The Overlooked Reason Your Indoor Fruit Tree Isn't Producing

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With a little green-thumb know-how — which can easily be learned — there is no better decor than plants. They transform any room into a lush, vibrant scene with gorgeous hues and aromas. The most you might expect from indoor plants is that aesthetic value, or maybe you've gone as far as to grow a few herbs for tea on your kitchen windowsill. But if you dream of getting even more from your indoor flora, you may have upped your plant game to grow fruit trees inside. 

You did everything right, too, from picking the correct planter and ideal soil mix to placing it in a south-facing window for lots of sunlight and perfecting your watering schedule. But where are the avocados for your crave-worthy guacamole recipe? Will you ever be able to pluck a Meyer lemon off your own tree and squeeze it into the most refreshing Tom Collins cocktail ever? When you've checked all your plant-care boxes and your fruit tree just isn't, well, fruiting, it's likely that you're missing one crucial step. 

Many fruit trees need to be pollinated to produce fruit. Outside, helpful bees and other pollinators handle this. But assuming you're not going to welcome bees into your house, pollinating falls to you. Luckily, this isn't too tricky. With a small paintbrush or Q-tip, swipe up some pollen from a flower that has it, and simply apply it to another flower with a sticky, pronged pistil. Buzzing while doing this is optional, but do look forward to the fruit that can grow now.

Growing fruit trees inside requires proper care and a realistic expectation — these plants won't produce as much fruit as they might outdoors. But they can absolutely thrive if you take the right steps. Plus, if you live in a colder climate, being able to care for fruit trees indoors is going to be vital even if you plan to keep them outdoors for warmer seasons, as you'll have to bring them in when the temperature drops to protect them from freezing. 

Fruit trees that can grow well inside include olive, Meyer lemon, pomegranate, kumquat, fig, avocado, tangerine, mandarin, and Key lime. Choose dwarf versions of these plants so they're happy to stay in indoor-friendly pots. Speaking of those planters, make sure they're self-draining. The amount of water your tree gets is make-or-break. You want to water it and then let the soil get dry before you do so again. 

This requires a well-draining pot to avoid plants sitting in excess water and also demands a daily soil check so you're not over- or under-watering. For light, if your tree can't get a good number of hours of direct sunshine, you can buy a Yadoker adjustable LED grow light that fits your pot and plant perfectly. With light, water, replenished soil, and the step of hand-pollinating, you can expect a nice number of fruits with each bloom, ready to be enjoyed in beverages, pies, simple fruit salads, and more.