Indoor lemon care at home. Indoor lemon. Home care for lemon tree, photo. Lemon must be periodically washed to remove dust and dirt.

You bought a young lemon tree in hopes all year round obtain harvests of fragrant fruits for tea parties and strengthen the immune system.

And it will really bear a lot of fruit if you know how to care for a lemon: water, feed, replant, etc. We will learn all the intricacies of caring for lemon trees grown at home, including crown formation and fruit harvesting.

Lemon care consists of regular watering, sufficient lighting, fertilizing, maintaining temperature and air humidity. It is equally important to know how to replant a homemade lemon.

If you decide to grow a lemon tree at home, familiarize yourself with the intricacies of care:

Watering the lemon

How to water a lemon? During the cold season, starting in October and until spring, water the tree moderately once a week using warm water. In the spring and summer months, as well as in September, we thoroughly water the soil with warm water once a day. Periodically loosen upper layer land.

The main thing in watering a lemon is to avoid stagnation of water in the soil, leading to rotting of the roots, and not to overdry the earthen ball: this can lead to the leaf curling and the leaves and lemons falling off.

Lighting for lemon

How to care for homemade lemon in terms of lighting? Lemons don't need long daylight hours if you want more fruit rather than leaves. The tree bears fruit well in bright, diffused light: it is best to keep it on windows facing east. If the window is south, be sure to protect the plant from direct sunlight in summer.

To ensure that the crown grows evenly, we turn the lemon tree in the direction of the sun twice a month. And we don’t allow low light: in partial shade and shade, the leaf grows slowly, and the fruits turn out to be too sour.

Temperature

Caring for homemade lemon involves following certain temperature air.

While the lemon is growing and gaining green mass, or blooming, we keep it in a room where the temperature is 17-20 degrees.
When the fruits appear and ripen, the temperature is needed a couple of degrees higher.
In winter, during the dormant period, a temperature of no higher than 14 degrees is required, or 18°C, if the plant is not yet “sleeping” - in this case, we provide it with 12 hours of daylight with the help of phytolamps.

Do not keep the lemon in a hot room or allow sudden temperature changes.

In the summer, you can take the tree outside - the main thing is to have time to bring it home before evening (if the weather is expected to be cool).

Humidity level for lemon

We figured out how to water a lemon: we find out what level of air humidity is suitable for growing it. It needs quite high humidity, especially in the hot season - in summer or during the heating season.

When it’s hot, we spray the tree every day and give it a warm shower once a week.

To increase the level of humidity, place a wide-necked jar filled with water near the pot with lemon so that it evaporates, or place the pot in a tray, placing moisture-evaporating material in it.

Third option: turn on a household humidifier next to the plant.

Lemon feeding

Indoor lemon needs regular feeding: in summer - every week, in winter - every month (if there are fruits).

How to feed lemon? Mineral and organic fertilizers, water the plant 2 hours before the procedure so as not to burn the roots.

Fertilization with minerals. For feeding you will need a ready-made product such as a “citrus mixture”, in which the proportions N:P:K are 14:16:18. We dilute it in water according to the attached instructions and water the soil.
Organic fertilizer. Make an infusion by mixing 1 part water and 1 part mullein ( horse manure) and, after waiting 7 days, dilute it with water: mullein infusion - 1 to 15, horse ball infusion - 1 to 10.

Twice a year we water the soil with a weak solution of potassium permanganate to enrich and disinfect the soil.

Lemon transplant

Young lemon plants in a pot, which we will learn today how to care for, need to be replanted 1 and 2 years after planting.

In the spring we buy soil for citrus fruits or make it ourselves from humus (1 part), soil from under deciduous trees(4 parts), calcined sand (1 part) and wood ash(1 tbsp).

Just roll over the plant, carefully shaking off some of it old land, into another pot with soil. The diameter of the new pot should be 4 cm larger than the diameter of the previous one.

Subsequently, we replant the plant every two years, when the growing season begins. When replanting, do not forget to put drainage (expanded clay + charcoal or a layer of sand) in a layer of 2 cm. Thanks to transshipment, you don’t have to think about how to root a lemon. The main thing is not to transplant while the lemon is blooming or bearing fruit.

Crown formation

As the lemon grows, the crown should be trimmed - in the spring, at a low stem of about 18 cm, before the green mass begins to grow. We cut off the shoots, leaving 5 leaves, so that by the time fruiting begins the tree will branch out.

A tree with a well-formed crown blooms in the second or third year.

Lemon blossom on the windowsill and harvest

While the lemon is blooming, you cannot leave all the flowers on the plant:

At the first flowering, we pick off half of the flowers and leave no more than 4 fruits from the formed ovaries.
During the second flowering, we leave only 6 fruits.
During the third flowering, we leave 8 fruits, etc.

Regulating flowering is necessary to maintain a strong and healthy lemon tree: excess inflorescences will quickly deplete it. Each ovary should have at least 10 developed leaves.

The flowers do not require pollination and bloom for about 2 months.

Lemons can bear fruit up to 4 times a year: it depends on the variety. It takes about 6-8 weeks for the fruit to develop and begin to ripen. The peel of fully ripened lemons takes on a rich golden hue: this means it’s time to harvest.

If you delay picking, the skin will become thicker, the slices will dry out and the juice will lose its characteristic acidity.

Now you know how to care for lemons at home so that they grow strong and healthy and produce a lot of fruit. Follow all the rules for keeping an indoor lemon, and it will delight you with beautiful flowering and abundant fruiting all year round.

Caring for lemons at home is quite simple, but you need to know some nuances. If you follow the growing rules, the lemon tree will not only grow strong and healthy, but will also be able to please you with delicious fruits.

