How to grow a lemon tree at home?

. 

Anyone who wishes to grow a lemon tree at home on a windowsill can do it without much difficulty. Indeed, for planting a plant, only seeds from a fresh lemon fruit or a cutting from an adult plant are required. Caring for a plant at home does not differ in any complex manipulations, but it has its own characteristics. And with proper care, a stable rich harvest can be achieved already in the seventh year after planting the plants.

Lemon tree care is easy

We create the best conditions for growing lemon at home

Homemade lemon planted in a regular pot often grows to a size of one and a half meters (some varieties may be taller). The lemon looks like a small tree with oval dark green dense leaves. Lemon in a pot looks impressive, but the tree makes more impression when the fruits ripen on it. Planting and growing a homemade lemon tree is not difficult, but certain conditions must be met for a lemon flower to begin bearing fruit.

Choosing a place in the room

The lemon tree is a rather unpretentious plant, but you can't just put the pot on the balcony and forget about it. It is necessary to monitor temperature changes, because indoor lemon is very sensitive to changes of this nature. It is best to place the lemon on a windowsill in a draft-free room. This will ensure that the lemon gets enough natural sunlight throughout the day and the temperature stays stable throughout the day.

If you place a lemon next to a heater or battery, then the thermal masses will conflict with the temperature in the room and the plant will feel a constant temperature drop. This negatively affects the plant and it sheds its leaves, sometimes it can even die. If the weather is hot outside and the sun's rays fall on the lemon, then the plant will have to be watered regularly and deployed daily.

It is best to place the lemon in a bay window or a room with a glass roof, in which a constant temperature is maintained without sudden changes and high humidity is present.

Genoa lemon, like other varieties, does not like drafts.

We select the right capacity

To grow a beautiful lemon at home, you need to choose the right container. The pot material can be anything (plastic, ceramic or metal). In diameter, the container should not exceed fifteen centimeters, and at the bottom there must be small drainage holes for excess moisture to drain. Tall lemon pots are not suitable as the roots are small.

What soil is needed for a lemon tree

It is not difficult to grow a lemon at home, for this it is necessary to comply with several conditions, one of them is the correct soil and drainage. Garden soil or seedling soil for lemon will not work. In a specialized store, it is best to purchase soil for indoor citrus plants and expanded clay drainage. Drainage can also be used on the basis of sand and wood ash.

If it is not possible to purchase soil for citrus fruits, then ordinary soil can be prepared for planting yourself. For this, they take forest land with humus, sand from the river bank and wood ash. There is a special formula for preparing soil for citrus fruits, it looks like this:

1. Three glasses of forest soil with humus.
2. One and a half tablespoons of wood ash.
3. Half a glass of sand.
4. Water.

All components are mixed until a consistency similar to sour cream is obtained from the mixture. After that, the mixture is poured into a container prepared for planting the plant, and a lemon is planted. The roots of the plant should be completely covered with the mixture.

You can buy lemon primer at the store.

How to properly care for a lemon tree

Caring for a lemon tree is quite simple, you just need to maintain a constant temperature regime and prevent drafts. Then the houseplant will delight you with abundant flowering and juicy fruits. Those who are going to grow lemons at home are interested in the question of whether it is possible to use lemons grown on a windowsill in an ordinary flower pot for food. It is possible and useful to eat such lemons. Therefore, growing lemons on a windowsill is not just an exciting activity, but also a contribution to your own health.

Watering and fertilizing

Lemon, as a southern plant, needs regular and abundant watering. In summer, the soil should not be allowed to dry out in a pot of lemon, otherwise its leaves will begin to curl up and fall off. In winter, it is necessary to water the plant only a few times a week, as it enters an artificial dormancy stage. It is also necessary to monitor the leaves of the plant, it does not like the accumulation of dust. It is necessary to wipe the leaves with a damp cloth several times a month.

Citrus roots need oxygen, so when watering, you need to slightly loosen the soil. In addition to moisture, citrus fruits are very susceptible to fertilizers; with proper feeding, lemon will bloom all year round (with a break only in winter). For fertilization, it is best to use organic fertilizers (chicken droppings or manure), or mineral fertilizers for citrus fruits without chlorine. In winter, citrus fruits do not need fertilization.

Chicken droppings are suitable for fertilizing lemons

Plant pruning

In order for a lemon to please with flowering, it needs a properly formed crown. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the appearance of new branches and prune them correctly. This is an indispensable component of plant care, and not just its decorative part.

In the second year of life, a lemon releases many shoots, from which, with the onset of winter, it is necessary to cut off the top, leaving two leaves on each branch. Over time, shoots of the second order appear on the branches, on which you also need to remove the tops and leave two leaves. The operation must be repeated until six to eight main branches are formed on an adult plant. Such branches will eventually give fourth-order shoots, on which flowers and fruits will grow. In this way, you can form a lemon bonsai - a small flowering tree that will bear miniature fruits all year round.

