Caring for a guava tree (Psidium guajava) could be pretty rewarding, especially considering the fact that you get a taste of the tropics from your own home. With proper care and the rest taken good care of by these fruiting plants, they grow well indoors to sport lush foliage and bear tasty fruits. Now, let’s take a close look at a detailed guide to growing an indoor guava tree, right from planting to harvesting.

Selecting the Right Variety of Guava Tree

The first step in growing indoors is the selection of a variety of guava trees. While many kinds of guavas can be raised indoors, some are usually better kept to the tight space and conditions. Here are a few popular varieties:

Tropical Pink Guava, Psidium guajava: sweet pink flesh with very few seeds, ornamental, and productive.
Tropical White Guava, Psidium guajava—core flesh white; flavor slightly acid; this one’s great for eating out of hand and cooking. Lemon Guava, Psidium littorale (cattley guava)—lemon-flavored and more compact, so suitable for growing indoors.

Acca sellowiana, Pineapple Guava: Not a true guava, but nearer relation, often with a flavor of pineapple. This one is a bit hardier and does better indoors during cold weather. Planting Your Guava Tree Indoors

1. Container Selection

Select a pot that allows proper drainage and is big enough to admit the root system of the guava tree. The container should have a diameter of at least 18 inches and be at least 20 inches deep. Also, ensure that it has drainage holes in it so that there is no waterlogging. This may cause the roots to rot.

2. Soil Requirements

GIUIAVA trees will thrive in a very good draining, slightly acid soil of pH 5.0-7.0. You can grow them well in high quality potting mix to which you can add perlite or sand to ensure goof drainage. You may also mix your own soil by mixing equal portions of peat moss, perlite, and compost.

3. Planting Process

1. Fill with Soil: Add a thin layer of gravel or small stones at the bottom of the pot for proper drainage, then fill it up with the prepared mix of soil.
2. Plant Tree: Place the guava tree in the center of the pot. Make sure that the root ball is level with the soil surface. Fill the surrounding soil around the roots with very light pressure to collapse the air pockets.
3. Water Thoroughly: Water the tree well to settle the soil around the roots after planting.
   

4. Light Requirements

The guava tree requires quite a good deal of sunlight in case indoors growing is considered. Place your tree in a south-facing window with at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. If not having enough natural light, supplement the plants with grow lights to give off the apparency of light intensity required by the tree.

5. Temperature and Humidity

Temperature: Guava trees prefer temperatures between 65°F to 85°F (18°C to 29°C). The trees do not like cold drafts, so placing them at windows and doors that are often opened during winter should be avoided. Maintaining relatively higher humidity of about 60-70% is helpful to the guava trees. You can raise humidity with a humidifier or place a tray with water near the tree.

6. Watering and Fertilization

1. Watering: Proper watering is essential to the health of your indoor guava tree. Here are guidelines on how to water:
2. Consistent Moisture: The soil needs to be consistently moist but not waterlogged. Allow the top inch of soil to dry out between waterings.
3. Avoid Over-Watering: It will cause root rot. Be sure your pot drains well and never let your tree sit in standing water.
4. Water Quality: Room temperature water should be used, as cold water will shock the roots. If your tap water is heavily chlorinated, allow it to sit out overnight before using.

7. Fertilizing

Guavas are heavy feeders and they do enjoy regular fertilization:

1. Balanced Fertilizer: A most balanced, water-soluble fertilizer with an N-P-K ratio of 10-10-10 or similar is feasible to use. Apply every 4-6 weeks during the growing season, spring, and summer.
2. Organic Choices: The other alternate is to nourish them with organic fertilizers such as compost tea or fish emulsion. They provide the required nutrition and aid in the enrichment of the soil.
3. Avoid Over-Fertilization: Over-fertilization will burn the roots and cause poor growth. Follow the instructions on the package and back off on feeding in fall and winter months.
   

8. Pruning and Training

This will help in maintaining the shape and size of your indoor guava tree. It will also ensure that there is airflow around set plants to reduce the possibility of pest and disease infestation by promoting a good air circulation system.

1. Pruning Tips: Remove Dead or Diseased Wood: A tree stays healthy by removing dead, damaged, and diseased wood.
2. Shaping the Tree: When pruning your tree, maintain it in a compact shape and avoid leggy, very long branches.
3. Thin Out the Canopy: It enhances air and light penetration to other parts through the removal of inner branches.

9. Training Methods

1. Stake Young Trees: Stakes are driven into the ground near young trees, molding their growth into an erect position.
2. Pruning Shears: Pruning shears are very essential in creating clean cuts. Sterilize the shears among the rest between uses to avoid infecting the plants with diseases.

10. Pest and Disease Controls

Even an indoor guava tree in a controlled environment may be prone to various pests and pathogenic diseases. Common pests would include aphids, spider mites, and scale insects. Here’s how to treat them:

1. Inspect Regularly: Look for the development of any pests or diseases regularly in your tree.
   Apply Neem Oil: Apply neem oil or insecticidal soap according to the instructions on the label to control common pests.
2. Cleanliness: The area around your tree should be free from fallen leaves or fruit, for these are attractive sites for pests.
3. Quarantine Infested Plants: If you sense an infestation, isolate the affected plant so that the pest may not spread to other interior plants.

11. Gathering and Enjoying Your Guava Fruit

With proper care, your indoor guava tree will eventually reward you with delicious fruit. There certainly is a need for patience, for it may take 3 to 4 years for a Guava tree to bear fruit. Here’s the expectation:

1. Ripening: Contrary to what most people think, Guava fruit turns from green color to its mature color, like yellow, pink, or red, depending on the type. The fruit should yield to pressure but not be mushy when gently squeezed.
2. Harvesting: Fruits should be harvested by cutting them from the tree using a sharp pair of scissors or pruning shears. Bags: Fresh guavas may be stored at room temperature for some days or in a refrigerator for up to one week. They may also be frozen or made into jams, jellies, and preserves.

Conclusion

While growing a guava tree indoors requires a little work, the returns far outweigh this. The right variety, sufficient light, proper watering and fertilization, and control of pests and diseases will get you the lush foliage and delicious fruit of the guava right inside your home. Indoor growing of guavas will therefore prove to be a very rewarding and delicious addition to all indoor gardening efforts, be it for the seasoned or beginning gardener.