R’ Tzvi Yaakov Stein: Hilchos Birchas Ilanos (Fruit Tree)

When

– The bracha should preferably be made in the month of Nissan (up until and including the first day of Rosh Chodesh Iyar)
– Some say it can be made in Iyar too but it’s not preferable
– The bracha can be said at night as long as the buds can be seen
– The bracha can be made through a window too
– There’s a disagreement if the bracha can be made on Shabbos
– The bracha should be made the first time the tree is seen
– There’s a disagreement if the bracha can be made after not making it the first time the tree was seen. One can rely on lenient opinions to make a bracha.
– The ultimate is to make the bracha with a minyan. Minhag is that it’s made even without a minyan

What type of tree

– Some say the bracha should be made on two trees. Minhag is to make even on one tree.
– The ultimate is to make the bracha on a tree outside of the city. Minhag is to make it on a tree inside the city.
– The tree must be fruit bearing
– The fruit actually has to start growing fruit or at least flowers
– If the fruits are already ripe then the bracha can’t be made
– Preferable not to make the bracha on a tree of Orlah
– The bracha can’t be made on a grafted tree
– It’s debatable if a bracha can be made on a tree in a flower pot. If it has a hole in the bottom of the pot then a bracha can be made.