When the crown is formed, long fatty shoots appear at the base of the plant. They are easy to identify by their elongated rod-like shape and rapid growth. Shoots must be removed, as they interrupt the feeding of the upper branches and the plant will not bear fruit.

Lemon pruning gives the crown the correct shape

Transplant features

All citrus fruits are bad for a change of place of residence, therefore, it is better not to disturb the plants unnecessarily. It is possible to transplant plants without flowers every year without harm to it, but if the plant has flowers or fruits, then it is better to leave it alone. If transplantation can be done, then it is performed according to a certain scheme:

1. The plant is taken out of an old pot along with an earthen lump. It is impossible to clean the roots of plants from the earth - it may die.
2. About five centimeters of drainage is poured into a new pot, then a few centimeters of fresh earth.
3. A plant is placed on top together with an earthen lump and sprinkled with fresh earth until the roots are completely closed.
4. The land is watered abundantly.

Lemon should not be fed for several months after transplanting. The plant needs time to restore fragile small roots that were damaged during transplantation.

If the plant has long shoots, then some of them can be planted in small pots of sand, where they quickly take root and begin to grow.

When transplanting a lemon, do not damage its roots.

The best indoor lemon varieties for home growing

All home-grown lemon varieties can be divided into three groups:

1. Varieties of the usual form for lemons with a bright sour taste.
2. Sweet lemon varieties that are completely acid-free (acid-free varieties).
3. Large varieties with a shape close to real lemon.

If you do not divide lemons into these groups, then the plants are distinguished by the thickness of the skin, the roundness of the shape and by the presence of seeds (seed or seedless). All types of lemons that are suitable for indoor cultivation tend to multiply quickly. Cuttings of such plants take root quickly and grow vigorously.

When breeding indoor lemons, it is necessary to choose those varieties that are adapted to shade lighting and feel great in the dry air of apartments.

Lisbon

This variety is distinguished by a small height of mature trees, all of them do not reach the mark of one and a half meters. The fruits are oval in shape, medium in size, slightly pointed downwards. In the description, it is noted that the lemon lisbon has excellent fruits in taste, there are few seeds in the pulp. The skin of the Lisbon lemon is thin and smooth, shining in the light. Lisbon has a strong and pleasant smell. And the branches of the tree are strong, the crown is well formed even without cropping the upper shoots.

Home care for this variety is simple - Lisbon easily tolerates dry air and high temperatures and only needs constant good lighting.

Lemon Lisbon does not grow taller than one and a half meters

New Zealand variety

New Zealand lemon is one of the most beautiful exotic hybrid plants that you can grow on your windowsill. The shape of the New Zealand lemon is unknown in origin, but is more attractive compared to other varieties. New Zealand lemon is the closest relative of citron, so it shows signs of this variety:

1. Large beautiful shape of flowers.
2. The presence of thorns.
3. Narrow lionfish on the leaves.
4. Strong fresh aroma.

It is the largest lemon variety that can be grown at home. Fruits often reach a weight of eight hundred grams, are egg-shaped with a wide nipple. The skin of the fruit is rough and thick with large tubercles. The pulp of New Zealand lemon is juicy and moderately sour.

New Zealand lemon has a bumpy thick skin

Genoa

Genoa lemons have a beautiful crown shape by nature. Genoa lemon is a low-growing tree with few thorns on the shoots (sometimes thorns are absent).

The fruits of this variety are elongated, with a pronounced oval shape. There is a small elongated nipple at the end of the fetus. The description for the variety says that the skin of the genoa, although dense, but without bitterness, is suitable for eating.

The plant feels great at home, withstands high temperatures and exposure to direct sunlight. The best locations for plants are windows on the south side of the building.

Yugoslav early ripening variety

Yugoslavian lemon is an early ripening variety that gardeners love very much. The plant has medium-sized, juicy, fragrant fruits that can hang from the tree for up to six months. A long stay of the fruits on the tree stains them orange; it is for this attractive feature that many people prefer Yugoslav. Such a plant becomes a decoration for the winter garden. And in height it grows up to three meters. The Yugoslav lemon is very fertile, after seven years it is capable of producing more than twenty kilograms of fruit per year.

Yugoslav is unpretentious in care, but loves humidity and shade. Therefore, the plant thrives best in winter gardens or on the windows of the shady side of the house.

Lemon Yugoslavian early ripening is unpretentious in cultivation and very decorative

Difficulties in growing indoor lemon

Although most varieties of homemade lemon are unpretentious in care, there are certain problems when growing it.

