Citrus tree on lanai
 

Considering putting a dwarf lemon tree on the lanai. Trouble is, as snowbirds, how to keep it watered in the summer. Anyone aware of an enclosed drip irrigation system, perhaps an inverted water-delivery bottle with a measured drip flow rate?

After more searching around, this is an idea: a timer installed to a hose spigot attached to a drip system, like they did here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csjdI65TNX8

How would you get it into the lanai?

It can be done. That’s what I do when I go away on vacation. I have a drip system set up to water my 15 or so container plants on the lanai.

Get an “Improved Meyers Lemon” if you do decide to get one.

I’d recommend setting up the system 2-3 weeks before your leave. This way you can work out any bugs and get the watering amounts right. Note that the main line also has a tendency to move when water first starts filling the tubing. This might dislodge the feeder head. So secure your lines.

All the parts can be bought on line or at any big box retailer.

Good luck !

I've been thinking about getting a few mini citrus trees too.

But don't bees have to pollinate them? So if they are in the lanai don't know how that would work.

You can take a flower from the tree and rub it against other flowers on same tree. You can then add “pollinator” to your resume.

Destroying half of the flowers isn’t effective.

Pollinator brushes are efficient and cheap. We used them when crossing different strains to ensure correct pollination, especially when bees were taking too long to arrive.

Why not wait until your full time? My neighbors have some sort of system working off the outside spigot with a timer and some tubing but it ends up washing their car some days because the tubing come apart, etc. To much can happen to the system and then your neighbor has to fix it when your up north most of the year. Just sayin.

Easy... Buy one of these: Amazon.com

Boy, I would be afraid to leave that hose running and go away for the summer. Why not put it outside for the summer and run a drip from your sprinkler system?

I tried a basic drip system attached to a water-butt that collected rainwater from the roof. It was not that reliable (water pressure too low) so my neighbor now stops by once a month and kindly waters all of the plants in our lanai.

Hmmm, so you would have to leave your house water on while you’re away. You should hire a home watch person who would water your tree weekly. Peace of mind is worth something

That’s cool!

I did not know there was such a thing. Thanks

Watering is only one issue. I am growing a Kaffir lime tree (AKA Makrut Thai lime) for my wife, starting it from a shoot five years ago. It lives in a large pot. It didn't do that wonderfully indoors but really took off when I moved it to the south side of our house where it got sun for most of the day: sunlight was limited in the lanai to maybe 6-8 hours per day no matter where we located it.

I was going to ask is it going to get enough sun? My meyer lemon needs full sun most of the day or the leaves drop.