How to Grow Kaffir Lime in a Container

The Kaffir lime tree is a tropical citrus variety that people cherish for its leaves rather than its fruit. The leaves have a tangy, aromatic fragrance and flavor and are common in the cuisines of Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries. Because it is very sensitive to frost, it’s wise to grow the Kaffir lime in a container that you keep outdoors in the summer and bring inside or into a greenhouse in the fall through spring.

Pot with drainage hole(s)
Slightly acidic potting soil
Water
Citrus fertilizer
Pruning clippers
Chelated iron (optional)

Instructions

- 1
  Select a large container with at least one drainage hole. Place sufficient acidic potting soil into the pot to allow the tree to sit comfortably with its roots covered and its crown just above soil level. Then water the potting soil until water runs out the hole.
- 2
  Set your young Kaffir lime into the pot and fill with additional acidic potting soil, tucking it around the sides with your fingers and gently packing it down as you fill. Fill the pot to within about 3/4 inch of the rim.
- 3
  Water your newly potted tree until water runs out the drainage hole. Keep it in a sunny outdoor location from just after your final spring frost until fall brings cooler temperatures.
- 4
  Fertilize with a plant food designed for citrus trees or one having a nutrient ratio of 8-8-8. Mix and apply the fertilizer according to product instructions and repeat your application four times each year, at evenly spaced intervals between spring and fall. Do not fertilize your tree in the winter.
- 5
  Bring your Kaffir lime tree indoors before your first fall frost. Keep it next to a warm, sunny window or in a heated greenhouse.
- 6
  Prune your Kaffir lime tree to keep it a manageable size. Like other citrus trees, the Kaffir lime responds well to any moderate pruning you need to perform.

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