So that the tree does not hurt and regularly bear fruit, it is necessary to water it in a timely manner, feed it and observe a certain temperature regime in the room. Lighting plays an important role; with its lack, the plant withers and sheds its leaves.

Citrus fruits often get sick, so you need to carefully monitor the condition of the tree and follow all the rules of care. And if you find any unpleasant changes in the appearance of the plant, you should carefully study the defect and eliminate its cause.

It is difficult to comply with all the subtleties, so most owners advise to think several times before purchasing a citrus fruit. Although experienced gardeners claim that over the years you can get used to the peculiarities of citrus fruits.

Diseases and pests

The most common citrus disease is yellowing of the leaves. Among the causes of this disease, the following are distinguished:

1. There is too little moisture in the air containing lemon.
2. Lemon has not been fertilized for a long time or the groundbait was wrong.
3. In winter, the plant entered a state of artificial dormancy, and it needs a certain temperature (from plus five to minus ten degrees). The increased temperature in the room during this period causes yellowing of the leaves.
4. The plant is infected with a spider mite.

Sometimes the leaves of a lemon fall off, and often this pathology is associated with an infection of the plant with a spider mite or a change in temperature. The main pests affecting lemon trees are: aphids and mealy worms. If the plant is massively infected with pests, then chemical insecticides are used to eliminate them.

Subscribe Be aware of new products on our site

The lemon tree is a perennial plant that loves warmth and plenty of moisture. Under natural conditions, it grows in a subtropical climate and reaches a height of three meters (dwarf varieties) to eight. Due to its unpretentiousness and love of warmth, the lemon tree can well be grown in the conditions of an ordinary city apartment or house.

Home-grown lemon trees produce edible fruits all year round when properly cared for. True, such trees begin to bear fruit at the age of 7-10 years from the moment of planting. Planting can be done in two ways: from a simple lemon seed purchased at any store, or by cuttings and seedlings. Lemon trees grown from seeds grow more actively, they are healthier and more unpretentious than those grown from seedlings or cuttings, but the latter begin to bear fruit much faster.

To grow a lemon tree from a seed, you must choose neat, ripe and well-formed lemons in the store, without traces of spoilage.Seeds are extracted from them, the best examples of which are used for planting. It must be done immediately after the seeds are extracted from the lemons. The seeds are planted in small pots or boxes five centimeters apart. Suitable for planting is a soil mixed of peat and flower soil in equal proportions. At the bottom of the pots, drainage from expanded clay or small stones must be present. Seeds are planted to a depth of 1 centimeter.

Lemon tree sprouts

The soil should not be allowed to dry out, but excessive flooding of it with water is not permissible. Lemon seedlings will appear within a couple of weeks after planting. Among the sprouts that have appeared, you need to choose only the strongest and grow them until several true leaves appear. Growing up is done by covering the lemon sprouts with a jar and placing them in a bright place. In this case, it is necessary to avoid direct sunlight. Once a day, the jar rises briefly in order for the plant to gain access to fresh air.

When the leaves appear, the strongest sprouts of the lemon tree are transplanted into separate small pots filled with flower soil and humus. A drainage layer is laid out at the bottom of the pot. Lemon sprouts should be in this pot until they reach a height of about twenty centimeters, after which they are transplanted into a larger container. Watering the growing lemons is necessary twice a week. The moisture content of the soil should be balanced: without drying out or waterlogging.

Lemon tree sprout ready for transplant

To grow lemon by cuttings, you need to take a branch that has a thickness of five millimeters and a length of about ten centimeters. The cut stalk is placed in water for a few days, after which the twig should be planted in a small pot or box. The soil for rooting such a seedling should consist of sand, flower soil and humus, which are taken in equal parts. The twig is buried in the ground to a depth of about three centimeters. The soil is well moistened (without flooding), and the plant itself is sprayed daily with water from a spray bottle. After a month and a half, the plant that has taken root can be transplanted into a pot.

Meyer's Lemon Sapling

For a permanent place in which a pot with a lemon tree will be located, it is necessary to choose a bright room where direct sunlight would have access to the grown plant. The lemon tree does not like moving around the house, so it is better to immediately find a suitable place for it, where the plant will be all the time. It is only allowed to slightly turn different sides of the plant towards the light to form a uniform crown. And this must be done carefully, gradually expanding the lemon tree at a small angle.

Every year, the lemon must be transplanted into a slightly larger container, carefully moving the roots and the old earthen ball into a new pot. After that, new soil is poured into the free space in the pot. When the size of the pots used for replanting the lemon tree reaches 10 liters, you can only restrict yourself to renewing the topsoil and regular fertilizing. Also, once a week, you need to spray a lemon from a spray bottle. This should be done daily during the heating season.

