Fruit Tree Pot Size Guide for Australia: How Big Should Your Pot Be?
Fruit trees, even dwarf-sized ones, still have strong root systems and will thrive in the right conditions, one of these conditions being the pot size.
Picking the right size pot will allow them adequate space for their roots to grow. A strong root system allows them better access to water and nutrients from the soil, while a pot that’s too small will limit their growth and reduce water and nutrient uptake.
The right size pot improves stability. A pot with a wider base will be less likely to fall over in winds. As the fruit tree grows, the plant can become very top-heavy and even fall over in lighter wind conditions. Fruit trees falling over regularly can cause shock to the tree, and it can damage foliage and branches, weakening the plant.
A bigger pot also allows for more soil space, increasing moisture retention in the pot, which means the plant will be less likely to stress from a missed watering and have more water available when it needs it during the hot summers.
All these factors impact the fruit production, so make sure you get it right to get the best from your fruit trees!
General Pot Size Guidelines for Fruit Trees
As a rule, anything smaller than a 40cm diameter pot is not going to be big enough for fruit trees in the long term. Some fruit trees, like dwarf avocados and dwarf mangos, benefit from being in a 50cm pot minimum.
When increasing the pot size of your plant, you should be aware that going too big too quickly can cause issues, as excess soil will hold more moisture, which can cause root issues like root rot. When potting up, you should look to go 1.5-2x the current pot size. As an example, if your plant is currently in a 20cm pot, you should look to increase it to a 30cm pot, up to 40cm maximum.
If you don’t want to buy a new expensive pot every time you need to increase the pot size of your fruit tree, you can put it into a bigger plastic nursery pot and simply drop it into the decorative pot, using it as a cover pot until it’s big enough to be transplanted into its final pot.
Fruit Tree Pot Size Chart (By Tree Type)
Use the quick guide below to quickly identify the ideal pot size and ideal litres for some of the most common container-grown fruit trees.
| Fruit Tree | Minimum Size | Ideal Size | Ideal Litres |
| Lemon Dwarf | 40cm | 60cm | 70L |
| Lime Dwarf | 40cm | 60cm | 70L |
| Mandarin Dwarf | 40cm | 60cm | 70L |
| Cumquat | 40cm | 50cm | 45L |
| Grapefruit Dwarf | 50cm | 60cm | 70L |
| Apple Dwarf | 40cm | 60cm | 70L |
| Blueberry | 30cm | 40cm | 30L |
| Fig Tree | 40cm | 60cm | 70L |
| Mulberry | 50cm | 60cm | 70L |
| Banana Dwarf | 40cm | 60cm | 70L |
| Mango Dwarf | 50cm | 70cm | 100L |
Choosing The Pot Size Based on the Ideal Tree Size
Many fruit trees you can grow in pots are able to do so because they are a dwarf variety.
A full-size fruit tree will struggle to be kept in a smaller pot. This is due to its much more vigorous root system pushing to grow bigger. So, although they may survive in smaller pots for a while as they grow, they will eventually outgrow the pot, become root-bound, and getting enough water and nutrients to the plant will become very difficult.
A dwarf fruit tree is grafted onto a less vigorous rootstock; this rootstock won’t try to grow as big as a full-size tree, but still offers a healthy, strong root structure, which will help grow a healthy tree.
The dwarf rootstock used will vary between different types of fruit trees, but the outcome is the same.
Here is a guide to the diameter pot you will need for the expected height of your tree.
1-2m tree: 40-60cm pot
2-3m tree: 50-70cm pot
3-4m tree: 60-80cm pot
4-6m tree: 80cm-100cm pot
That’s why, for gardeners with limited space, choosing smaller-growing varieties is recommended. If you’re not sure where to start, see our full guide to the best fruit trees to grow in pots
How Deep Should a Pot Be for Fruit Trees?
Fruit trees mostly have fibrous root systems that are shallower. This is because they do not have single tap roots like other plants. These tap roots grow more vertically to get to lower soil levels.
Instead, the fruit tree roots grow closer to the surface to get their moisture and nutrients from higher soil levels. From these wider roots, they will send roots downwards, but these are mostly for support and stability.
It is also worth doing a layer of drainage on the bottom of your pot with gravel, coarse sand, LECA or other drainage materials. This is to prevent the drainage holes in the pot from becoming clogged and holding too much moisture, as well as preventing soil from running out of the pot.
I usually recommend a heavier product like gravel, as it will also help keep the pot stable in heavy winds.
