Citrus winter care: room, water, and going outside
Updated: October 2026
A lemon or a calamondin that spent summer on the patio will not stand a British winter in the same spot. Citrus winter care is the sequence from the first cold nights to the move back outside: which room, how dry the compost should be, and what to do when the leaves start to fall. You already own the plant. This page does not rank pots, and it does not choose lemon over calamondin as a purchase. That split is on [lemon or calamondin](/hub/trees-and-palms/citrus-plants/sub/citrus-plants-lemon-or-calamondin). The [citrus plants comparison](/hub/trees-and-palms/citrus-plants) is the shopping page.
A lemon or a calamondin that spent summer on the patio will not stand a British winter in the same spot.
A lemon or a calamondin that spent summer on the patio will not stand a British winter in the same spot. Citrus winter care is the sequence from the first cold nights to the move back outside: which room, how dry the compost should be, and what to do when the leaves start to fall. You already own the plant. This page does not rank pots, and it does not choose lemon over calamondin as a purchase. That split is on lemon or calamondin. The citrus plants comparison is the shopping page.
Our top picks
| Badge | Product | Night minimum | Winter water | Pot | Note | Price | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall |  Carbeth Plants Carbeth calamondin | At least about 13°C | Dry side of moist | 12 cm | 5.6 | about £27.99 | View offer |
 Carbeth Plants Carbeth mini lemon tree | Near 5°C, or not below 10°C | Dry side of moist | 12 cm | 7.5 | about £26.99 | View offer | |
 Gardens4you Gardens4you lemon and orange | Frost-free for both plants | Dry side of moist | Not stated | 6.7 | about £34.99 | View offer |
On this page
When to bring it inside
Watch the forecast in autumn and move the pot in before nights fall through the minimum for that plant. The RHS grow guide says to bring citrus in as soon as autumn nights dip. It is not a plant you leave out until the first frost and then rescue. Citrus in a pot is not hardy through a typical UK winter outdoors.
Two RHS pages do not give lemons the same floor. The grow guide says some lemons are fine near 5°C. The citrus problems page says lemons should not be kept below 10°C at night. Do not average them. The Duchy leaflet uses 10°C nights for lemon and lime. Calamondin is at least 13°C on all three. Put the plant in bright glass, away from a radiator and a cold door. A centrally heated living room is too hot, dry, and dark for a long winter.
Water and the saucer
In winter the compost should sit on the dry side of moist, for a lemon and for a calamondin. Let the surface dry somewhat, then water thoroughly with tepid rainwater, and tip away whatever runs through. The RHS grow guide is explicit: do not leave the pot standing in water. A saucer that stays full is the usual way a winter citrus is lost.
If the air is dry, stand the pot on gravel with the water level below the compost, not in it. The RHS problems page links leaf drop to draughts, nights that are too cold or too warm, and often to too much water. If leaves are falling and the pot is heavy, stop adding water and check the saucer first.
Feeding when RHS and Clifton disagree
Do not pick a single winter feed month and call it the rule. The RHS grow guide says feed all year: a high-nitrogen summer formula from late March to October, then a balanced winter feed from November to mid-March. The problems page describes a high-nitrogen liquid feed from early spring to mid-summer, then a balanced feed through to late autumn or early winter. Clifton Nurseries says feed from March to October only, not in winter, and not for five to six weeks after repotting.
Follow the label on the citrus fertiliser you already have. If you have just moved the plant into a slightly larger pot, Clifton’s pause is the cautious reading. The RHS problems page also says not to over-pot. A container much larger than the root ball stays wet for too long.
Light, pests, and going back out
Leaves should stay on through winter, and they still need light. A bare plant in January is not automatically dead. Check draughts, the night minimum, and whether the compost is sodden. Do not stand it in a dark corner to rest.
Under glass the pests that show up are soft scale, mealybug, and red spider mite. A light presence is a wipe-and-watch job on a small pot. If the infestation is already heavy, stop and ask a professional. Do not call citrus pet-safe. If a pet has eaten a large amount and is unwell, call a vet.
Going back outside waits on the nights. The RHS says you may have to wait until mid-June, then harden the plant off. Clifton’s outdoor window is about June to September. If next winter is the same dark room, see the citrus plants buying guide and best citrus plants.
Common questions
What night temperature does a lemon need, and why do two RHS pages differ?
The grow guide says some lemons cope near 5°C. The problems page says not less than 10°C at night. The Duchy leaflet also uses 10°C for lemon and lime. Calamondin stays at 13°C on all three. A warm living room is still a poor home if it is dry and dark.
Should I keep feeding through winter?
Use the label on your citrus feed. The RHS grow guide feeds all year, with a balanced winter formula from November to mid-March. Clifton says March to October only, and no feed in winter or for five to six weeks after repotting. A wet pot matters more than the calendar.
Why are the leaves dropping?
The usual cluster is cold, a draught, a winter room that is too hot, or too much water, often more than one of those at once. Check the saucer, the door, and the radiator before you repot. Leaves that fall are not, by themselves, a reason to soak the compost.
When can it go back outside?
After nights are warm enough, which on the RHS account may not be until mid-June, and then only with a gradual harden-off. Clifton’s outdoor spell is about June to September. A single mild week in April is not the signal.
What pests show up under glass, and when should I call someone?
Soft scale, mealybug, and red spider mite are the three the RHS problems page names for citrus under glass. Stop and call a professional if the infestation is already heavy. Call a vet if a pet has eaten a large amount and is unwell.
Related pages
Sources
Public UK sources used for this comparison, last checked in October 2026.
- RHS, How to grow citrus (retrieved October 2026)
- RHS, Citrus problems (retrieved October 2026)
- RHS, Meyer’s lemon (retrieved October 2026)
- GOV.UK, Issuing plant passports (retrieved October 2026)
- Clifton Nurseries, citrus (retrieved October 2026)
- Duchy of Cornwall Nursery, citrus leaflet (retrieved October 2026)
- Cats Protection, citrus fruit (retrieved October 2026)
- Consumer Rights Act 2015 (retrieved October 2026)