7 Best Potting Soil for Citrus Trees 2022 [Top Picks & Reviews]

You know; healthy root means healthy plant and healthy root depends on the quality of the soil. So, it is undoubtedly proven that a good soil mix is of utmost importance to the citrus plant for producing bigger and juicy fruits.

Also, the best soil mix helps you to grow citrus at home without the risk of improper watering and fertilizing and minimize the chance of disease like root rot.

But the questions; what is the best potting soil for citrus trees?

The loam or sandy loamy type soil that has good drainage, perfect porosity, water, and nutrients holding capacities, easy re-wet facility, and moderately to slightly acidic soil pH. Also, the best citrus soil contains some nutrients, soil amendments, microbes, and wetting agents.

For your convenience, here I have listed and reviewed the top 7 best potting soil for citrus that will help you to pick the right soil for your citrus trees.

So, without losing your time let’s get started-

In a Hurry? Here is the best of the best citrus potting soil for citrus plants that you may purchase right now with confidence-

Best Potting Soil for Citrus Trees-Comparisons

Best Citrus Soil	Size	Price
Miracle-Gro Cactus, Palm & Citrus Potting Mix	8 Quarts	Check on Amazon
Espoma CA4 Organic Citrus Soil Mix	4 Quarts	Check on Amazon
Espoma AP8 Organic Potting Mix	8 Quarts	Check on Amazon
FOXFARM FX14053 Ocean Forest Potting Soil	12 Quarts	Check on Amazon
Burpee Natural Organic Premium Growing Mix	8 Quarts	Check on Amazon
Black Gold 1310102 All Purpose Potting Soil	8 Quarts	Check on Amazon
The Next Gardener Potting Soil Mix	2,4,8 Quarts	Check on Amazon

Best Potting Soil for Citrus Trees-Reviews

1.Miracle-Gro Cactus, Palm & Citrus Potting Mix

Miracle-Gro is the most reputable brand that has been producing some miraculous gardening products for 152 years. They study plant biology and produce the product for a particular plant. There is no exception to citrus soil. They produce Miracle-Gro Cactus, Palm & Citrus Potting Mix that is the best soil for citrus trees in pots.

This potting mix contains processed forest products, sphagnum peat moss, sand, perlite, fertilizer, and a wetting agent.

Let’s see how these ingredients make this soil mix perfect for citrus trees-

Softwood bark present in the soil as a processed forest product. It creates air space in the potting soil and improves the aeration and drainage. As a result, citrus plants develop their root system by producing more root branches and the soil microbes get enough oxygen to promote their activity.

Also, it has sand and perlite to improve the drainage. Perlite is a mineral soil amendment that helps the soil in three ways; improve drainage, aeration, and soil structure.

For water-retaining, it has sphagnum peat moss that can hold water and nutrients and release slowly to the citrus plant as needed. Also, it helps the soil to keep in optimum pH for the citrus plant.

And the wetting agent helps the soil to re-wet easily and pass the moisture through particle to particle.

The best part of this potting soil is-

It contains 0.06% nitrogen, 0.02% phosphate and 0.04% potash.The good news; a small portion of these nutrients are coated for slow release that can feed up to 6 months.

Moreover, It has no toxic compound that is certified by the Mulch and Soil Council. So, pick this fast-draining, nutrients enriched soil for the potted citrus plants. Remember; it is best for potted citrus.

If you need Miracle-Gro soil for inground lemon, orange, grapefruits, and other citrus plants, you should pick Miracle-Gro 71959430 Garden Soil Cactus, Palm & Citrus that is formulated for only ground uses.

 

2.Espoma CA4 Cactus, Palm, and Citrus Potting Mix

Are you looking for the best organic potting soil for citrus trees? Then Espoma CA4 potting soil for you that is certified organic soil by USDA.

This best citrus potting mix is formulated from some organic compounds such as sphagnum peat moss, aged forest products, hummus or composted rice hulls, perlite, limestone, and yucca extract.

And you know;

Sphagnum peat moss acts as a nutrient and water sucker. It absorbs nutrients and water and releases only when the plant wants. So, you don’t need to worry about poor watering if you plant your citrus in this organic potting soil.

Moreover, it contains humus or composted rice hulls and it can also improve the water and nutrient absorbency of soil, improve drainage, aggregation, porosity, and infiltration of soil.

The most likable feature is, it has yacca extract. It is a biostimulant that improves the permeability of the soil and increases the availability of nutrients.

For improving drainage and aeration, it contains aged forest products and perlite that help the soil to prevent compact and create air pockets. So, the soil can drain away the extra water easily and the roots get enough room for developing and producing more root tips.

You know; balanced pH is essential for the citrus plant. It has limestone as a buffer to adjust the soil pH.

Want to know the best part of this organic potting soil- 

It contains Ectomycorrhizal and Endomycorrhizal fungi. They decompose the organic materials, improve the soil health as well as plant health.