Features of caring for a lemon tree at home

Indoor lemon is a beautiful, useful in everyday life and quite unpretentious citrus crop, represented by many varieties. The flower does not create any major difficulties in care, but it has certain features:

The plant is sensitive to the amount of moisture. The lemon tree loves water very much and does not tolerate even short-term droughts. It needs to be watered constantly; if you take long breaks between watering and allow the soil to dry out, the tree is unlikely to be able to grow tall and strong.
Lemon needs an excess sunlight. The plant is difficult to grow in apartments with insufficient daylight, for example, on the first floors or with windows facing north. With a lack of light, the flower begins to wither and shed its leaves, so you need to think about a place to grow it in advance.
The lemon tree needs periodic feeding. Since the plant spends a lot of energy on flowering and fruiting, the soil in a pot with lemon quickly loses nutrients and becomes scarce. Every year the flower must be fertilized; only in this case will it reach its maximum decorative value and bear fruit.

Important! The main condition when caring for a home lemon plant is maintaining stable comfortable conditions. Lemon is very sensitive to the slightest changes in care and reacts by yellowing and dropping leaves to violation of the growing rules.

Optimal conditions for growing lemon at home

Caring for a lemon will not bring any particular difficulties if you create for the plant optimal conditions and constantly support them. When growing a crop, you need to worry about several key points:

Nutritious earth mixture. The lemon tree prefers neutral or slightly acidified soil with a loose structure. For cultivation and care you can buy ready soil For citrus plants or prepare the soil yourself. In the latter case, it is necessary to mix peat, sand, deciduous soil and humus in equal proportions, and then add more turf soil.
Lighting. The lemon tree is best placed on the south side, where there is plenty of sunlight throughout the year. In this case, it is best to place the pot not on the windowsill, but in close proximity to it, so that the light is bright, but diffused and without direct rays. On the hottest days, it is recommended to take the tree outside or to the balcony, and if this is not possible, then move it a little deeper into the room. During the care process, from time to time the pot needs to be turned from side to side so that the shoots of the plant receive sunlight evenly and the main trunk does not bend.
Temperature conditions. The optimal summer temperature for growing is about 26 °C - in the warmth the plant feels comfortable and develops calmly. In spring and autumn, the tree feels best at a temperature of 14 to 16 °C, and in winter it is advisable to provide it with a temperature of about 7-12 °C. It is important to remember that the seasonal change in temperature should be smooth and soft - home flowers do not like sudden changes.

According to the rules of care, it is necessary to regularly moisten not only the soil, but also the air around the plant. IN summer time A lemon tree in a pot requires frequent spraying, which should be done on cloudy days or in the evening and morning. It is important that the sun's rays do not fall on the leaves of the plant during spraying - this can lead to burns.

How to care for lemon at home

A homemade lemon tree requires constant attention from its owner. Measures for caring for a flower are quite simple; they come down to simple but regular actions.

How to water a lemon

A moisture-loving lemon tree in spring and summer must be watered very often; the soil must always be moist. Water the tree with soft, settled and lightly warm water so as not to harm sensitive roots. At the same time, it is also impossible to allow waterlogging during care; if the soil in the pot becomes waterlogged, the lemon will begin to rot. Even when planting a tree, it is important to ensure high-quality drainage at the bottom of the pot.

How to feed a lemon

Since lemon intensively consumes nutrients from the soil, it must be regularly fed with complex mineral fertilizers. Lemon is fertilized from March to October - at a time when the tree is actively growing and developing. Fertilizers for lemon are applied to the soil in small quantities every 2 weeks, and in winter the frequency of fertilizing is reduced to once a month.

Like most plants, spring period indoor flower especially needs nitrogenous substances, and in summer and autumn it requires potassium and phosphorus. Citrus can also be fed with organic matter - humus or bird droppings dissolved in water.

How to trim a lemon

If you follow the rules of care, the lemon grows quickly and actively expands in width. To give it a decorative shape, it is recommended to trim it regularly; this will have a positive effect on its beauty and ability to bear fruit.

Rules to follow when pruning lemons:

Young indoor trees Usually they don’t trim them, but simply systematically turn them with different sides to the sun, so the crown is formed more evenly.
The tree must be rotated smoothly and gradually, no more than 30°C once every 5 days.
When homemade citrus reaches about 25-30 cm in height, it can be trimmed using pruning shears. It is best to leave about 20 cm before branching to form a standard plant on a low main trunk.
Pruning a lemon provokes the growth of side shoots, but next year You will need to trim them too, this will start the process of growing additional branches.

U home flower shoots that form ovaries grow poorly. Often they dry out completely, so after fruiting these branches are cut to 2-3 leaves.

Lemon transplant

At good care lemon tree grows quickly root system. Therefore, growing and caring for lemons at home requires annual replanting of the plant, otherwise it will become too crowded in the pot and it will stop developing.

Transplantation is carried out in the spring before flowering or in the fall, when the lemon has already finished bearing fruit. Each new pot should be only a few centimeters larger than the previous one; if you choose a container that is too spacious, moisture will begin to stagnate in the soil and the citrus roots will rot.

The lemon is replanted using the transshipment method, preserving the previous earthen clod. An adult tree needs to be replanted only once every few years. But at the same time, during the maintenance process, the top layer of soil must be replaced annually.

Protection from diseases and pests

Indoor low citrus due to its chemical composition quite resistant to pests and diseases. However, some ailments can affect even an unpretentious lemon.

Most often, an indoor tree suffers from sooty fungus or scab - you can recognize them by the appearance of dark spots on the leaves of the lemon. At the same time, sooty fungus leads to drying of leaves and shoots, but when affected by scab, the leaves become soft and begin to rot.

Treatment of fungal diseases is carried out with conventional fungicidal preparations - lemon can be treated with copper sulfate or Bordeaux mixture. When caring for a plant, disease prevention is very important. Most often, lemons get sick from improper care and excess or lack of moisture; watering should be abundant and frequent, but without stagnation of moisture in the soil.