Lemon tree sapling

To form a beautiful dense crown, the upper shoots of the lemon tree must be pinched off. Thanks to this, the plant will release side branches, thereby providing density. When the plant begins to bloom, it needs to be pollinated with a cotton swab or brush, with which the pollen is gently transferred from the anther to the sticky stamen. Next, active fruit setting will begin. To avoid depleting the tree with too many ripening fruits, some of them are best removed with a plentiful ovary.

Lemon - a tree of the genus Citrus, everyone knows its fruit.The homeland of this plant is China, India and the Pacific tropical islands.

Lemon was first introduced by the Arabs to the Middle East, North Africa, Spain and Italy.

Is it possible to grow a lemon from a seed at home?

People know about the benefits of lemon firsthand. Lemon is an excellent remedy for many ailments... It strengthens the immune system, normalizes hormones, improves vision, and stimulates the digestive tract.

It is used for colds, as it contains a huge amount of vitamin C and many people just like the sour, aromatic taste.

It is possible to grow lemon at home. If you cut a lemon, you can see a lot of seeds. It is quite possible to grow a full-fledged lemon tree from these seeds.

To a man who decided to plant a lemon at home, it is important to consider the following rules:

• the fruit should be yellow, the most ripe, since if the lemon is green, then due to the fact that it is not ripe, the germs of sprouts in the seeds of such a lemon may not sprout;
• for planting, it is important to choose several large seeds - from 10 to 15 pieces, so that later you can choose a beautiful and actively growing seedling;
• it is important to choose a suitable variety that will grow well at home.

For cultivation, you must choose the right variety of lemon, the fruit must be ripe, the seeds are large

Suitable variety for a house or apartment: Pavlovsky, Meyer and others

There are many varieties. Below are some of them that are suitable for growing in a house or apartment:

1. Pavlovsky - differs from other varieties in its large fruits, which can reach 500 grams, has a sweetish taste, and the tree of this variety is quite large - more than 2 meters. This variety is distinguished by fragrant leaves. The scent is so sharp and strong that the whole house will be filled with it.
2. Meyer - a hybrid of lemon with grapefruit, has a sweet and sour taste, a small tree with a rich harvest, the size of one lemon can reach 150 grams, blooms in bunches, there is a seasonal dormant period.
3. Ponderosa - a hybrid of lemon with grapefruit, has a bitter taste, as well as the presence of a large number of seeds. Pleases that it constantly blooms. According to the people who grow this type of lemon, it is a very grateful plant and quite unpretentious.
4. Genoa - an average tree, gives a large yield already for 4-5 years of life. Fruits with delicate pulp, have a sour, aromatic taste. You can also eat the rind. This variety is considered not whimsical. For 2-3 years, the seedling is already blooming.
5. Anniversary - a medium-sized tree, considered a variety that gives a rich harvest, the fruit is distinguished by its thick skin. Very suitable for growing in a house or apartment.

After the stage of selecting the variety has been passed, it is necessary to proceed to the very planting of the seeds in the pot.

Varieties that are suitable for growing in a house or apartment: Pavlovsky, Meyer, Genoa, Yubileiny, Ponderoza

How to plant plant seeds: highlights

Some active citrus growers with a wealth of experience it is advised to free the bone from the upper husk, which in their opinion allows you to get seedlings in the shortest possible time.

This must be done very carefully, since any damage to the seed can lead to the fact that the germination of the seed does not occur.

But you can plant bones without the above procedure.

Lemon seeds must be wet before planting... It is advisable to soak them for a day in water or in a solution of sodium humate. You can buy this growth stimulant at any botanical store.

But even if the seeds were planted without soaking, and as soon as they were removed from the lemon, they will most likely sprout.

Next, you need to find a suitable small, shallow pot or glass, pour earth into it. There should be holes in the bottom of the pots... They are important so that excess moisture, due to which the roots of the sprouts may die, flows down.

Make holes in the bottom of the pot, fill with small pebbles, soil

Put 1.5-2 cm of expanded clay, small pebbles or very coarse sand on the bottom of the pot. Planting soil can be purchased at the store, but you can prepare yourself. To do this, you need to mix garden soil, sand, humus and a little charcoal.

It is better to plant bones to a depth of no more than 1.5-2 cm... It is important to moisten the soil before planting. It should not be dry, but excessive moisture is also undesirable.

The pot can be covered with plastic wrap. The air temperature in the room where the seed pot is located should be above + 18 ℃.

Spray the soil once every 2-3 days... If the ground has become completely dry, then you can water it a little. After the first shoots appear, the film must be removed.

It is better to rearrange the pot with sprouts in a bright place and water with settled or rain water, at room temperature.

The first shoots will sprout no earlier than 3-4 weeks after planting.

According to experienced citrus growers, the best time to plant lemon is late winter, early spring... Since the increasing daylight hours will only benefit the young sprouts that have appeared.