With all this in mind, the minimum depth I recommend a pot for a fruit tree to be is10cm less than the width. For example, a 50cm wide pot should have a minimum depth of 40cm, a 60cm wide pot should have a minimum depth of 50cm, etc.
This does change once you get to really big sizes (1m+), for this I’d recommend at least 70cm depth for anything wider.
Best Pot Types for Fruit Trees
When picking what type of pot to use for your fruit tree, there are many factors to consider, and each comes with its positives and negatives.
Plastic
It’s inexpensive, lightweight and durable. This is the reason most growers use plastic pots compared to more traditional decorative pots that are more likely to break from handling, are harder to move and cost a lot more. Plastic pots also have plenty of drainage, and if they don’t, it will be easy to drill additional holes.
However, plastic pots can be less attractive than other styles, the light plastic is more likely to fall over in strong winds, and some cheaper plastics can become brittle and weaken over time in lots of sun exposure.
Ceramic
Ceramic pots are a classic; they are sturdy, unique, and in the right space and design can be a feature on their own.
The downside to them are they can be very heavy, especially once full of soil and a plant, you won’t want to be moving them around very often. They also usually have limited drainage holes and adding additional holes risks cracking the pot if done incorrectly.
Terracotta
Terracotta is a great balance between style, sturdiness and cost. It also comes in many shapes and styles, giving you a good variety of choices for your garden.
The material, however, is very porous. This means water can escape through these pores and evaporate easily, drying out the soil in the pot much faster than other pots. You will need to increase how regularly you water to make up for this, especially through the brutally hot Australian summers.
Fibreglass
Fibreglass is a very strong, lightweight material. This allows the pots to be lighter than ceramic while still being very durable for long-term planting. They are available in many different shapes and styles with a more modern look, allowing a more stylish approach to gardening.
These pots can be more expensive due to the material costs, and unlike ceramic pots, the colour can fade over time, so repainting them will be worth doing every few years to keep them looking fresh.
Grow Bags
Another grower’s favourite, the grow bags are either made from a thin but strong plastic or fabric, coming in all sizes. They are very cheap, usually have handles for easy movement and have been purpose-built to be optimal for growing. If you ever need to take them out of the bag, you can simply cut them open to easily remove them with minimal root disturbance.
They can, over the years, begin to degrade in quality, especially the smaller sizes. Grow bags also don’t offer much in terms of style or variety; they usually only come in green with marked text for growers. Not the most stylish for a relaxing balcony area!
When To Repot Fruit Trees
Fruit trees will need repotting once they have fully established and show signs of outgrowing it. This can be seen with the fruit trees’ growth slowing down, fruit production decreasing, and water pooling in the pot where the root mass is reducing drainage.
To be sure it is ready to be repotted, you can take the plant out of the pot and check the root system. If the roots are beginning to circle densely around the outside perimeter of the pot, that is a sign the plant is root-bound.
Common Mistakes When Choosing Pot Size
Picking a pot that is too small, trying to save on space, costs and soil. This will only hinder the plant in the long term. Picking the right size the first time will save time and money when you eventually must repot it into another pot.
A pot with no drainage holes or not enough holes will cause the water to sit in the pot. This will cause root rot and other root issues. Make sure you pick a pot with drainage holes and add extras if required.
Pots with poor stability will blow over in strong winds and rain; this can damage the foliage, break branches, disturb the roots and damage the pot. Make sure to get a pot with a nice, wide, flat base. Adding gravel to the bottom when planting will help keep it stable, too.
Best Soil for Fruit Trees in Pots
Fruit trees need a good quality soil, offering good water retention, aeration, and the right balance of nutrients.
Your local nursery will have a potting mix made for fruit trees and citrus. This will be the easiest way for beginners to get the right balance. If you find the potting mix is a little heavy, you can mix in extra pine bark mulch and perlite to help with aeration.
If you want to mix your own potting mix, use coconut coir as the base, mixing in pine bark, perlite, and coarse sand. Adding compost or manure to add nutrients to the mix. Use a ratio of 3 parts coir, 2 parts pine bark, 1 part perlite or coarse sand, 1 part compost.
If you’re wanting a more indepth guide to potting mix for your fruit tree, check out this guide to know which soil is best to use for your fruit tree.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can fruit trees stay in pots permanently?
Yes, many dwarf fruit trees can grow and fruit successfully in pots long-term when given adequate pot size, soil, nutrition and regular repotting.
What size pot is best for citrus trees?
Most dwarf citrus trees grow best in 50–60cm diameter pots for long-term container growing.
Do fruit trees grow more slowly in pots?
Yes, container growing slightly restricts growth, which helps keep trees compact and manageable in small spaces.