 

3.Espoma AP8 8-Quart Organic Potting Mix

Espoma AP8 is another best organic potting mix for the citrus trees in containers and it is formulated from some organic compounds such as earthworm castings, alfalfa meal, composted rice hulls, yucca extract, kelp meal, feather meal, and a balanced blend of sphagnum peat moss, humus & perlite.

Let’s analyze these organic ingredients-

Earthworm casting is another name of vermicompost. It makes the soil enriched in nutrients and feeds your citrus plant some essential plant nutrients such as nitrates, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus.

Moreover, it contains alfalfa meal that acts as an alternative to chemical fertilizer made fermented alfalfa plants. Also to enriched this soil with micro and macronutrients, it has yucca extract, kelp meal, and feather meal.

Now let’s discuss the drainage facility-

It has composted rice hulls and perlite. Composted rice hulls are the natural and biodegradable compounds that improve soil aggregation, drainage, porosity percentage, infiltration rate. Besides, perlite makes the soil loose and helps to drain away the extra water.

Actually, this soil contains a blend of perlite, peat moss, and humus. This balanced blend helps the soil improve drainage as well as water and nutrient retention. Also, it contains some ectomycorrhizal fungi for promoting root growth and soil health and limestone to adjust soil pH.

 

4. FOXFARM FX14053 Ocean Forest Garden Potting Soil Bag

FOXFARM FX14053 is a soil bag that can fulfill every need of your citrus plant. It is formulated from some beneficial compounds from earth and sea. Those are- earthworm castings, bat guano, sea-going fish meal, crab meal, sphagnum peat moss, and composted forest humus.

You have already known the benefits of earthworm castings. Let me remind you again. It is an organic source of some essential plant nutrients that promote plant health as well as soil. For increasing long-lasting soil health, it also contains some beneficial soil microbes.

Bat Guano is an organic soil amendment that has a triple-action formula; it absorbs essential plant nutrients and water, promotes microbial activity, and improves the soil structure. Also, it has peat moss for holding sufficient moisture and nutrients.

Want to know about the drainage?

It contains sandy soil and composted forest humus to make the soil loose and improve the drainage facility.

The best part of this potting soil is-

It has sea-going fish and crab meal and they are very rich in macro and micronutrients including nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

Also, it comes with the moderately to slightly acidic pH that is perfect for the citrus plant. So pick this best soil for lemon,meyer lemon, orange, and other potted and in-ground citrus plants and produce healthy plants with ease.

 

5.Burpee Natural Organic Premium Growing Mix

Burpee is the best organic coco coir potting mix for citrus plants that has the good water-retaining capacity as well as perfect drainage. Let’s see what the ingredients of this potting soil-

The primary ingredient of this potting soil is coco coir and you know coco coir is a 100% natural compound that acts as a good soil amendment. It can help the soil to create air pockets and lose the compacted soil. As a result, soil can leach out the extra water easily and increases the airflow that promotes microbial activity.

Besides, the coco coir also has water-absorbing capacity. It can hold almost 10x water of its weight that acts as a slow-release fertilizer. That means it releases moisture slowly as needed. So you need to worry about the improper watering that may cause chlorosis.

Sound impressive, right? But there’s more-

It contains 0.12% of nitrogen, phosphate, and potash and a small portion of these nutrients are coated for slow release that will feed citrus plants up to 3 months.

Good news; All the nutrients are derived from some organic compounds. That means it has no toxic chemical that is also certified by OMRI.

So, you can grow your citrus plant with this organic NPK containing potting soil without too much watering and fertilizing.

 

6.Black Gold 1310102 All Purpose Potting Soil

Black Gold 1310102 Potting Soil is the best all-purpose organic potting soil that is perfect for most plants including citrus. It is fortified with some organic compounds such as Canadian sphagnum peat moss, composted bark, compost, earthworm castings, horticultural perlite, pumice, or cinders, and fertilizer.

Like all the other organic potting soil, it also has peat moss, earthworm castings, composted bark, perlite for improving drainage, increasing airflow, and water and nutrients retention.

So, Let’s see what’s new in this potting soil-

It contains pumice or cinder. These are excellent soil conditioners that increase porosity, air, and water holding capacities.

And it also contains 0.13% nitrogen,0.04% phosphate and 0.13% potash.Good news; a small amount of NPK is coated for slow release that releases slowly and feeds the plant continuously.

This soil is designed for all plants both in-ground and containers. You may fill your container with this soil and also add it to the ground digging hole.

 

7.The Next Gardener Organic Succulent and Cactus Soil Mix

The Next Gardener Organic Soil Mix is the best potting soil for cactus but it can also be used for growing citrus successfully.

