While indoor fruit trees grow more slowly in the winter than the summer, there are still some important care tips to help your tree thrive in colder months. In some ways, you'll need to watch your tree just a bit closer in winter. For the most part, these care tips are preparatory and quite simple, but there are things to be aware of to ensure the continued health of your tree.

Watch For Pests

The old saying "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" is especially appropriate for indoor fruit trees. Two common pests for these trees are vinegar flies and spider mites. While spider mites are the more destructive of the two, it's best to keep both away from your tree.

One of the worst things about both spider mites and vinegar flies is that they are so small, they're hard to see. Spider mites in particular are so small that you'll often notice the damage they cause before you ever see a mite. If you start to see any damage on your fruit tree, place a sheet of white paper underneath a few leaves, and tap down on the tops of those leaves. If you see what looks like ground pepper that actually starts walking, you've unfortunately got spider mites. The best way to rid yourself of these pests is a horticultural oil or citrus based oil product. Simply spray on the leaves, and that should resolve the problem.

You've probably seen vinegar flies before, and most likely called them fruit flies. Vinegar flies thrive on anything that's decaying or fermenting, particularly fruit or over moist soil. To prevent vinegar flies, be sure to eliminate any dead fallen leaves, split fruit, or dead wood. Another key factor to preventing vinegar flies is to not over water your tree, as this causes a conducive environment for breeding vinegar flies.

Watering During Winter

Due to its slower growth cycle during winter, it's quite possible your tree will need less water. However, it's important you monitor soil conditions. Check the soil weekly. If the soil is completely dry, it's time to water. However, make sure you avoid over watering, as this is probably the worst thing for an indoor fruit tree. If the soil is still moist 10 days after your last watering, check for a drainage problem. Proper draining is critical for your tree.

Additional Care Tips

Here's a few more common sense tips to help your indoor fruit tree stay healthy. First, remove any blooms that are wilting or brown, along with dead branches or stems. The other important aspect of caring for your tree in winter is keeping the soil relatively warm, at least 65 degrees. Soil in containers is usually 10 degrees cooler than air temperature, so keep an eye on this. You may find you'll need to use slightly warm water when watering your tree to gently raise soil temperature.

With just a little care, your indoor fruit tree will happily exist during winter, and be ready for a vibrant, thriving spring and summer. Monitor the condition of your tree, and be sure to treat any condition that may occur. Caring for your tree in the winter is critical for a healthy, productive tree bearing you generous fruit for years to come.