Attention! Very often, indoor lemons turn yellow and shed their leaves; this disease indicates a lack of lighting or a violation of the temperature regime. Growing and caring for lemons should be done in a bright, warm place without cold drafts, otherwise it will be difficult to maintain the health of the plant.

Among insects, several pests pose a danger to citrus:

At the first sign of lemon tree pests, it is necessary to treat the plant with insecticides. Proven means are Karbofos, Aktara and other drugs; the leaves of the plant can also be treated with a weak soap solution.

The nuances of caring for an indoor lemon in a pot at different times

Homemade lemon- a plant, in the care of which it is especially important to observe seasonality. This means that specific tree care measures depend on the time of year.

Lemon care in winter

Caring for lemons at home in winter assumes that the plant is provided with conditions that will allow it to go into a dormant state. First of all, this means that the lemon needs to be moved to a cool room, where the temperature does not rise above 7-14 ° C, and the number of waterings must be greatly reduced. In this case, the vegetation processes of the lemon tree will stop until spring.

Advice! The easiest way is to winterize citrus fruits according to all the rules of care, if available. glazed balcony or a closed terrace. In winter they are quite cold, but not so cold that the lemon simply freezes.

It often happens that at home it is impossible for a lemon tree to winter with a drop in temperature. In this case, you need to care for the lemon tree under normal conditions, but water it much less often, no more than once a week, so that the earthen lump in the pot does not dry out. If flowering begins in mid-winter, most of the buds will need to be removed and no more than 1 bud per 15 leaves will be left.

A lemon tree that overwinters in cool conditions needs plenty of natural light. But if a lemon overwinters in a warm place, then in the process of care it needs to be provided with additional lighting, duration daylight hours must be at least 10 hours.

Caring for a blooming lemon

Flowering is an important stage in the development of citrus, on which the beauty and future fruiting of a houseplant depend. During the flowering stage, it is recommended to feed the lemon potash fertilizers- this will contribute to the successful formation of ovaries.

Since during flowering the tree consumes a lot of nutrients, it is recommended to remove some of the buds when caring for a lemon flower at home. Closely spaced buds are thinned out, leaving only the largest of them and those located closer to the base of the plant.

Optimal temperature during flowering for lemon is about 20 °C. Also during this period of care, it is advisable to move the pot with the plant away from the window to protect the lemon from excess bright sun.

Caring for fruit-bearing indoor lemon

Caring for lemons at home during fruiting requires phosphorus fertilizers. If the plant does not have enough nutrients contained in the soil, the fruits will dry out and fall off prematurely, their shape will be incorrect, and the peel will be too dense. During fruiting, it is useful to replace ordinary water for watering the plant with an infusion of eggshells, such a liquid will additionally supply the lemon with valuable substances.

Lemon care after fruiting

Ripe, ripe lemons from the branches of the plant are usually carefully cut off along with the stalks, without waiting natural fall. After fruiting is completed, care for the lemon again begins according to the usual rules - water the plant generously with plain soft water and maintain the temperature at about 20-25 ° C.

Since the active season for lemon ends after fruiting, immediately after collecting the last fruits, you can prune the plant and begin to prepare the tree for wintering. In the autumn, it is useful to feed the lemon with phosphorus and organic substances to enrich the soil that has been depleted over the summer.

Some tips from experienced gardeners can help you grow homemade lemons more beautiful and stronger:

A lemon tree at home enters its natural fruiting period only a few years after planting. Store-bought lemon trees begin to form fruits in 3-4 years, while lemons grown from seed take about 7 years. For faster formation of the plant, it is recommended to remove from it all the buds produced in the first year; there will be no benefit from them anyway, and the lemon will spend a lot of energy and nutrients on flowering.
It is necessary to feed indoor lemons with both organic matter and minerals. However, it is necessary to apply fertilizers to the soil only in liquid form, along with regular watering.
It is necessary to place a pot with indoor citrus on a table, window sill or other raised surface, from which at least 1.5-2 m remains to the ceiling. A pot with a plant cannot be placed on the floor. There are too many drafts along the floor, and the lemon tree is very sensitive to temperature changes and can react by shedding leaves.
If the tree is kept in a room in the summer and moved to open balcony, changing temperature conditions during care must be carried out gradually. The tree is acclimated to heat or cold over a couple of weeks, first it is taken to new conditions for just a few hours, and then the period of exposure to warm or cold air is slowly increased.

I wonder what too abundant flowering indoor citrus speaks of not proper care behind the plant and is detrimental to fruiting, and not beneficial. If the tree has produced too many flowers, some of them need to be removed and only 2-3 flowers left on the branch.

Conclusion

Caring for lemons at home is quite simple. The plant is sensitive to changing conditions and requires stable care, but in general it is unpretentious - cultivation measures come down to regular watering, fertilizing and maintaining temperature conditions.

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A miniature lemon tree can become a real window sill decoration. With proper care, the plant can bloom and bear fruit, delighting the grower with an impressive harvest - up to 200 citrus fruits per year. Experienced flower growers are happy to reveal their secrets, telling how to grow lemon from a seed at home with fruits.

What is indoor lemon

IN natural conditions lemons grow in subtropical countries: China, India, Australia, Mexico, Pakistan. In Russia, lemons cannot grow in open ground, but in greenhouses here lemon trees have been grown since the time of Peter I, which indicates their relative unpretentiousness.

Growing lemon under conditions flower pot- This exciting activity, which bears fruit in literally this word. True, this may take several years, and in some cases even a couple of decades. A young tree produces from 10 to 30 lemons annually, and an adult tree produces tens of times more. When the tree reaches one and a half meters in height, it will be possible to pick fruits from it that are not inferior in taste to store-bought ones. However, it is worth noting that for this you need to grow varietal seedlings. Lemons grown from seeds can produce bitter and small fruits.