You know, soil pH important for increasing nutrient availability. Every plant has an optimum pH range that increases the rate of nutrient absorbency of the plant. The optimum pH range for citrus is 5.5 to 6.5 and you will be happy to know, this soil mic comes with pH 5.5.

Improper watering is the major problem of citrus plants. It may cause root rot. But this soil has good drainage facilities that help to leach out the stagnant water from the soil and to improve the drainage, it contains 25% perlite.

And you also know, perlite is a lightweight mineral compound that makes the soil loose and increases the air circulation rate of the soil. As a result, soil roots get open space to increase their branches.

Also, it contains 75% substrate including a small amount of fertilizer, peat moss, and some other organic compounds that make the soil nutrients enrich and improve water-retaining capacity.

 

How to Use Potting Soil for Planting Citrus Trees?

Citrus trees such as lemon, orange, meyer lemon, etc can be grown easily in-ground and pots. Here I will give you a step-by-step guideline that helps you to understand the procedure of planting citrus plants in pots and ground.

To Use Potting Soil for Citrus Trees in Containers

1. Select the best pot or container for the citrus plant that has a drainage hole.
2. Fill the ⅓ of the container with the best potting soil.
3. Remove the citrus tree from the previous container and loosen the root ball of your citrus.
4. Place the citrus tree into the pot.
5. Refill it with potting soil and press lightly.
6. Leave the top 1-2 inches of the pot.
7. Water thoroughly the plant.
8. If the soil goes down from the edge of the container, add more soil.

To Use Potting Soil for Citrus Trees in Containers

1. Dig a hole for the citrus plant.
2. Sprinkle some potting soil for providing a bed for the citrus.
3. Place the citrus plant into the hole.
4. Add potting soil around the hole and press lightly.
5. Water the plant.

How to Make Potting soil for Citrus Trees?- Potting Mix Recipe

Items Required:

1. Peat moss (our pick: Espoma PTM8 Organic Peat Moss)
2. Perlites (our pick: Espoma PR8 Organic Perlite)
3. Worm castings (our pick: Unco Industries worm castings)
4. Fertilizer (our pick: Miracle-Gro Shake ‘N Feed Citrus Plant Food)
5. Big containers

Procedure:

1. Loam or sandy loamy type of garden soil is best for citrus trees. So collect pathogen-free one gallon of loam or sandy loam soil.
2. Take a big bowl or a container and place the soil into it.
3. Prepare 1-gallon mixture perlites, sand, and worm castings (mix in equal ratio), and add the mixture into the soil.
4. Now add 1 gallon of peat moss and mix all the ingredients in bare hands.
5. If you want the more loose soil, add more perlite, sand.

You can also add a handful of granular citrus fertilizer into the final soil mixture. Now your potting mix is ready for planting citrus trees in the pot or ground. But the problem; homemade potting mix may contain pathogens and gnats.

Best Citrus Tree for Pots

Best Lemon Tree for Pots

1. Meyer Improved dwarf.
2. Lisbon.
3. Ponderosa dwarf

Best Lime Tree for Pots

1. Australian Finger Lime
2. Dwarf Bearss Seedless Lime
3. Kieffer (Kaffir) Lime

Best Orange Tree for Pots

1. Calamondin.
2. Trovita.
3. Budda’s Hand.

Frequently Asked Questions

#How to Make Soil Acidic for Lemon Tree?

Lemon and other citrus plants can grow well in pH 5.5-6.5. So, first, you have to test the soil pH. If the pH remains in that range, then you don’t need to worry about the soil acidity. If the soil pH higher than 7.5 then you may add some soil acidic components to make the pH lower.

Method 1: Add Sphagnum Peat Moss

Simply sprinkle 1-2 inches of Sphagnum peat moss on the top soil around the lemon plant base.

Method 2: Water with Vinegar

Mix 2 tablespoons of vinegar into a gallon of water and water the plant.

You can also use aluminum sulfate, iron sulfate, and ammonium sulfate to acidify the soil.

#What Kind of Soil for Meyer Lemon Tree?

Like all the citrus trees, Meyer lemon trees grow well in loam or sandy loam type soil that has pH 5.5-6.5 also soil has good drainage, water, and nutrients holding capacities. Here is the quick recommendation of best soil lemon,meyer lemon, lime, and other potted or inground citrus trees-

#Do Citrus Trees Like Acidic Soil?

Citrus Trees grow well in 5.5-6.5 soil pH. The ranges lie between moderately to slightly acidic soil pH. So, We can tell, citrus trees like acidic soil but they don’t like very strongly to extremely acidic soil.

Conclusion

Citrus fruits are not only juicy or flavourful but also they are good for health. It will not lie if I tell you that producing citrus means producing nutrients for your family.

So, pick the best soil for citrus trees, fill containers or planting holes, place the citrus plant, water and fertilize them regularly and produce lots of bigger, vibrant, and juicy fruits.