The above post reminded me that I have thought about buying a kaffir lime tree--

N

nan

Well-known member
one of the instructors in my Southeast Asian cooking class said that one could grow as a house plant. Possibly bloom, but not bear fruit. However the leaves are the thing I want.

Just did a search and the only ones available were big trees already.

On the swap there was a thread on places to buy citrus including these.

Rather than do a seach there, does anyone here have a source?? or maybe our Florida friends know?

I have the time now to get it started.

TIA,

Nan

 
I have one and it is thriving on my patio. It is a dwarf in a pot. We have had freezing temps ....

here in northern Calif for the last few weeks and it seems to be doing fine, covered with a tarp and in a protected corner. It is very hot and dry here in the summer 100's and humidity in the 20% or less range. I pull it under the grape arbor & keep it watered in the pot. I guess I could keep it in the house but I prefer not to. I have had it for a couple of years now, my son bought it for me for a Mother's Day gift. I think he special ordered it from a nursery in SF but I saw one in a local nursery. I suggest you ask at your local nursery first. I think they run about $30. BTW, it has not flowered or fruited yet.

 
They add great flavor notes to thai recipes, something that cannot be subbed...

If anyone wants several leaves they can PM me their address. I'm confident they would post very successfully as the leaves would hold up well in travel.

 
i started one, no 2, from seeds that I harvested from the fruit. The little 'trees' seem to be

quite happy with me. I rooted the seeds 6 months ago and the 'trees' are 5" tall now and I'm confident they will skyrocket when Spring arrives. Just get someone to send you a lime.

 
think that's the one I remember,will check tomorrow during business hours about shipping thanks!

 
Wow, so will you put them outside in the summer where you are? or leave them as houseplants?

 
my tree, btw, is plugging along nicely...

i've had to be sparing about cutting leaves so far, but i expect that to change this (its 2nd) summer on the deck. it seems to be wintering over very well -- haven't lost 1 leaf.

 
Mine is growing well, but I have noticed....

that several of the clusters of leaves have some clear, sticky areas, looking like nectar.
I did a bit of research, and it may be from insects, so I did as instructed and dabbed the affected areas with rubbing alcohol. I also tried washing the "nectar" off, but it's extremely stubborn.
I see nothing that looks like insects, or even insect damage, so I'm puzzled.
Other than that, the tree seems to be doing well.

 
I'm at 10F right now. Mine are

living in the solarium where it gets down to 38 on 10 nights and they're thriving. I used to bring them inside but they do take up a lot of space. I also have dwarf lemon, persian lime, and blood orange. The key to growing them is to keep them pruned and every few years, yank them out of the pot, untangle the block root ball, and cut half of it off, then repot. And yes, in the summer, get them outside, gradually so they don't burn. Start with morning and evening sun, shade during the 11-4 hours.

 
They're jumping to go outside again. I had them out there in the summer as they

were growing up. They slowed down considerably when the sun moved behind glass. We're not as cold as Richard but I don't don't know how any living thing manages out there in the winter.

As you said, all I need them for is the leaves, so who cares if they fruit?

 
And I started some Meyer lemons this weekend. All I have is seeds thinking about what to do in some

damp paper towel, but they'll figure it out soon.

 
Read on one of the sites it can be frozen. That is one of my favorite websites, the lady featured--

was one of the instructors at the classes I took. Her bio is interesting and especially the interview in the Bangkok News (home page).

That is also a great chicken recipe. I have made it with pork also.

Nan

 
dumb question - would leaves grown from regular lime seeds be any good? have never seen a kaffir

lime 'round these parts, though do have a treasured bag of kaffir leaves that have travelled across the country and reside in my freezer.

 
I see that Four Winds Growers has a dwarf Meyer lemon and. . .

if it has the growth habit of one I see at my mother's mobile home park, it would be wonderful in a pot. The meyer there is no more than three feet in height and has about the same spread. This little tree in the park was just covered with beautiful orange-yellow meyer lemons and was simply beautiful!

 
Nan, I wonder if we could pick one up in Seattle? I wonder how small we could get them--to fit in a

carry-on? Shipping is $20 to Alaska. ouch.

 
Ya know,did not get around to it today (dumb ole taxes),but if they could order me one, I'll be back

down there in three weeks. Seems when I was on this quest before, there was a place or two that offered to order it.
I might even take vehicle (if I can drive by then) when I go down for that checkup? HHHHMMMMMM.
Thanks Buddy,
Nan

 
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