Indoor lemon has a decorative appearance, thanks to which it becomes a real interior decoration. The tree has a dense evergreen crown, and during the flowering period it becomes covered beautiful flowers. All parts of the plant release essential oils that fill the room with a pleasant aroma. With proper care, the plant will delight the grower for about 30 years.

Features of cultivation

When you decide to grow a lemon from a seed at home, you should learn about the characteristics of citrus. In the best case, about 5 years pass from the moment the seed is planted in the ground until the plant blooms. But don’t think that this is a hopeless endeavor. When the tree gets stronger, it can be grafted with a cutting from a fruiting tree. cultivated plant. You can stimulate the flowering of a tree grown from a seed by properly caring for it and shaping its crown.

Varieties for home cultivation

Each variety of lemon tree has its own characteristics. Not every one of them existing species plants are able to bloom and bear fruit in a pot. If you decide to grow this citrus at home, we recommend choosing seedlings of one of the proven varieties. The experience of gardeners confirms that these varieties are the most unpretentious and grow well in a flower pot.

Tip: if you want to get a tall tree, buy a seedling of the Kursk or Lisbon variety. If you want to decorate your interior with a miniature tree, buy varieties Lunario or Pavlovsky. They rarely grow above 120 cm. The shortest growth, less than a meter, the varieties Chinese Dwarf and Genoa are different. By the way, the Chinese dwarf variety is a hybrid of orange and lemon, its fruits are very tasty.

Meyer

The Meyer variety, also known as Chinese dwarf, is a low-growing shrub. Its height is a little more than half a meter, but despite this, in some countries it is grown in industrial scale as an agricultural crop. The variety is a hybrid, therefore both in appearance and in taste its fruits differ from typical lemons. The variety arose as a result of the independent hybridization of lemon and orange.

The tree is tall decorative properties, the crown shape is round, the foliage is dense, dark green, the side branches grow actively even without much intervention from the gardener. A feature of the variety is that the plant grows in the form of a bush, rather than a standard tree. If a florist wants to have a standard tree, he will have to early period carry out formative pruning of the plant.

This variety is relatively easy to care for and has high winter hardiness. However, in winter, the tree can lose a large amount of foliage, which frightens inexperienced gardeners. This is worth knowing when deciding to plant a lemon. As a rule, with increasing daylight hours and increasing humidity levels in the room, the leaves grow back.

Panderosa

This variety of lemon is widely used in home gardening. It is believed to be a hybrid of citron and lemon. Panderosa is distinguished by its large fruit size with a bumpy surface. The crown of the tree is compact; the plant itself rarely grows above one and a half meters in height. The plant actively branches, so there are no problems with crown formation.

The Panderosa variety is highly decorative. Its leaves are large, green, dense. The branches of the tree, although they look strong, often cannot support the weight of the fruit and sag down. The branches are strewn with thorns. During flowering, the tree becomes especially beautiful. Lushly covered with flowers, it turns into a white fragrant ball. During the year, the plant can bloom 2–3 times. At the same time, despite the riotous flowering, few fruits are set on the tree, only a few pieces.

The fruits have a shape similar to an inverted pear. Lemon pulp is very juicy, but lacks the characteristic sour taste. There are many seeds inside the fruit. This variety is often chosen because of its decorative effect, rather than its ability to bear fruit.

Genoa

Until recently, this lemon variety could be found in the collections of only experienced plant growers, but now the situation has changed, and Genoa is grown much more often. It's all about the capriciousness of the plant and its requirements for lighting. But taste qualities And external features Genoa lemon makes flower growers decide to experiment.

The fruits of this variety are considered one of the most delicious. The productivity of the variety is very high. Under natural growth conditions, one mature tree can produce about 200 fruits. Homemade lemon can yield a harvest of 20 - 30 lemons.

Citrus fruits weigh about 100 g and have a slightly elongated shape. The skin color is yellow-green. A special feature of the variety is the absence of a bitter aftertaste in the zest. The pulp is juicy, has a sour taste, the slices are separated from each other by dense membranes.

Anniversary

Having decided to grow lemon at home, flower growers most often choose the Yubileiny variety. This is the most unpretentious and at the same time highly decorative variety. It was bred by Soviet breeders and little is known about it abroad. It is often called a clone of the Panderosa variety due to its external similarity, but completely different parent varieties were taken for crossing.

tree in room conditions grows well, reaching one and a half meters in height. Its crown is compact and easily amenable to shaping pruning. The branches are strong and thick, but under the weight of large citrus fruits they can sag. The leaves are dense, hard, dark green.

The conditions of a city apartment are well suited for the tree. This variety does not shed its leaves even with inappropriate air humidity and little light. If a plant doesn't get enough sun, its leaves become large. This is how homemade lemon compensates for the lack of lighting.

One of the features of the variety is its ability to bloom almost all year round. Lemon blossoms are very beautiful and lush. Moreover, the plant spends too much energy on releasing buds, which negatively affects the development of the crown during the flowering period. The tree can bloom from the first year after rooting.

Yubileiny is characterized by fruit set even in dry air conditions. Unlike the Panderosa variety, Yubileiny produces high yields even when grown indoors. Compared to its “American brother,” the fruits of Yubileiny are sour.

Pavlovsky

The most common variety in indoor floriculture is Pavlovsky. The history of the variety begins with the city of Pavlova, where tree cuttings brought by a local merchant from Turkey were first rooted. Before the appearance of this variety, lemons in Russia were grown only in royal greenhouses. Pavlovsky has become a popular variety.

The variety is distinguished by its compact and rounded crown; the height of the plant in most cases does not exceed 1 meter. The branches hang down and have many thorns. In young plants the bark has green color, and over time it darkens, becoming yellowish-gray. Small longitudinal cracks appear on the bark of an adult tree.

The leaves are light green, shiny, hard. Even with insufficient lighting, the crown develops well. Windows facing south are best suited for the plant. But it does not tolerate direct sunlight.

