1. Select Healthy Leaves: Pick mature, undamaged leaves from a citrus tree’s upper part.
2. Prepare Cuttings: Use clean scissors to cut leaves, ensuring each has a stem portion.
3. Rooting Hormone (Optional): Dip cut ends in rooting hormone to speed up rooting.
4. Plant Cuttings: Place them in small pots with well-draining soil, ensuring the soil is moist but not waterlogged.
5. Ideal Conditions: Put pots in a warm, bright spot with indirect sunlight.
6. Watering: Keep soil moist, but not soggy, and check regularly.
7. Humidity: Maintain high humidity by covering pots or using a humidity dome.
8. Root Development: Roots should emerge within weeks; gently tug to check.
9. Transplanting: Move cuttings to larger pots once roots develop fully.
10. Care for Young Plants: Provide indirect sunlight and regular watering, and fertilize as needed.
11. Hardening Off (Optional): If transplanting outdoors, gradually expose plants to outdoor conditions.
12. Transplanting Outdoors (Optional): Plant in a sunny, well-drained spot once frost risk passes.
Following these steps will help you successfully grow citrus trees from leaves, expanding your citrus orchard for future fruit harvests.