Citrus Liners vs. Small Pots: Which Fits Your Program Better?

For more than 25 years, TreeSource Citrus Nursery has proudly delivered Citrus Liners to growers across the country and around the world. Known for their efficiency and cost-effectiveness, Citrus Liners continue to be a foundational product in many nursery programs. With the ability to ship up to 120 units per box at a low cost per plant, they remain one of the most versatile options available.

More recently, we have expanded our offerings with the introduction of our Small Pot program, a product designed to meet the needs of growers looking for quicker turns, enhanced visual appeal, and strong transplant performance. Grown in a 4 x 4 x 8-inch container and developed with multiple lateral shoots as a standard, Small Pots bring a new level of presentation and performance to citrus production.

The question is: Which product line is the best fit for your program, Citrus Liners or Small Pots?

Let’s take a closer look at both.

Citrus Liners – Perfect for Expanding or Maintaining Citrus Production

Citrus Liners remain an innovative and highly practical solution for wholesale nurserymen looking to expand or maintain citrus production. Traditionally, one of the most challenging aspects of growing citrus is the time and labor required to produce a graft-ready rootstock, followed by the grafting or budding process itself.

With Citrus Liners, much of this early-stage work is already completed. This allows growers to bypass time-intensive propagation stages, streamline production, and bring finished trees to market faster. For nurseries focused on long-term production cycles and cost efficiency, Citrus Liners continue to be a strong fit.

Another key advantage is freight efficiency. With decades of refinement in our packing and shipping systems, we are able to ensure plant health while maximizing load density. Each box holds 120 liners, bundled and protected to maintain quality in transit.

This results in significantly reduced freight cost per unit compared to larger tree sizes. We are able to ship throughout the United States (excluding TX and FL) and internationally where regulations allow. Upon arrival, Citrus Liners should be transplanted as soon as possible to maintain vigor and prevent stress. Under ideal greenhouse conditions:

• Liners can fill a 1-gallon container in approximately 4–6 months
• A 5-gallon finished tree can be achieved in roughly 18–24 months, depending on variety, rootstock, and growing conditions

For growers planning ahead and building inventory, Citrus Liners offer maximum flexibility and long-term value.

Small Pots – Designed to Prioritize Speed to Market and Visual Quality

Our Small Pot program represents the next step in citrus nursery evolution, designed for growers who prioritize speed to market and visual quality.

Grown in a 4 x 4 x 8-inch pot with air-pruning technology, Small Pots develop a dense, fibrous root system that responds aggressively once transplanted. Above the soil, our standard practice of multiple pinching cycles results in well-branched trees with multiple lateral shoots, creating a full, ornamental appearance with low scaffolding.

This combination of root structure and canopy development makes Small Pots particularly attractive for both retail presentation and rapid finishing.

We offer Small Pots on both:

• Traditional rootstock; and
• Cutting-derived options (ideal for patio or container tree markets).

Shipping is also flexible, including:

• A 9-cell box option for smaller quantities; or
• Pallet configurations (140–297 units) depending on customer needs.

One of the biggest advantages of Small Pots is their quick upsize potential. Under ideal greenhouse conditions:

• Trees can root into a 5-gallon container in as little as 3–4 months.
• This allows growers to move product quickly through production cycles and respond to market demand faster.

Timing is especially important with this product. Strategic delivery in mid-to-late summer allows growers to transplant, establish growth through fall and winter, and have retail-ready trees for spring and summer sales.