The yield of the variety is high, the plant will bear fruit generously. An adult lemon, growing for about 15 years in a pot, can produce about 50 fruits weighing about 200 grams per year. The fruits have a bright yellow skin, tasty, aromatic, moderately sour. Their peel is quite thin, about 3 mm.

Will the lemon bear fruit?

Another way to speed up the fruiting of a lemon tree grown from a seed is to pinch it. They do it this way: after appearing on young tree 5 - 6 leaves are pinched at the top. This stimulates the growth of branches from the leaf axils. When 5 leaves grow on the branches, they are pinched in the same way. This is done twice more, until branches of the 4th order appear. Flowers and fruits should form on them.

To make your lemon tree at home begin to bear fruit faster, you can use the cutting method for planting. It will speed up the fruiting of the plant. A tree grown from a cutting will bloom and produce a harvest within a few years. But the cutting must be taken from a fruit-bearing plant. When cuttings, follow the recommendations:

for germinating cuttings, the best period will be the beginning of spring - March-April;
cuttings should be taken from a fruiting lemon;
drainage is poured into the pot, then a layer of soil and a layer of river sand (about 2 cm in height);
an oblique cut is made on the cuttings;
it is important that each cutting has 4 buds;
Before planting, the cuttings are kept in a heteroauxin solution one day before planting;
plant the cuttings at a distance of 15 cm from each other, leaving 2 buds above the ground level;
the ground is watered and compacted;
the pot is covered with film to create mini-greenhouse conditions for the cuttings;
The rooting of cuttings will be well influenced by the provision of heating for the lower part of the pot;
a constant temperature of 24–25 degrees is created for them; if it is lower, the cuttings may take longer to take root or may not take root at all;
for the first 2 weeks, the leaves are sprayed with water 4 times a day, after which the procedure is reduced to 2 times a day;
after rooting, the cuttings are planted in different pots;
It is recommended to pinch the central root to improve branching;
after transplantation, the plant is watered abundantly and placed in a shaded place for 2 weeks;
After the specified time, the pot is moved to a sunny window.

Lifespan of citrus

With proper care, a lemon tree can grow in conditions indoor pot about 50 years old. In order for the tree to grow for a long time, it is recommended to replant it in a new pot every year and a half. Every time you replant a growing tree, you need to use fresh soil and a new pot. An adult tree does not need a new pot, but the soil must be changed.

Step by step cultivation

Preparing the pit

To germinate a lemon seed, immediately after removing it from the pulp, it is washed and buried in the soil. There is no need to wait, otherwise the dried film will make it difficult for the seed to germinate.

Note: to increase the chances of seed germination, you can immerse it in a solution of a growth stimulator, for example, Epin-extra, for several hours before planting.

To speed up the germination of seeds, experienced gardeners recommend preparing them first by removing the white shell from them, as in the photo below. To do this, the bones are first soaked in warm water for a day, and then carefully cut off the surface film with a thin knife. This durable shell is the main barrier to germination. But here it is important to act very carefully so as not to damage the cotyledons, otherwise the sprout will not be able to germinate.

Optimal time

The most successful period for planting seeds is considered to be the end of winter - the beginning of spring. During this period, the natural vegetation of the plant begins and the chances of successful cultivation lemon tree houses will be significantly taller.

Soil requirements

For planting seeds, choose nutritious soil. The soil should be loose and moderately light. It is poured into a pot, having previously organized drainage in it. For drainage, you can use expanded clay, pebbles, and crushed shards of old clay pots. The pot must have several drainage holes so that excess water can flow down freely. Drainage will prevent water from stagnating in the pot and provide the necessary soil moisture.

You can prepare the soil mixture yourself by mixing:

2 parts of turf land;
2 parts leaf soil;
1 part humus;
1 part river sand.

Regular garden soil not suitable for this purpose. In the garden department you can buy a special soil mixture for citrus fruits or roses.

Planting a seed

The seeds are not kept in the air before planting, but are immediately placed in the ground. The seeds are placed in different pots or in one long container at a distance of 5 cm from each other. You need to retreat about 3 cm from the walls of the pot. The seeds are covered with a layer of earth about a centimeter thick on top. Then it is watered and kept moist, but not too much water to prevent the seeds from rotting. The top of the pot is covered with film to provide a mini-greenhouse effect. The created microclimate will accelerate seed germination.

It is advisable to place the pot in a place with a constant air temperature between 19 and 22 degrees. Sprouts will begin to appear approximately 2 weeks from planting.

What should care be like?

Citrus grows in regions with a warm and humid climate, so the primary task of the grower is to create approximate conditions for it. Creating a suitable microclimate on the windowsill is difficult, but possible. To make a lemon sprout feel comfortable, you need:

provide the plant big amount sunlight, for this you need to place the pot on a window facing South or East;
protect the plant from direct sunlight; on a hot summer day, especially at noon, it is better to move the pot to the shade;
provide artificial lighting on cloudy days using phytolamps;
maintain a constant air temperature; in winter it should not fall below +10 degrees.

Indoor lemons do not like a “change of environment,” so move the pot from place to place once again not worth it. This may slow down the plant's growth. The tree can be turned over with different sides facing the sun on the same windowsill to ensure harmonious formation of the crown.

Humidity

The hardest thing indoor plants occurs during the heating season. Radiators dry out the air in the room, and plants feel a lack of moisture. Tropical and subtropical plants are especially affected. It is recommended to move the pots away from the battery. To increase humidity, you can hang a wet towel on the radiator. It is recommended to spray the leaves of the tree regularly, but not excessively, so as not to provoke the development of fungus. You can place a container of water on the windowsill near the pot.

Important! A decrease in air humidity is especially dangerous for lemons during flowering and fruit set. If the air is too dry, the flowers may fall off.

