Nicest plants I have ever seen, I highly recommend US Citrus Nursery.
~ Renee R.
Verified Buyer
USDA Inspected
30-Day Replacement Guarantee
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Shipping and Orders
Q: Are there any restrictions on shipping citrus?
We CANNOT ship to California, Florida, Arizona, or Louisiana. Once a tree leaves Texas, it cannot come back due to plant disease protocols.
Q: When will my citrus tree ship?
We will try to ship your tree within 1-2 business days after your order, and you’ll receive a tracking number via email once it's on the way. If the weather is bad en route, we will hold your order.
Your New Tree FAQs
Q: What supplies will I need when the tree arrives?
You’ll need a pot with drainage (at least 5 gallons if repotting), Super Soil or other well-draining soil, and water to get started!
Q: Can I keep the tree in the pot it comes in?
Yes, if you don’t have any supplies and you aren’t ready to repot, you can keep your tree in the container it ships in for a few months.
Q: How do I keep it alive when it arrives?
Simple steps:
• Unbox immediately
• Place the tree in partial shade for the first few days. Protect from any cold weather under 50°F.
• Water thoroughly (until it drains out the bottom) daily for two weeks.
• Then move to a sunny spot (6–8 hours of direct light)
Follow the quick-start guide included in your box!
Q: Will I receive care instructions with my tree?
Yes! Every order includes our printed Quick Start Guide, and you’ll also receive a digital full care guide by email. This walks you through watering, soil, pests, pruning, fertilizing, and more. No guesswork required.
Q: What's the white coating on the bottom of the trunk of my tree?
That white oil is applied to help you visually identify the grafting junction. It’s completely safe and made with natural oils. You don’t need to reapply it unless you want to, but it’s helpful for maintenance and spotting sucker growth.
Q: My tree came with a black straw on the trunk—what is that for?
The black straw is a physical barrier to help suppress rootstock sucker growth below the graft junction. It also makes the graft junction easier to find. The straw will naturally fall off as the trunk thickens, but you can remove and replace it if needed (especially during pest treatments).
Q: What will my tree look like when it arrives?
Your tree will be:
• ~12" tall or taller, depending on variety and season
• Healthy, pruned, and grafted
• May have young leaves, flowers, or baby fruit, depending on the season
Don’t worry if it looks a little sleepy—shipping stress is normal. It will perk up quickly with water and sunlight.
Q: How fast will it grow?
Most customers see noticeable growth within weeks, and see fruit in 24 months, depending on variety and care. We use Dr. Mani's micro-budding method to ensure early fruiting and strong root systems.
Q: Is this tree guaranteed?
Yes. We guarantee your tree arrives alive and healthy, or we’ll replace it. Just follow the included care steps and contact us within 30 days if there’s an issue. We’re here to help!
Is This Tree Grafted?
Q: Are your citrus trees grafted?
Yes, all our citrus trees are professionally grafted, using Dr. Mani Skaria’s proprietary micro-budding method for faster fruiting and stronger resistance.
Q: Why shouldn’t I grow citrus from seed?
Seed-grown trees take 6–8 years (or more) to fruit and may not produce quality fruit at all. Grafting clones the genetics of a proven "mother tree" with great taste, production, and resilience.
Q: Are your trees on dwarfing rootstock?
No, our trees are on vigorous and hearty rootstock — mostly Brazilian Sour Orange or Volkamer Lemon.
Q: My grafted tree lost all its leaves after cold exposure but came back lanky. Is that normal?
That new lanky growth may be coming from the rootstock. Check where it’s growing from. If it’s below the graft junction or has very different leaves, it's likely rootstock growth and should be removed.
Q: What’s the difference between sucker growth and regular branches?
Suckers grow below the graft junction (usually from the rootstock) and don’t produce edible fruit. They often grow fast and straight, with different leaves than the grafted variety. Always prune suckers to redirect energy to the grafted top.
4.9/5
278 Reviews
Rice Hulls | Clean-Look Organic Mulch | Blocks Weeds, Algae & Insects
$9.95
$9.95
Your Tree’s Roots
Citrus Simplified
Packaging
Meyer Lemon Reviews
Nicest plants I have ever seen, I highly recommend US Citrus.
~ Renee R.
Verified Buyer
Size
1-lb (3.75-quart)
4-lb (15-quarts)
The clean, lightweight mulch that makes containers look better and blocks algae, weeds, and insects!
A 1–2 inch layer of parboiled rice hulls completely blocks weeds and algae while keeping the soil surface clean and dry.
Naturally sharp, airy hulls create an unwelcoming surface for insects and their young as they move between plant and soil.
Lightweight, silica-rich structure resists breakdown and gives containers a clean, finished look.
Most container plants have a surface that stays too wet, too tight, or too messy. Parboiled Rice Hulls turn messy container soil into a protected, polished surface.
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If Your Containers Could Talk, They’d Ask for This
Containers don’t want soggy tops, green slime, or bugs crawling in and out of the soil.
They want something clean, dry, breathable, and good-looking.
Rice hulls check every box.
Real Growers. Real Parboiled Rice Hulls. Real Joy.
The Ingenious, Lightweight Alternative
What a genius idea!!! My local native plant nursery uses these as seedling mulch, and I didn’t understand it u til I saw it as an option. This is a perfect alternative to heavy mulch, which may bear down on the plant too hard.
-A. F.
A First-Time User's Discovery
My first year of using rice hulls. These are excellent quality, and my plants appear to like having them added - and they also seem to really like the fertilizer from this company as well! So happy I found this shop!
-Zhenia.
The Trusted Standard
It’s always a pleasure to use US Citrus Nursery products. I won’t use any other soil for permanent plants.
-Tory T.
