Is it possible to grow tropical fruit plants indoors in the Canadian winter?
I have currently grown two orange/tangerine seeds in a 6" pot into small sprouts about 2", but it’s been about 2 months and they have basically stopped growing (but they are still alive and look healthy.) What can I do to get them more light and warmth even though it’s winter? Will regular lights work as well as sunlight for photosynthesis or is it the wrong wavelength? I don’t want to buy any specialized lamps or bulbs for them.
What should I do to keep them warm? Will keeping them in an airtight container help keep heat in? Should I blow in it to add moisture and CO2?
I am also planning on growing a mango pit that I got out of a mango from the grocery store, but I think I will wait for spring. Any tips for that too?
Mainly I just want to know if it’s possible to have warm-climate plants thrive in a house at 20 degrees C, or should I basically just rip them out and wait until spring?
When the oranges came up they had 2 shoots and I cut one off… is that y they stop growin
The little sprouts are just one stem with two leaves at the top, and the stem looks like a little stub is forming and extending between the leaves.
I ran out of room at the bottom of my question to really mention properly that the plants both came up with two sprouts, and I cut one off of each. I thought they were twins and it was just a freak of nature, but now that they stopped growing I wonder if that is why.
You need to not only provide them with light, but a moist environment as well. Put a large dish full of rocks that you can fill with water at the base of the plants; this will allow the water to evaporate and rise up to keep the foliage moist. Also, misting the leaves often will help.
When I am starting my seeds indoors, I just use a regular shop light fixture with aquarium bulbs. They aren’t that expensive (I think 5 bucks for the fixture and maybe 12 for the bulbs?) and the plants love it. I don’t think your tropicals would require anything different; however I’m not an expert!
I don’t know how successful you could be at getting them to bear fruit, at least during the time they are indoors.
Good luck!
Will apple trees grow, thrive and produce edible fruits in tropical climates such as the Philippines?
No. Apple trees are deciduous and require a certain number of "chiilling" hours before they set buds for the next growing season. Tropical plants differ in they have no dormant season, they continue to grow year around.
Bug-ologist Needed — Empress Tree Being Eaten Alive?
I planted an Empress tree, a fast grower that has grown 4′ this summer. My problem is something is eating the leaves. The instructions said they don’t have bug problems, but mine does. I put Sevin dust on it, and still have the problem. I saw two tiny, bright red dots on a leaf. Do you know what bug that is and how to treat it? I live in Houston, Texas, a sub-tropical zone, so it could be anything.
Japanese Beetles? Grass hoppers? Could be caterpillars. what are the "munching" patterns.
J Beetles eat random holes — swiss cheese
G Hoppers are a little more selective — arcs removed
C Pillars ditto selective — neat tidy arcs