Watering

Every gardener should know how to properly water a plant. During the warm period - from late spring to early autumn - lemon trees need daily watering. It is strictly forbidden to flood the plant; too wet soil can cause root rot and the development of tree diseases. But the soil should not be allowed to dry out. If the soil is too dry, the tree will die. From autumn to spring, the frequency of watering is reduced, focusing on the condition of the soil. In the autumn-winter period, it is much more important to ensure high air humidity.

Important! For irrigation you need to use settled water. Water the plant cold running water forbidden. It is best to water in the morning or evening.

Temperature

In order for the tree to increase its green mass, produce new branches and form a crown, the air temperature in the room should be around 17 - 18 degrees. For fruits to form, more heat– about 22 degrees. Too hot conditions, especially low humidity, will be unfavorable for the lemon tree. In the heat of summer and in autumn during the heating season, a flowering tree can shed flowers and foliage.

Important! Sudden temperature changes are detrimental to lemon. It is not advisable to move it from a cool room to a heated, hot room. This may cause the tree's leaves to fall.

Fertilizer

Indoor lemon needs constant feeding, but fertilizers should be applied in moderation. Excessive amounts of fertilizers are no less harmful than their lack. Which fertilizer should be used is determined by the appearance of the plant:

if the tree’s leaves have turned yellow and fruiting is very poor, it is recommended to apply nitrogen fertilizers;
if a tree drops its leaves, this may indicate a lack of phosphorus;
if the leaves become too large and the fruits are small, then you need to feed the tree with potassium fertilizers;
When the tops of the branches dry out and the foliage turns yellow, iron is added.

In the summer, when it is possible to take the lemon outside, it can be fertilized with organic fertilizers, for example, bird droppings. During the summer, fertilizing can be done twice. No fertilizing is carried out from autumn to early spring.

Trimming

When growing a lemon from a seed, the grower must understand that for a long time the tree will have an exclusively decorative appearance. The lemon will not bear fruit for at least 8 to 10 years.

The lemon tree is prone to overgrowth. In order for it to have a decorative appearance, it is necessary to trim the branches in a timely manner. The branches are pruned with pruning shears, cutting them off after the 5th leaf. This will stimulate the formation of side branches. This pruning will make the crown beautiful and lush, but at the same time compact.

Transfer

The young tree grows quickly and gains strength. To actively form the root system, it is first planted in a small pot. But as it grows, it requires regular transplants. The roots sticking out of the drainage hole will indicate that it is time to replant the plant. Another sign is excessive growth of the tree and a feeling that it is cramped in the pot. Transplantation is also recommended if, even with regular feeding, the plant growth process has stopped.

When replanting, the soil used is the same as when the plant was first planted. Drainage is prepared and placed at the bottom of the pot in the same way. The pot should be larger than the previous one, but not excessively.

The best time to carry out the procedure is considered to be the beginning of spring, while the plant has not yet entered the active growth phase. You can replant it at the end of summer or autumn, but these periods are less favorable.

The pot for planting a tree must be stable and have drainage holes in the bottom. It is advisable to choose ceramic pots, not covered with glaze, since their walls are porous and are able to absorb excess moisture.

Tip: to make it easier to remove the plant from the old pot, it should not be watered for a couple of days. When the soil dries, you can gently knock on the sides of the pot and pull out the plant with a lump of earth.

Then you need to examine the root system of the plant. There is no need to completely remove all the soil from its roots. If there are dried roots, they need to be trimmed. Further landing lemon into a new pot step by step looks like this:

the plant is placed in a pot so that the neck is just below the edge of the pot;
The tree is covered with soil from above, pressing it down a little;
the ground is watered with settled water;
The pot with the plant is removed for a couple of weeks in a shaded place.

Possible problems

Many amateur gardeners enthusiastically take up the task of growing a lemon tree, since at first glance it is not difficult to germinate a seed. But when growing a plant, various problems may arise.

The leaves are falling

One of the problems that can prevent you from growing lemons at home is leaf loss. If a tree drops its leaves, the grower may think that it has died. The reasons for dropping leaves can be:

use for cold water irrigation;
too frequent heavy watering;
temperature difference;
incorrectly selected soil;
lack of sunlight;
inappropriate soil acidity.

If the tree has dropped its leaves, try to find a better place for it in the apartment and reconsider how you care for it.

Leaves are drying

If the tree dries out, this may indicate errors in care. One of the common reasons is the wrong choice of place for the pot. If direct sunlight falls on the foliage, it can leave burns on it. The leaves will turn brown and dry out, and soon fall off.

Lemon pests

Before growing a lemon at home, it is a good idea to find out what pests can attack it. The plant is susceptible to attacks by scale insects, spider mite, aphids. They suck the juices out of the plant, which leads to drying out of the shoots. The leaves on the tree curl, become covered with whitish spots, dry out, and fall off.

To protect the tree from pest attacks, it is important to prevent it from becoming waterlogged or the soil being excessively dry. In hot weather, the foliage should be sprayed with water from a spray bottle. Periodically, the foliage should be wiped with a clean damp cloth.

To treat the infection, you can use special drugs such as Aktara, Actellik or Clean Sheet. They treat the tree 2 times every 10 days. An infusion of onion, garlic or celandine has a good effect. They are used to treat parts of the plant affected by pests.

Lemon doesn't bloom

As we have already said, a lemon tree will begin to bloom and bear fruit without grafting no earlier than 7 years of age. If a beautiful green tree has been decorating your house for several years, but it does not bloom or bear fruit, be patient. For most gardeners, with proper care, the plant blooms 10–11 years after planting. If you want to speed up the process, you need to get a twig from a cultivated plant and graft it.

How to prepare for winter?

In winter, lemon growth slows down. At this time, it is important to protect the plant from sudden temperature changes and low air humidity. These factors can cause leaves to fall on a tree. The tree should receive a large amount of light even during short daylight hours, so in winter it is recommended to illuminate it with a phytolamp for 5 hours. Wintering in the open ground in our climatic conditions impossible.