Will the indoor lemon tree bear fruit?

Many people think that growing a lemon from a seed is a thankless job. Since it will take 5, 7, or even all 15 years to wait for fruits from such a lemon, and its fruits will be small in size.

For, in order not to wait for decades when the lemon tree begins to bear fruit, it must be grafted... This can be done in two ways during the warm season (summer or warm spring):

1. Into the cleft - the preferred type of grafting. It is necessary to take a stalk of a cultivated fruiting lemon. A branch is cut on the seedling, and the remaining stem of the seedling is split. A "wedge" is sharpened on the cutting of a fruiting lemon, which is then introduced into the split in the stem. Next, you need to tie the vaccine with electrical tape. 2-4 buds are left on the cutting of a fruiting lemon, everything else is cut off. The inoculation is covered with a plastic bag. When the vaccine has healed, the bag can be removed.

Lemon grafting - by budding or splitting - is necessary for early fruiting

1. Oculated - the shoots are cut off from the seedling, a "stump" 10 cm high remains from the tree. Next, they take a sprig of cultivated fruit-bearing lemon. Under each leaf of the twig is the so-called "dormant bud". A slice must be made in front of this kidney. Next, cut off the leaf plate, but leave its petiole. Cut the bark on the "stump" of the seedling and insert the petiole with the cut down. Tie the vaccination site with electrical tape. The stalk of the cut leaf plate will serve as an indicator. If the petiole falls off after 2-3 days, then we can assume that the vaccination was successful, but if it dries up, then the vaccination has failed and must be repeated.

I wonder what grown lemon from seed adapts to home conditions faster and better, it is less picky than grafted and grafted seedlings.

Why lemon grown from seed does not bear fruit:

Optimal growing conditions, care after planting

It is advisable to be very attentive to a lemon that has risen in a pot. When on lemon seedlings 3-4 leaves will appear, they are transplanted into separate pots.

It is recommended to replant young lemon trees up to 2 times a year. It is advisable to do this very carefully so as not to damage the root system.

Typically, lemon can react to both extreme heat and sunlight, as well as cold and strong winds. Therefore, when changing the location of the lemon pot, it is advisable to keep this in mind.

And the best solution would be not to change the place of "residence" of the lemon. The best place for a lemon would be the south or southwest side of the apartment. In terms of temperature, lemon can tolerate temperatures from + 14 ℃ to + 27 ℃.

The best place for a lemon would be the south or southwest side of the apartment.

Lemon create conditions without sudden temperature jumpssince they can kill him. It is desirable to maintain a moderate air humidity of 60-70%.

Water the plant best with rainwater at room temperature. In hot summer, it is better to do this 2 times a day. And on cloudy and cold days, it is important to add lighting to lemon with LED or fluorescent lamps.

Feed in summer a seedling can be a solution of humus and liquid mineral fertilizers.

Lemons, like all houseplants susceptible to disease and pest attacks... Therefore, they need careful care, and it is also recommended to carefully examine the plant every day in order to detect the appearance of this or that pest as early as possible and take the necessary measures in time.

Courting and Protecting: The Main Enemies of Citrus

Lemon gets sick if you do not follow the rules of care. If the tree is watered a little, it will dry out. If the soil in the pot is oversaturated with moisture, then yellow leaves will appear on the lemon, and this will be a sign that the roots of the tree are beginning to rot.

Also the appearance of yellow spots on the foliage, after which the leaves dry and fall off, indicate that the wood lacks iron.

Dry leaf ends say that the tree needs phosphorus. A lack of potassium and manganese leads to wrinkling of the leaves and falling off of the ovary.

Knowing how to grow a tree is not enough; it is important to be able to care for it. If a pest is noticed on the plant, it is necessary to figure out what kind of parasite it is and urgently take measures to combat it.

Below are some common parasites that can attack a home-grown lemon:

1. Mealybugs, popularly known as "hairy lice" - on a tree they can be recognized by a white bloom. They prefer dry conditions, they are afraid of moisture. A good prevention of this parasite is to regularly rinse all the lemon leaves.
2. Shield - small shiny droplets appear on the leaves, sticky to the touch. Leaves dry and fall off. Soapy or garlic water is used against this pest. Soapy water is prepared as follows: 2 tablespoons of liquid soap are dissolved in 1 liter of water. The resulting mixture is treated with the affected tree. An hour after the procedure, they are washed under the shower. It is desirable to repeat the treatment after 2 days.
3. Spider mite - small, light dots on the sheet plate. The leaves are curling up. A cobweb is visualized on their back. If this parasite is found on the lemon, it is necessary to treat the tree with sulfur. For prevention purposes, the lemon is washed under running water, paying more attention to the underside of the leaf plates of the tree. Spraying with a solution of water and laundry soap helps to fight the mite well.

