#Fruit #Trees #Grow #Indoors
Last Updated on May 3, 2025 by April
Growing fruit trees indoors is a practical way to enjoy fresh produce year-round, even if you don’t have a big backyard. With the right setup and attention, it’s possible to keep certain fruit trees thriving inside your home.
Bringing fruit trees indoors gives you control over things like temperature, light, and humidity, all of which can make a big difference in how well your plants grow. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that they add a splash of green and a bit of character to your space.
The Dwarf Meyer Lemon is a favorite for indoor growers because it stays compact—usually around 3 to 4 feet tall in a pot. If you’re craving homegrown citrus but have no yard, this one’s a solid bet.
It needs several hours of strong, direct sunlight every day—ideally from a south-facing window. If your place is a bit dim, a grow light can fill in the gaps.
This tree puts out fragrant white flowers that eventually become small, sweet lemons (they’re less tart than the usual kind). Given the right care, you might even get fruit throughout the year.
Water it regularly but make sure the soil drains well—soggy roots are a no-go. A citrus-friendly potting mix is your friend here, and the occasional dose of citrus fertilizer keeps things moving along.
Pruning helps keep the tree from getting unruly and encourages it to branch out. Since it’s self-pollinating, you don’t need a second tree for fruit. As long as you keep the temperature and humidity steady, it should do just fine indoors.
Calamondin orange (Citrus × microcarpa) is another compact citrus that works well indoors and looks great, too. It’s a hybrid that stays small enough for most pots and shelves.
You’ll get tiny, round, bright orange fruits—usually on the sour side, but they’re great for marmalades or cocktails. The tree often has fragrant white blossoms, sometimes popping up year-round.
Bright, indirect sunlight is key. A spot near a south- or east-facing window usually does the trick. Just keep the soil draining well and don’t let it get soggy.
It’s pretty tolerant of the occasional temperature dip, but it’s happiest in a warm, stable spot. A bit of fertilizer in the growing season helps with fruit production, and pruning will keep it looking neat and encourage more blooms.
The fig tree (Ficus carica) is surprisingly adaptable to indoor life, especially in a pot. It likes bright, indirect light—think south- or west-facing windows.
Give it well-drained soil and water it regularly, but don’t drown it. Root rot is a real risk if the pot stays too wet.
Figs can handle a good pruning, which is handy if you’re short on space. In fact, trimming it back can make it bushier and more compact.
Most fig trees need a bit of a rest during winter. Let the soil dry out a bit more and keep things cooler to mimic their natural cycle.
If you want something especially manageable, try varieties like Petite Negra or Little Miss Figgy—they’re smaller and more likely to fruit indoors. You might not get a bumper crop, but with some patience and luck, you’ll see figs now and then.
Dwarf avocados are bred to stay much shorter than their outdoor cousins—usually topping out at 5 to 10 feet indoors. That’s still pretty big, but manageable if you’ve got a roomy spot by a bright window.
They need at least six hours of indirect sunlight daily; south- or west-facing windows work best. If your place is a bit gloomy, a grow light can help.
Go for well-draining soil and keep it moist, but not soggy. Avocado roots are a bit fussy and don’t like sitting in water.
Since there aren’t any bees buzzing around indoors, you’ll probably need to hand-pollinate the flowers—using a small paintbrush does the trick.
Don’t expect fruit right away; it can take years to get avocados inside, and the harvest is usually small. Still, the process of growing one is pretty rewarding. Pruning helps keep things under control and encourages new growth.
Kaffir Lime
Kaffir lime is a petite citrus that’s easy to keep indoors. Its glossy leaves and knobby green fruits are a staple in Southeast Asian cooking—though it’s usually the leaves people want.
It really needs a sunny spot, so aim for a south-facing window or add a grow light if needed.
Keep the soil moist but not soggy, and make sure your pot drains well. A quick misting now and then helps, since it likes a bit of humidity.
It stays compact in a pot, and a little pruning keeps it tidy. Monthly citrus fertilizer during the growing season will keep it happy.
Don’t be surprised if you rarely see fruit indoors. The leaves are the real prize here, and you can snip them off as needed for recipes. The plant’s more about fragrant foliage than fruit production inside.
Pineapple Guava
Pineapple guava (feijoa) is a small, subtropical tree that’s surprisingly content indoors. Its silvery-green leaves and edible, fragrant flowers make it a standout.
Give it bright, indirect sunlight—ideally near a south-facing window. Water when the top inch of soil dries out to avoid root rot.
It’s a bit more tolerant of cooler rooms than most fruit trees, and it grows slowly, so you won’t be fighting to keep it in bounds.
While it’s self-fertile, having two can boost your odds of getting fruit. The showy white and purple blooms usually show up before the fruit, which ripens in late autumn.
Care is pretty straightforward. Occasional fertilizer during the growing season is enough to keep it healthy and maybe coax out some fruit.
Dwarf Cavendish bananas are a fun choice for indoor growers. They max out at around 4 to 6 feet, so you don’t need a greenhouse—just a spot with good ceiling height and lots of sun.
They want bright, indirect light for most of the day. A sunny window or grow lights will keep them happy, and they do best in warm rooms (67–86°F is their sweet spot).