The lemon tree is an evergreen perennial heat-loving plant which does not tolerate well low temperatures. It is a hybrid species of plants of the genus Citrus, belongs to the Rutov family. The lemon tree was originally grown as ornamental plant in China.

Lemon tree - description

The height of a lemon tree can reach three meters. The leaves of the plant are dark green with a shine. lemon tree flower has white inflorescences, which are located in clusters in the axils of old leaves or on the tips of old and new shoots.

The formation of a flower bud occurs throughout the year, but more so in the spring. After the bud appears, the lemon tree flower develops for another month and only then blooms. Lemon blooms for several days. The aroma of the blossoming buds is subtle and sweet, slightly reminiscent of the smell of acacia or jasmine. When there is a sharp change in air temperature in the room, the lemon tree reacts immediately. It is for this reason that leaves, unopened buds and flowers fall off the lemon tree. The optimal temperature of the room in which the plant is located is +16 +18°C, humidity should be at least 60%.

The color range of lemon pericarp can range from light yellow to red or green. Lemon peel is dense, orange to bright - yellow color. It contains glands with essential oils, which give it a specific aroma. The weight of the fruit is small, on average 65 grams. The length of the lemon is from 6 to 9 centimeters, the diameter is from 4 to 6 centimeters. The internal part in the section has several nests with seeds. The fruits of the lemon tree can be located either singly or in clusters. They vary in shape depending on the variety or type of hybrid.

Types of lemon trees

By the presence of stipules, you can determine that a lemon tree in a pot is a hybrid. These varieties include Jubilee lemon, Meyer lemon, and Ponderosa lemon. Also distinguished are Pavlovsky lemon, Novogruzinsky lemon, Genoa, Lisbon, Ural lemon, Kursk lemon, Maikop lemon, Jubilee lemon, Eureka, Lunario and other types.

Some types of homemade lemons have reddish-lilac flowers during flowering. Indoor or decorative types of lemon trees are unpretentious, relatively short and bear fruit well (some varieties up to four times a year). They differ only in the taste of the fruit, the size of the plant and the frequency of appearance and ripening of the fruit. Flowering and fruiting begin in their third year of life.

Where does the lemon tree grow?

China, India and the tropical Pacific islands are considered to be the birthplace of lemons. The wild state of lemon is unknown; most likely, it is a hybrid that arose during the process of evolution. Lemon is grown as an agricultural crop in the CIS countries: Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan. The leaders in lemon cultivation are India, Mexico, Italy, and Türkiye.

Lemon tree care

In order for this plant to please you with its aroma and frequent harvest, you should know the rules for caring for a lemon tree. Before planting, it is important to learn how to fertilize, how to prune, and how to water your lemon tree.

First of all, watering a lemon tree produced only with settled (at least 24 hours) water. The stream of water must be directed as close to the ground as possible to avoid washing out the roots. The pot is filled with water until it appears at the bottom of the pan.

The soil during planting and during growth should be loose and nutritious. Fertilizer is applied once a week along with watering the lemon. In winter, if the room temperature is not higher than 15°C, the lemon goes into “sleep mode” and does not require strong lighting. The pot with the lemon tree is placed as close to the window as possible, but it is better if the lemon does not receive direct sunlight. If the lemon tree begins to flower prematurely, such buds must be removed, otherwise the plant may die.

The leaves require special care. It is necessary to ensure that pests do not appear on the surface of the leaves; spray them with water at least once a week. If pests are still found, you should prepare a soap solution or tobacco tincture, which is used to treat each leaf. You can also purchase special insecticides. The most dangerous and common pests of homemade lemons are scale insects, aphids, mites, nematodes and garden slugs.

A nematode is a small transparent worm that gnaws through the roots of lemons, settles in them and sucks out the juice. At the same time, the tree begins to lose leaves abundantly. To detect the pest, you need to dig up the roots; there will be small swollen areas or growths on them, and the pest lives in them.

Interesting fact: if you move the plant from its usual place where it was constantly located and simply unwrap the pot of lemon, the plant may slow down its growth and bear fruit poorly.

Lemon tree - care at home

Many people ask the question, is it possible grow lemon at home. In fact, caring for lemons at home is not that difficult. First you need to take the selection and purchase of a seedling seriously. When purchasing a lemon tree, you should initially pay attention to the root system: the roots should not be cut or dry. The seedling should have 2-3 old leaves, and young shoots should be small size, approximately 10-15 centimeters. It is not difficult to determine the age of the leaves; old ones have a dark green glossy color, and young leaves are lighter with a delicate structure. When purchasing, you should not take an adult plant; its advantage lies only in its beautiful appearance. But there is a huge disadvantage: changing the location has a detrimental effect on the lemon tree, even to the point of its death. It is better not to take seedlings of southern varieties, as they are grafted on trifoliate, and the fruits have an unpleasant aftertaste.

The crown of a lemon tree is formed during its growth; it should not be chaotic. To do this, pinching is used (removing the tip of a young growing shoot). Sometimes lemons are pruned to increase yield.

Beneficial properties of lemon and lemon tree

During the growth process, all parts of the lemon tree release volatile essential substances into the air - phytoncides; they can have a beneficial effect on the human body, increase efficiency, sterilize the air in the room, killing pathogenic bacteria and microbes. Lemon pulp contains a large amount of citric acid and vitamins C, B, A, E. Lemons contain many micro and macroelements, such as chlorine, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, sodium, magnesium, iron boron, zinc, copper, fluorine and many others . Lemons can also relieve constipation: they contain a lot of fiber and pectin, which have a strong laxative effect.

Collection and storage of lemons

Lemons do not ripen at the same time; they need to be picked as they ripen. Some varieties of lemon can be stored directly on the tree for up to three years. It is best to store the fruits of the lemon tree in the refrigerator on the fruit and vegetable shelf.