Common parasites that can attack home-grown lemon: mealybugs, scale insects, spider mites

Prevention measures

There are several simple preventive measures that will prevent the attack of parasites or damage to the tree by diseases:

• give a lemon tree a hot shower... The plant will not suffer from this, and unnoticed parasites will be neutralized and washed away;
• spray the leaves (especially from the bottom side);
• wipe the lemon leaves once a week with soapy water (it is better to use laundry soap).

"Fitosporin" is considered a good remedy for many diseases and pests. It is non-toxic and odorless. It is also good for prevention.

The lemon tree is not geranium, it needs proper care and it is very difficult for a beginner to figure out what, how and when to do it.

With the effort and study of the rules for caring for lemon, you can get a pleasant result. Home-grown lemon will delight not only with its aroma, but also with delicious fruits.

Growing lemon from seed:

Lemon is an evergreen citrus tree.The homeland of lemons is the subtropics, so plants love warmth and moisture. In open ground, the tree grows up to 8 meters, although there are also dwarf three-meter trees. Homemade varieties bear fruit all year round with good care.

Room lemon - a short description

At home, lemons are grown in flower pots or tubs. Growing a lemon in a tub, you can get from 10-30 fruits every year from a young plant to 200 from an adult. Lemons, which are not inferior in quality to the southern varieties, can be removed from a tree about one and a half meters in height. You can grow a houseplant from a lemon seed, but truly delicious fruits are obtained only from varietal plants. Lemon is a perennial plant and it blooms profusely, although the flowers are not too noticeable behind the dense foliage, but the room is filled with a fresh aroma from essential oils secreted by all parts of the plant.

Growing features

Growing lemon at home is not as easy as other indoor flowers. A home tree requires a spacious, well-lit space and constant attention. But there are also obvious advantages - durability, pleasant smell, tasty and healthy fruits.

Several years pass from the moment of planting to the receipt of the first fruits, so please be patient and wait for your tree to bloom and give you the first medium-sized lemons. Over time, the tree will get stronger, and will delight you with a more generous harvest.

When growing indoor lemon, you must comply with the prerequisites:

• Bright room.
• Regular airing.
• Good drainage.
• Regular feeding.
• Cool wintering.

Planting lemon

If you decide to grow lemon from a seedling, pay attention to the "pedigree". It will be difficult for a fruiting tree from the subtropics to acclimatize. We recommend choosing seedlings from indoor plants or from a tree that lives in your climate. Lemons from the Caucasus, grafted on trifoliate, are suitable for growing in cool rooms - winter gardens or greenhouses. At home, the plant is likely to die. When choosing a seedling, carefully study the information about it.

When planting, the root collar should be buried only 5 mm into the ground. The ground level is 1 centimeter below the edge of the pot. This is necessary so that the root collar does not rot, and the soil is not washed off during watering. After planting, spray the seedling and water with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Place the pot in a lighted place, but protect the leaves from direct sunlight, shade the tree if necessary.

Lemons do not like to move from place to place, so choose a permanent home for the plant and do not turn it abruptly so that the house flower can develop normally.

Optimal time

The best time to plant is late winter – early spring, as the natural growing season begins at this time.

The soil

Pour loose and nutritious soil into the pot after laying the drainage. Soil composition:

• Light loam (meadow sod) - 2 parts.
• Leafy ground - 2 parts.
• Dung humus - 1 part.
• Coarse sand - 1 part.

On ordinary land from a summer cottage, a lemon will bear fruit poorly.

If you cannot assemble such a complex composition, buy Lemon or Rose earth in a flower shop.

Important! The tree will grow in the same soil for several years, so the correct selection of the substrate and regular feeding are very important.

Care features

Lack of sunlight shouldn't kill the plant. When the days are lengthened, the growth of the tree is activated, but at the same time fruiting is delayed. The southern and eastern windows are suitable for a houseplant. The most favorable place for lemon is the sills of the eastern windows, on which in the morning the sun's rays are bright, but not scorching. In hot summer, shield the flowerpot from the sun with a gauze curtain.

Indoor lemons do not like changes in light and rearrangement, the growth and development of fruits may slow down a little, but the tree will form correctly when turned.

Advice. In winter, it is advisable to arrange daylight illumination for 6 hours a day. Place an incandescent or fluorescent light bulb 60 cm above the tree.

Humidity

The most difficult period for indoor plants is October-March. The air in the apartment is dry at this time due to heating. Move the pot away or cover the batteries with a damp cloth. Spray the lemon periodically, but do not get carried away so as not to cause the development of the fungus. Place a cup of water in or near the pot.

