My husband I are in the process of planning an indoor pool which I would like to also use as a greenhouse for tropical fruits. I have some concerns that this set up may not work though because I'm having a really hard time finding any information on the internet about doing this! So, I'm wondering if anyone here has any advice? I would like to look at possibly growing avocados, mangoes, bananas, citrus, and perhaps figs (though I don't know if they can take high humidity). Neither of us have any experience with tropical fruits. Some questions I have are-- What dwarf fruits could we grow in a high humidity environment that probably never gets below mid-70's? Would you keep the trees potted or plan to have access directly to the soil in some areas of the pool enclosure? Any and all advice is most welcome and appreciated! Jackie
Sounds like a good place for some canadians on here to ride out a heavy winter and be surrounded by tropical plants...who needs to fly south? Be kind and extend an invitation to some of us.
Hi there, your post didn't indicate anything about light levels. What kind of natural light would be in this pool area? Many fruit and flowering plants need exceptional exposure to light, and decreased temperatures at night, and some are very picky in order to produce fruit. ie. citrus. If you'd just like the plants/bushes/foliage and don't care about it fruiting, then give it sufficient light, and leave it on its own to grow. Depending on the fruit or tree, each has its own requirements for fertilizing or different types of fertilizer. If you're adamant about having trees such as citrus indoors, be sure to find the very few types that fruit indoors most easily. (many will not). Fruit trees often will not fruit until it is at full maturity, meaning at 20 to 40 or 50 feet outside in nature. Do you have that space, or the time/dedication to prune properly? In addition to understanding fertilizers, light, temperature (gas bills and $$), humidity, you'd also need to understand the cycle of each tree and when is the time to prune them since they're constrained indoors. Pruning at wrong times of the year can stunt growth. Given these factors, it's probably why there aren't many situations in which people keep fruit trees indoors, and multiple ones at that. I don't think even expert growers would attempt this, given the amount of trouble and time it takes. Having said all this, we haven't even discussed pests and disease. I don't want to discourage you and it certainly is not impossible, but this is more or less the reality of what you're proposing. Your best bet if you absolutely would like to try it all out, I would say keep an eye out for easy to handle dwarf species or hybrids that have been bred over time to sustain the unnatural situation of being indoors and fruiting indoors, ask about it in nurseries, do some research other than online. Online should have a lot of information also. Find the botanical names of these dwarf species and do specific reading on each species, and think about if you'd be able to sustain one inside the home, year after year after year. It might be a good idea to experiment with just one tree before making any large investment in multiple trees all at once. Keeping a fruit tree alive indoors is one thing, having it fruit indoors is a completely different ballgame. Can you clarify this further? "Would you keep the trees potted or plan to have access directly to the soil in some areas of the pool enclosure?" The trees shouldn't be floating in chlorinated water. I might be misunderstanding. Do you refer to planters surrounding, inside the pool area like large pots or cement/concrete holes to contain them? Anything manmade and non biodegradable surrounding a plant's root mass would be considered "potted" or "contained" or "constrained"...or "bonsai'ed". In many instances, requiring periodic pruning.
Hi Jackie, I am very curious to know how things worked out for you as we are planing to do the same thing in Ontario Canada? Thanks for sharing with us :)
I have read the comments and it sounds like a very difficult undertaking but then I was wondering if you should be thinking about it the other way around - setting up a large atrium (with heat, lighting and fans etc. to maintain the plants) and then adding a pool?......so instead of trying to accommodate the trees around your pool you are enhancing your "greenhouse" by adding a pool. This might give you a better idea of what is involved and the possible costs before proceeding. And I would definitely recommend doing research on the trees you would like first. Meyers lemon, as well as a lot of "houseplant" citrus such as bearss lime, buddha's hand lemon etc. do not get overly big (you can always prune) and will readily flower and ripen indoors with the proper conditions; however you will have to play "bee" if you want fruit. Other trees such as babaco papaya (self-fertile) and some bananas and even passion vines (again you would have to assist with the pollination) should do nicely, again with the proper conditions but you do have to watch the humidity (hence the fans) on all of these. When it comes to trees fruiting indoors, I find if you get the right conditions - whether you meticulously planned all the details or "lucked out" - they will do what they want and when they want regardless of what you would like then to do. The best thing to do is enjoy them, and if they produce fruit consider it a bonus. And if you do proceed with your project, please keep us updated with plenty of photos. :)
I am ready to get a lemon or lime tree for the indoor pool. Montana winter sun gets down to 5 hours a day. So I will need some grow-lights. The temp stays at 76 f all year with 66% humidity. The pool does not have chlorine so no gas. It sounds like the Meyers lemon would be a good starter. Now, to find the tree, pot, soil and lights. All of your input was so helpful. I hope I can engage your support as we get started. Thank you!