Keep the soil consistently moist (but not soggy), and mist the leaves to bump up humidity. Feed them every few weeks with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer to encourage leafy growth—and, if you’re lucky, fruit.
Bananas indoors are possible, but it might take a couple of years before you see any. The fruit is small but edible, and even if it never fruits, the lush leaves add a tropical vibe to your place.
Dragon fruit (Hylocereus) is a quirky cactus that’s surprisingly doable indoors. It’s got a dramatic look and, with luck, can produce those wild-looking fruits.
It likes bright, indirect sunlight—so a south-facing window or grow lights are best. Keep it warm (65–85°F) for best results.
Use a cactus or succulent soil mix for drainage, and let the soil dry out between waterings. As it grows, you’ll need to give it something to climb, like a small trellis.
With enough light and patience, you might see flowers after a year or two. Hand-pollination is usually needed for fruit indoors, since there aren’t any nighttime pollinators flying around your living room.
Dwarf Pomegranate
Dwarf pomegranate (Punica granatum ‘Nana’) is a petite fruit tree that fits nicely in containers, usually growing just 2 to 3 feet tall.
It wants bright, direct sunlight for at least four to six hours a day. South- or west-facing windows are ideal, and a grow light can help during dark months.
Well-draining soil is a must, and let the soil dry a bit between waterings—don’t let it get soggy.
After flowering, you might see small, ornamental pomegranates. The fruit is edible, though often a bit tart and less juicy than the big grocery-store types. The bright flowers are a bonus.
Prune to keep it bushy and neat, and feed occasionally with a balanced, diluted fertilizer from spring to early fall.
Key lime trees work well indoors since they stay compact—usually three to five feet in a pot.
They need a bright spot with lots of direct sun. South-facing windows are best, but a grow light can fill in if sunlight’s lacking.
Keep the soil just slightly moist, with good drainage to avoid root problems.
Feed with citrus fertilizer during the growing season, and prune as needed to keep their shape and let air circulate.
With some care, you’ll get fragrant flowers and maybe even a handful of tart limes. Hand pollination can help, since indoor trees don’t get much help from bees.
Kumquat trees are small, cheerful citrus that are right at home indoors. Their glossy leaves and bite-sized, edible fruits (peel and all!) make them a fun choice.
They need several hours of direct sun each day—south-facing windows are best, or use a grow light if your space is dim. Well-draining potting soil and steady moisture (but not soggy roots) are key.
Feed with a citrus-specific fertilizer now and then. During the growing season, they’ll probably need more frequent watering. Good airflow helps keep leaf problems at bay.
Fragrant white flowers come before the fruit, and with a bit of luck, you’ll get a few kumquats indoors. Pruning keeps the tree tidy and helps it put energy into healthy growth.
Mandarin trees are a hit indoors because they’re compact and have those shiny, deep green leaves. They don’t need as much space as some other citrus trees, and they do fine in containers.
They want a bright spot with at least six hours of direct sunlight—south-facing windows or a grow light will help if you’re short on sun.
Mandarins like well-draining soil and regular watering, but don’t let the roots sit in water. Make sure your pot has drainage holes.
Use a citrus fertilizer to keep them healthy and encourage blooms and fruit. Prune to shape and keep the tree at a good size for your room.
Mandarins usually flower in spring, with fruit ripening in winter. The small, sweet fruits are easy to peel and make a great snack straight from the tree.
Olive trees (Olea europaea) actually do surprisingly well indoors, especially if you go for a dwarf variety—they just fit better and are less of a headache to keep in check. If you’ve got a south-facing window, that’s gold, since these trees are all about soaking up as much direct sunlight as they can get.
For soil, just make sure it drains well, and only water when the top inch feels dry. Letting the soil dry out a bit between waterings is usually safer than drowning the roots. If your place gets pretty dry, a little misting now and then doesn’t hurt.
They like things a bit cooler in winter, somewhere in the 50-65°F range, which sort of mimics their natural downtime. You might get lucky with fruit indoors, but honestly, it’s a bit hit or miss—good light helps, and you might have to play pollinator yourself if you’re hoping for olives.
Prune them back regularly to keep things tidy and encourage new growth. During the growing season, a balanced liquid fertilizer every few weeks should do the trick. If you stick with it, an olive tree can hang around and look great for years.
Tangerines
Tangerine trees can actually do pretty well indoors—if you give them what they need. They thrive in bright, direct sunlight, so if you’ve got a sunny south- or west-facing window, that’s ideal. Winter can be a pain if your place doesn’t get much sun; in that case, a grow light isn’t a bad idea.
They like potting soil that drains quickly, and you’ll want a pot with proper drainage holes. Watering is important, but don’t overdo it—let the top inch of soil dry out before grabbing the watering can again. Soggy roots are a no-go.
Consistent temperatures are best—shoot for somewhere between 65°F and 75°F during the day. Cooler nights are fine, but try not to let things dip below 50°F. If your place gets dry, maybe crank up a humidifier or mist the leaves now and then to keep them happy.
Dwarf or smaller types are way easier to deal with indoors, and some will even fruit after just a few years. Every few months, toss in a citrus-specific fertilizer. It makes a difference for growth and fruiting, trust me.