In the summer, it is useful to have a cool shower once a week and wipe the leaves with a damp sponge. This is necessary so that the plant can breathe fully.

Important! The plant reacts painfully to changes in air humidity, dry air is especially dangerous at high temperatures during flowering and fruit formation. Flowers and ovaries may crumble. The more humid the air, the longer the leaves of the plant live.

Watering

In May and September, lemons should be watered daily, but in moderation. Swampy soil is categorically unsuitable, but overdried soil can destroy the tree. Water the lemon less often during the winter, but keep it moist.

Important! Do not pour lemons with cold water or in the sun. The optimal watering time is morning or evening.

Temperature

The optimum temperature for the development of shoots and leaves is + 17 ° С, for the growth of fruits the temperature should be higher - + 21 ... 22 ° С. Lemons do not survive the heat well, especially in low humidity. In summer, when it gets warmer, flowers and ovaries can fall off, and temperature drops in autumn and winter can lead to falling leaves.

Attention! The soil temperature should be close to the air temperature. It is dangerous to bring lemon from the open air into a heated room. When it gets cold, try to gradually move the pot of the plant so that it can adapt to the new conditions.

Top dressing and fertilization

Fertilizers should be applied to the soil in moderation, but regularly, since their excess is harmful to plants.

By the state of the leaves, shoots and fruits, one can judge what kind of nutrition the lemon needs:

• The leaves turn yellow, the number of fruits decreases, and they become smaller - there is not enough nitrogen.
• The leaves turn pale and fall off, and the fruits are deformed and coarse - phosphorus deficiency.
• The leaves grow, and the fruits become smaller - potassium starvation.
• The tops of the branches dry out, the leaves turn pale and turn yellow, the lemon does not bloom and does not bear fruit - there is little iron.

It is recommended to fertilize lemons with 0.5% ammonium nitrate combined with potassium salt. With a lack of phosphorus, superphosphate is used.

In the summer, when the plant can be taken out of the house, you can feed it with organic fertilizer (bird droppings or water in which the meat was washed). It is not necessary to apply all fertilizers at the same time - lemons suffer from excessive feeding.

Carry out the planned feeding twice a month in the summer; from October to February, you do not need to feed the lemon.

Pruning

When growing indoor lemon, it is important not to let it grow to the size of a tree, especially since this plant tends to form long branches. If the bush is not cut, the crown will become too large. When pruning, part of the branches is removed after the fifth leaf - the crown from such a haircut will become productive and compact.

Lemon transplant

The fact that it is time to transplant the lemon is evidenced by the roots sticking out of the drainage hole, but this is a case of extreme neglect. A planned transplant should be carried out as the tree grows, each next flower pot should be slightly larger than the previous one. There are circumstances of a forced transplant, for example, a pot may break or you will feel an unpleasant odor from the ground.

If the lemon does not grow well, it can be transplanted in the fall, although the optimal time is the end of February, until active growth begins, or the middle of summer.

• Carefully remove the plant, cut off the broken and damaged roots, and sprinkle them with crushed coal or Kornevin. It is not necessary to completely shake off the earth lump.
• Place a drain on the bottom of the pot and add some river sand. Above - a layer of soil.
• Cut off some of the branches to make it easier for the roots to feed the plant.
• Make a depression in the soil, set the lump so that the neck is just below the edge of the pot. If you need to raise, fill up the earth.
• Sprinkle soil around the edges in layers, making sure that the trunk is in the middle of the pot.
• Trample the soil with your hands so that no voids remain.
• Pour with settled water and loosen the soil a little.

Advice. To make the lemon easier to bear stress, sprinkle it with Zircon and cover it with foil for 5-7 days.

Reproduction

Lemon propagation

Lemons can be cultivated by cuttings or seeds. A tree that has grown from a seed will bloom and begin to bear fruit no earlier than after 8 years. If you plant a cutting, you will wait for your own lemons in 4 years. A baby lemon that has grown from a seed does not necessarily inherit the characteristics of the variety from the parent tree, and identity is guaranteed when propagated by cuttings. But trees and seeds are more resistant to disease and better adapt to life in captivity.

Seed propagation

You can get the Lemon Seed from any ripe fruit. Each lemon contains several seeds, take them out and plant several at a distance of 5 cm. It is better to plant seeds from several fruits.

Planting soil - well-drained peat and flower soil in a 1: 1 ratio. Deepen the seeds 1 cm and keep the soil moist without overflowing. At room temperature, the sprouts should appear in two weeks. Pick the tallest ones and delete the rest. Cover the sprout with a jar and place in a well-lit place without direct sunlight. Ventilate the sprout for several hours each day by removing the can.

When a few true leaves appear, plant the sprouts in pots up to 10 cm in diameter with good drainage. When replanting, try to keep the roots and soil around them. Pour a mixture of peat and soil for flowers into the pot. Transplant the plant that has grown up to 15-20 centimeters into an "adult" pot.

