantity / packaging 10 liters
Price/litre approx. EUR {PRICE/10}
Contains peat Yes
ingredients Peat, green compost, sand, lime, clay granules, fertilizer
pre-fertilization yes, for 12 weeks
PH value 5.0 to 6.5

The Compo Sana citrus plant soil is a ready-to-use special soil that is also provided with an organic-mineral starter fertilization for 12 weeks. The nutrients come from green waste compost as well as mineral NPK and trace element fertilizers. It also contains quartz sand (€15.85) and clay granules, which make this citrus soil particularly loose and permeable to water. The main component of the substrate, however, is raised bog peat, which is the only downside. In their reviews, Amazon customers are extremely satisfied with the product, only the occurrence of fungus gnats is occasionally criticized. Their eggs and larvae are found in many substrates, which is why potting soil should be heat-sterilized before use.

our recommendation
Florissa Naturally 58686 Organic Soil (18 l) | peat free | for oleander, lavender, citrus plants, olive trees and all other Mediterranean plants, brown
12.69 EUR To the product
quantity / packaging 18 liters
Price/litre about {PRICE/18} EUR
Contains peat no
ingredients Wood and coconut fibers, bark humus, expanded clay, (19.73€) pumice stone, quartz sand, bentonite, lime
pre-fertilization yes, for 4 to 6 weeks
PH value 5.0 to 6.5

The Mediterranean plant soil from Florissa Natural, on the other hand, does not contain any peat at all. It is composed of purely natural ingredients and is therefore suitable for organic farming in accordance with regulation EG834/2007. Sustainable raw materials such as wood and coconut fibers are used as the main components, while quartz sand, pumice and crushed expanded clay ensure the loose texture. Pre-fertilization nourishes your citrus plants for the first four to six weeks, with nutrients coming from high quality bark humus as well as bentonite - a naturally occurring mineral. The majority of Amazon customers are very satisfied with this product, especially since this citrus soil neither molds nor seems to contain any animals.

our recommendation
Floragard citrus and Mediterranean plant soil 40 L • for Mediterranean crops • for example for oleander, olive, fig, lime, orange and lemon trees • peat-reduced special soil
11.99 EUR To the product
quantity / packaging 40 liters
Price/litre approx. EUR {PRICE/40}
Contains peat yes, but peat-reduced
ingredients Peat, humus soil, clay granules, NPK fertilizer, extra iron
pre-fertilization yes, 4 to 6 weeks
PH value 6.0 to 6.5

Unfortunately, this special soil for citrus and Mediterranean plants from Floragard is also not peat-free, but at least has reduced peat. Another main component is humus soil, which, together with the added NPK fertilizer, provides a starting fertilization that lasts about four to six weeks. The contained clay granules improve the aeration and the water flow of the substrate so that the citrus soil does not become compacted and the roots always receive sufficient air and moisture - without getting "wet feet". An extra plus point of this product is the added iron fertilizer, which is said to turn the leaves a nice bright green.

Purchase Criteria

quantity / packaging

Citrus soil is available in different packaging. These are usually smaller quantities of between ten and 25 liters, but larger bags with 40 or even 50 liters are also available. Which package size you choose depends on the size of your citrus tree and the number of plants to be cared for. A small lemon tree is fine with a 10 liter bag, for larger or several specimens you will of course need more substrate. Expect a requirement of ten to 20 liters per plant pot.

peat content

Raised bog peat has been badly discredited as a common component of potting soil for a number of years, but is still widely used by many manufacturers. For ecological reasons, however, you should use peat-free or at least peat-reduced products, especially since peat usually does not make an optimal substrate for citrus plants. Here the material is only added to lower the pH to the desired slightly acidic environment, which can be achieved just as well with bark humus or green compost.

ingredients

So make sure that the desired citrus soil contains bark humus and / or compost (preferably green compost or leaf compost). Other important components are quartz sand and clay granules, both of which should make up about 20 percent of the total weight and should ensure the loose texture of the substrate. Citrus plants tend to prefer dry soil, which is why avoiding waterlogging must be given high priority. Calcium carbonate is also an important component that plants need for healthy growth.

pre-fertilization

A pre-fertilized plant substrate has the advantage that you do not have to fertilize for a few weeks or months after repotting and the plants have all the important nutrients available for rooting and growing. After this time has elapsed, of course, must be fertilized regularly. Make sure that the fertilization consists of organic and mineral components as far as possible: The mineral (e.g. NPK fertilizer or naturally occurring minerals) components are immediately available to the plants, the organic (e.g. humus, compost) only gradually .

PH value

Not only do lemons taste sour, they also need a slightly acidic pH level - just like most plants, by the way. A pH value between 5.5 and 6.0, which most citrus soils meet, is therefore ideal. A very large range between 5.5 and 6.5 is often printed on the packs, which can be explained by the high variability of the value: After all, the pH value changes simply through care measures such as watering.

price

The prices for citrus soil vary greatly and, depending on the manufacturer, range between just under eight euros for ten liters and just under twelve euros for 40 liters of substrate - that makes a difference of EUR 0.78 for the more expensive and EUR 0.3 for the more expensive ones the cheaper varieties. However, the price should not be decisive for the purchase decision, but the composition of the substrate. In this case, "expensive" does not mean "good" and vice versa.

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frequently asked Questions

Is citrus soil suitable for all citrus plants?

Citrus soil is not only suitable for the more commonly cultivated lemons, oranges or tangerines, but also for more unusual types such as kumquat, lime, grapefruit or the kaffir lime, which is sometimes kept as a houseplant. You can also use the special substrate if you want to grow your own citrus trees from the seeds (e.g. from supermarket fruits).

Which plants can you put in citrus soil?

Due to its loose and rather dry nature, citrus soil is also well suited for many Mediterranean plants that have similar needs to citrus plants (which originally come from Southeast Asia). You can therefore also use the special substrate for oleanders, olive trees, lavender and even palm trees. The popular Ficus benjamini (birch fig) also thrives in this potting soil.

How often should you repot citrus plants?

Roughly speaking, citrus plants should be repotted about every two to three years. However, this cannot be said in general terms, since the right time depends on various factors. Basically, fresh substrate - and possibly a larger planter - is always necessary when the soil is too wet (or even begins to moss) or when the plant roots grow out of the pot.

Why is peat so questionable?

Peat is - how could it be otherwise - mined from raised bogs, which are irreparably damaged by the mining - with drastic consequences not only for the rare animals and plants that live in the bog, but also for the climate. As we know today, moors are valuable CO2 stores, which is why huge amounts of the climate-damaging gas are released when peat is cut.

Can you mix lemon soil yourself?

You can also mix your lemon zest yourself. For this you need mature garden compost and humus-rich garden soil (molehills that have been removed are very suitable for this), which each make up a third of the substrate. In addition, there is one sixth each of quartz sand and broken expanded clay as drainage material.

equipment

citrus fertilizer

our recommendation
COMPO BIO citrus plant fertilizer for all types of citrus plants, natural special liquid fertilizer, 500 ml
6.49 EUR To the product

Just as citrus plants make certain demands on their plant substrate, this also applies to the optimal fertilizer. For healthy growth, you should rely on an organo-mineral fertilizer that contains extra potassium and iron. Iron ensures a strong, green leaf color and prevents the leaves from turning yellow. Potassium strengthens the plants and makes them more resilient.

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