The Simple, Effective Choice You’ll Reorder
Works brilliantly. I just received the additional soil I ordered. I will likely be ordering more of this in the days to come.
-Shane.
For the Discerning Organic Gardener
What a clean, wonderful offering. If you're an organic garden person, this is grade A. Thank you very much to the seller for the quality product. Well packaged for the customer. Mixed with Kashi, castings, and some minerals for a top dress. Used the box it was sent in to mix everything. Very happy I ordered this. You can see the seller cares about what they provide.
-Tim.
A Clean Foundation for a Thriving Garden
What a wonderful, clean product. These an organic rice hulls that are sure to bring life to your garden. I used this as a top dressing mulch. Also scratched into the surface layer. Micros, Bokashi, and veggies loved it . Thank you so much!
-Timothy H.
The Protective Layer Your Plants Deserve
This top rice layer is a great way for my plants to retain moisture and minerals. Thankful for this product. I recommend this to my friends and family.
-Christina F.
The Repeat-Worthy Standard
I would definitely purchase this product again. Great quality, it arrived on time, and I was happy with the whole experience.
-Donnetta H.
Rice Hulls | Clean-Look Organic Mulch | Blocks Weeds, Algae & Insects
Why This Works So Well in Containers
Containers magnify problems fast.
When the soil surface stays wet or exposed, plants suffer.
Rice hulls protect that surface without suffocating it — keeping air moving, water balanced, and pests out.
Healthy surface.
Healthy roots.
Better plants.
Why the Soil Surface Matters More Than You Think
Most visual problems in containers start at the top of the pot.
Bare soil becomes:
A landing pad for weed seeds
A breeding ground for algae
A travel path for insects and their nymphs
When you apply a full 1–2 inch layer of rice hull mulch, sunlight never reaches the soil surface — and without light, weeds and algae simply don’t grow.
At the same time, the dry, silica-sharp textured rice hull surface disrupts insect movement and nesting.
It Also Works as a Soil Amendment
While most people use rice hulls as container mulch, they can also be mixed into potting soil.
When blended into soil, they:
Improve aeration
Reduce compaction
Increase oxygen around roots
Add structure without rotting like bark
This makes them a great ingredient for building custom soil blends.
Why Parboiled Rice Hulls Work So Well
Parboiled = Heated & Sterilized
Parboiling means the hulls have been heated and cleaned.
This removes starches, sterilizes the material, and prevents mold, pests, and unwanted organisms.
High Natural Silica Content
Rice hulls are naturally high in silica — it’s how the rice plant protects itself.
That silica makes the hulls tough, slow to break down, and long-lasting in containers.
Dry, Sharp, Uninviting Surface
The hulls dry quickly and feel scratchy, not soft.
This makes it uncomfortable for insects and their young to travel between plant and soil.
Lightweight & Breathable
Air and water still move freely into the pot without sealing or compacting the surface.
Clean, Aesthetic Finish
Most people use rice hulls because they look great.
They give containers a clean, professional, natural appearance without dyes or bark chunks.
What It's Not
Not bark or wood mulch
No soggy layers, no rot, no insect habitat.
Not untreated agricultural waste
Parboiled, sterilized, and clean.
Not fast-breaking organic matter
High silica keeps hulls stable over time.
Not chemical-treated
Completely natural and OMRI listed.
Product Specs & How to Use It
Type
Parboiled rice hull mulch and soil amendment
Certification
OMRI listed
Primary Use
1–2 inch top layer on container soil
Secondary Use
Mix into potting soil for aeration
Best For
Any plant grown in containers
Application
Spread evenly to fully cover the soil surface
Natural & Safe
No chemicals, safe for plants, pets, and people
Who This Is Perfect For
Anyone growing any plant in containers.
Trees, shrubs, vegetables, flowers, herbs, houseplants, tropicals — if it lives in a pot, this works.
1
Growers who want weed-free containers
2
Anyone fighting algae or insects at the soil surface
3
People who care about clean, attractive pots
4
Gardeners who want fewer problems with less effort
5
If it’s in a container, rice hulls make it better.
Why Trust Us...When Others Have Let You Down?
We're so confident in our system, we have a 30-day replacement guarantee for your trees!
From The Desk Of Dr. Mani Skaria, Phd
Founder of US Citrus & Dr. Mani’s Magic • Inventor of Micro-Budding • Founder of the Texas Clean Citrus Program • Professor Emeritus Texas A&M University
Dear Garden Lover,
You may have tried and given up before.
Citrus trees and gardens looking tired, drooping leaves, yellow fruit. You carefully water and fertilize… but everything still struggles.
Let me tell you the truth…It’s not your fault.
Want to know the dirty little secret that I found out?
We’ve all been lied to!
The gardening world is full of products that look fancy… but are actually a net negative.
The Big Chemical companies sell fertilizers are loaded with salts that burn your roots. The Big Box stores stock potting mixes that are decomposing rot that choke your plants, and absolutely everything is lacking beneficial bacteria and fungi!
And even though I invented micro-budding, founded the clean citrus program in Texas, and had all the academic credentials, I still had to experience this pain myself!
My own trees suffered until I discovered what truly matters…the Three Plant Pillars that every plant needs to thrive:
1. Live microbes that unlock nutrients and boost roots
2. Organic fertilizer that feeds, not burns
3. Mineral-based soil that lets roots breathe
That’s why I created Plant Super Boost, Crab, Kelp & Amino Acids (7-4-4), and Super Soil.
To give trees real power. From the roots on up, everything you need and nothing you don’t. Perfected on thousands of plants of every kind.
And if you’ve got one of our micro-budded trees in your hands, know this:
You’re holding science, care, and a little Texas magic.
And you don’t have a brown thumb...you just need the right tools and the right information!
Dr. Mani Skaria
CEO | US Citrus Nursery