Propagation by cuttings

In the spring, semi-lignified twigs about 10 cm long with several leaves are cut off, and rooted in a homemade greenhouse with high humidity and temperature. Soil: peat and soil for flowers.

Lay drainage at the bottom of the pot, on top - a 5-centimeter layer of a mixture of turf and sand (6: 1), then - a mixture of sand and moss. This layer will mainly contain the root system of the future plant. Plant a cutting, water it and spray it with warm water. Cover with a can.

It is necessary to spray the cutting twice a day with water of about + 25 ° C until rooting occurs. At room temperature, the cutting should take root in 3-4 weeks. After that, remove the jar for several hours a day, and after a week, remove it completely. After another 7 days, you can transplant the cutting into a small pot with nutritious soil and reliable drainage. Within a year, you can transplant the lemon into a regular pot, and after 3-4 years it will begin to bloom.

Bloom

The tops of young lemon shoots are pink-purple in color. The oval toothed leaves contain an essential oil. Leaves change after 2-3 years. Large lemon flowers (4-5 cm) bloom in the spring five weeks after the bud appears, flowering lasts more than two months. After the petals fall off, the fruit is tied, ripening in 200 or more days.

If a young plant begins to bloom in the first years of life, it is advisable to cut off the buds so that the tree can develop normally.When the buds appear a second time, they are no longer torn off - the lemon itself "decides" how many fruits it can feed. The extra buds will fly around by themselves. You can allow flowering when the tree already has at least 20 leaves. It is believed that each fruit needs at least 10 mature leaves.

Post-flowering care

Lemon grows, blooms and bears fruit all year round. One tree may contain ripe fruits, ovaries, flowers and buds. It is not necessary to pick off the faded inflorescences, as they turn into ovaries. If the lemon blooms in summer, the fruit ripens faster than in spring bloom.

Problems, diseases, pests

Many diseases of ornamental lemons are caused by improper care. With a lack of light and nutrients, lemon leaves brighten. Buds and leaves fly around if there is not enough moisture. The dryness of the indoor air is especially difficult for the plant, flowering may stop, the leaves darken and fall off.

Pests also often settle on the plant:

• Scabbards lead to the drying of branches, leaves and the death of the lemon. Remove the pests with a toothbrush and wash the lemon with soapy water.
• The spider mite settles on the wrong side of the leaves and the cobweb gradually envelops the entire tree. Spray with Actelika 0.15% solution three times, every 10 days.
• Mealybug leaves a sticky discharge on the leaves. Fruits and leaves fall off. It is recommended to inspect the plant and collect larvae.
• Citrus aphid. Actelika solution helps to get rid of this pest.
• Thrips and whiteflies also settle on lemons, which must be collected by hand, and the tree must be washed under the shower and treated with soapy water.

Popular types of indoor lemon

Meyer's lemon

Lemon Pavlovsky

Lemon Lunardio

Ponderosa lemon

Lemon Jubilee

• Meyer's lemon
• Lemon Pavlovsky
• Lemon Lunardio
• Ponderosa lemon
• Lemon Jubilee

Useful Tips

• If the lemon leaves turn brown, increase the indoor humidity and water the plant more often.
• Small leaves and thin shoots indicate that the lemon urgently needs to be fed and placed in a brighter place.
• Leaves dry and curl when there is not enough light and moisture. Spray a lemon every day, water and feed with complex fertilizers.

Answers on questions

The lifespan of indoor lemon

With careful attention and proper care, lemons live up to 45 years. An indoor flower dies ahead of time due to diseases and pests.

Why isn't the lemon blooming?

You have probably planted the plant in a pot that is too tight. Transplant it and feed it with complex fertilizer.

What if the lemon drops its leaves?

For lemon, leaf fall is a reaction to stress. Perhaps after the summer you moved it into the room or, conversely, sharply placed it under bright rays. Arrange artificial lighting or create a shadow. The reason may be excessive or insufficient watering - souring of the soil and drying out of the earthy coma are equally harmful for lemons. If the tree has not been watered for a long time, do not moisten the soil abundantly, add water little by little over several days.

Why does lemon shed fruit?

Lemon sheds fruits when it does not have enough strength to develop them. The first flowers that appear on a young lemon must be cut off, and only 2 fruits can be left on a three-year-old plant. In the future, each fruit should have at least 10 leaves.

How to arrange wintering?

The main task during the winter is to preserve the leaves. The room should not be too hot - no more than + 20оС. Keep the plant pot away from batteries and place a container of water next to it. If the windows are well protected from cold air, arrange a tree in the southeast or southwest window. Watering lemon in winter should not be as abundant as in the warm season.