Can You Get Mangoes from Potted Plants?

Dwarf Varieties

• Full-size mango varieties can be maintained as dwarf trees in containers, though numerous varieties were bred for that purpose. "Cogshall" is one of the most compact varieties, growing to about 6 feet tall and requiring minimal pruning. It reportedly has good resistance to fungal diseases, which is especially important when growing mangoes indoors. "Manilita" is another dwarf variety. It has small, colorful fruits that ripen early in the mango season. "Fairchild" is a dwarf variety with yellow-skinned fruits that ripen in early summer and are considered to have exceptional flavor; the variety is known for being disease-resistant.

Container Options

• Large plastic or ceramic pots, wine barrels, wooden planters or other containers may be used for mango trees if the containers meet certain basic requirements. A minimum 20-gallon container is needed for a mango tree to grow to maturity and produce fruit. Mounting each container on casters or some type of roller is important to facilitate moving the trees, especially if they will be taken indoors in winter. Good drainage is essential; several 1-inch diameter drainage holes in each container are ideal, but gravel or river rock also can be used to line the bottom of each slow-draining pot.

Care

• Potted mangoes need regular watering but should not be kept overly moist. Allow their potting soil to dry between each watering session. Because nutrients leach from potted plants quickly, a regular fertilizer program is important to maintain nutrient levels. Use fertilizer formulated for citrus, and apply it regularly but at the low end of its recommended rate. If mangoes are grown indoors in pots, they need at least eight hours of direct sunlight each day to produce fruit. Pests and diseases can be difficult to manage in indoor mangoes. Daily rinsing of the trees with water from a hose can help to prevent many pest infestations, however, and using a fan to increase air circulation reduces the likelihood of fungal diseases occurring.

Winter Protection

• Potted mangoes are even more vulnerable to freeze damage than those grown in the ground. Mango fruits are damaged when the temperature dips below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, and severe damage occurs to an entire tree if the temperature goes below freezing. Placing potted mangoes on a patio in front of a south-facing wall can add several degrees of protection on cold nights. Covering each mango tree with sheets or plastic tarps provides a few degrees of cold protection, too, but otherwise the trees should be taken indoors when cold weather threatens.