As the famous saying goes, if you get a lemon, make lemonade out of it. It would be nice if there were fewer such “lemons” in our lives... But growing a lemon tree in your window and making REAL homemade lemonade from it is a much more pleasant and, most importantly, useful activity. How to get full citrus tree from the seed, you can find out here, and today I will tell you about all the nuances of caring for lemon at home.

Caring for homemade lemon: heat + light + consistency

Indoor lemon has a capricious character, which is manifested in its demands on living conditions.

In particular, it cannot tolerate sudden changes in temperature and humidity and reacts painfully to drafts. A moderately humid and warm microclimate and abundant lighting are required for the well-being of your green pet.

Just don't place the pot in direct natural light, as lemon also doesn't like to fry in the sun. For example, you can place the plant on a south or southwest window sill and shade it with a tulle curtain or gauze.

An interesting fact is that lemon does not like being next to strong-smelling house flowers, so do not place lilies or rhododendrons next to it.

In autumn, winter and early spring, homemade lemon requires additional lighting using (with a power of at least 40 watts). On average, it is enough to turn on the lamps for 3-4 hours a day (2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the evening). However, it must be borne in mind that a lemon plant needs at least 8 hours of sunlight or artificial light in winter and from 10 to 14 hours at other times of the year.

Lamps are installed at the rate of 2-3 pieces per square meter. Moreover, they should be located no lower than 40-50 centimeters above the level of the highest branch.

Regular and sufficient watering

Homemade lemon loves to swim!

Overwatering negatively affects the development of the citrus plant, so it is important to maintain moderation when watering. In hot weather, the soil in the pots is moistened 3 times a week; on normal days, the frequency of watering is reduced to one or two times.

How to determine when it’s time to water a lemon?

There is a simple test - take a pinch of soil from a pot with three fingers and squeeze. If it sticks together, then there is no need to water it; if it falls apart, it’s time to go get a watering can.

Irrigation water should be warm and settled (filtered). Perfect option- melt water, which is obtained from clean snow or after melting ice. Rain or spring water is no less good. Three to four times a month you can add sleeping tea to the water for irrigation.

Avoid stagnation of water in the container - the containers used must have drainage holes.

A couple of times a month, loosen the top layer of soil in the pot (just be careful not to damage the roots!). It will be easier for oxygen to reach the roots and the lemon will grow better.

Coming from the tropics, Lemon loves to shower.- regularly spray the plant with a spray bottle and wipe its leaves with a soft, damp cloth. In general, I advise you to turn such water procedures into a weekly ritual.

If your lemon is next to the battery central heating, then to eliminate dry air, I recommend turning on an electric humidifier in the room (a regular bowl of water can also serve as a replacement).

Making a menu for homemade lemon

Phase active growth for indoor lemons, the growing season occurs from February to September. At this time, it is useful to treat the tropical guest with organic and mineral supplements (it is better to alternate them). Fertilizer irrigation is carried out every 10-14 days, not more often.

When caring for lemon at home, I advise you to Special attention for special fertilizers for citrus plants, which, in addition to the main nutrients, also include zinc, boron and manganese. To minimize the risk of burning the roots, fertilizer mixtures are supplied exclusively in liquid form and low concentrations are used (no more than 1-2 grams per liter of water).

In addition, do not forget the most important principle of feeding any home and garden plant - it is better to underfeed than to overfeed.

Please note that after transplantation (which will be discussed later), the lemon does not need to be fed for 2-3 months - during this time the plant has enough nutrients contained in the soil mixture.

When and how to replant homemade lemons

With good care, the lemon tree “grows” literally before our eyes. Up to 10 years, lemons are replanted once a year, further plant transferred to a larger pot every 2-3 years.

To do this, choose a container 5-7 centimeters wider and deeper than the previous one. Since the roots of citrus plants need large quantities oxygen, for transplantation it is better to choose containers made of breathable materials - for example, clay or wood.

The optimal time to transplant a lemon is June; in the cold season, this operation is carried out in February.

When preparing a mixture for transplanting lemons, you should take into account the age of the plant. For young lemon trees, a light soil mixture is better suited, and for older plants - a denser one, with high content clay.

Here are several options for soil mixtures for indoor lemons of different ages:

Plants up to 4 years old: leaf soil, mature manure, high peat, fine river sand (1: 2: 1: 0.5).
Plants from 4 to 10 years: turf soil, leaf soil, high peat, lake silt, river sand (2:1:1:1:0.5).
Plants over 10 years old: turf soil, leaf soil, high-moor peat, lake silt, coarse river sand (3:1:1:2:0.5), ash from burning straw at the rate of 200 grams per 10-liter bucket of soil.

It is good to enrich any of the mixtures with 100-200 grams of granulated superphosphate per 10 liters.

With each transplant, up to 50% of the length of the tap root is removed from the plant. The remaining roots are also shortened by 1.5-2 centimeters and immersed in a slightly pink solution of potassium permanganate for 5 minutes. For disinfection, you can also dust the cut areas with wood ash.

Rules for seasonal lemon care at home

Spring

For lemon, spring begins at the beginning of February. From now on, begin to slowly feed your green friend. In addition, at the end of winter it is good to start grafting work.

In February and March, lemon plants begin to actively bloom. The room temperature must be maintained from +16 to +20 degrees.

Shade the plants from the May sun by moving the pots 50-60 centimeters from the window.

Summer

During the warm season, ensure regular watering and timely application of fertilizers. If desired, the lemongrass can be exposed to fresh air (just not in direct sun!).

Caring for lemons in the summer also involves intensive feeding (but, again, not more than once every two weeks).

Autumn

Gradually prepare the plant for moving indoors: first, bring it into the house for one to two hours, then for half a day, and so on.

From mid-autumn, start illuminating the plants with fluorescent lamps.

Winter

IN winter months Make sure that the lemon is not exposed to a draft wind, and also that the earthen ball in the pot does not become overcooled. Reduce watering to once a week.