Key Lime Bush

1. Planting: Choose a spot where your bush is going to get plenty of sunlight...6 to 8 hours per day is best. They can tolerate some shade in hotter zones but thrive in full sun. Potted plants do enjoy a daily misting for humidity but placing a tray with rocks filled with water under the plant will feed humidity to the bush as the water evaporates.

Choose a pot slightly larger than what it was shipped in that has plenty of holes in the bottom to allow for drainage. Be sure to plant in well-draining potting soil recommended for acid-loving citrus plants.

Place your bush in an area of your home, preferably a south-facing window, where it is going to get plenty of sunlight. You may also need to create humidity for your bush by placing the pot on a saucer of pebbles or misting the leaves daily with water.

2. Watering: Be sure to give your bush a deep watering so that it can penetrate into the root system (usually once weekly). After watering, allow the top 2 to 3 inches of the soil to dry out completely before watering again.

For potted Key Limes, stick your index finger into the soil down to about 2 inches. If there is moisture present, hold off on watering until it feels drier at that depth. When you do water, stop once you see it escaping the drainage holes at the base of the pot.

3. Fertilizing: Feed your Key Lime Bush during the warmer spring and summer seasons with a citrus-specific fertilizer once every six weeks, such as the one included in our Citrus Care Kit. During the fall and winter season, ease back to fertilizing once every 2 to 3 months. Make sure to follow the application instructions written on the fertilizer bag.

4. Pruning: After the bush fruits, remove any dead wood and ventilate the center of the bush. Remove suckers as they form/grow from the base as they will steal away nutrients from the primary trunk of the bush. Pruning can be done at any time of the year for the potted Key Lime.

5. Pollination: This bush is self-fertile and will produce fruit on its own, but if you want to increase your crop size, hand pollinate. Simply take a small, dry, fine-tipped paintbrush and stick it into the center of each bloom. Swirl it around and collect the pollen on the brush. Go to the next bloom and repeat the process until every bloom has been treated. Do this once daily and don’t wash the paintbrush until the end of the process.