Wintering lemon at home. Difficulties in growing indoor lemon

12.06.2019

You bought a young lemon tree in the hope all year round harvest fragrant fruits for tea parties and strengthen immunity.

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

Lemon care consists in regular watering, sufficient lighting, fertilizing, observing temperature regime and air humidity. It is equally important to know how to transplant a homemade lemon.

Having decided to grow a lemon tree at home, familiarize yourself with the intricacies of care:

Watering a lemon

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

The main thing in watering a lemon is to prevent stagnation of water in the soil, leading to rotting of the roots, and not to overdry the earthen ball: this is fraught with twisting of the leaf and falling leaves and lemons.

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 than leaves. The tree bears fruit well in bright diffused light: it is better to keep it on windows facing east. If the window is south, in the summer we must protect the plant from direct sunlight.

In order for the crown to grow evenly, 2 times a month we turn the lemon tree in the direction of the sun. And we do not allow low lighting: in partial shade and shade, the leaf grows slowly, and the fruits turn out to be too sour.

Temperature regime

Homemade lemon care involves compliance certain temperature air.

While the lemon grows and gains green mass, or blooms, we keep it in a room where 17-20 degrees of heat is observed.
When the fruits appear and ripen, you need a temperature 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 “sleeping” yet - in this case, we provide it with a 12-hour daylight hours using fitolamps.

Do not keep the lemon in a hot room and do not 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 cool weather is expected).

Humidity level for lemon

How to water a lemon, we figured out: we will find out what level of air humidity is suitable for growing it. He needs a fairly high humidity, especially during 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 humidity level, place a wide-mouth jar filled with water near the lemon pot so that it evaporates, or put the pot in a tray, placing moisture-evaporating material in it.

The third option: turn on a household air humidifier next to the plant.

Top dressing lemon

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

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

Fertilizer with minerals. For top dressing, you will need a ready-made product such as a “citrus mixture”, in which the proportions N: P: K are 14:16:18. Dilute it in water according to the attached instructions and water the soil.
organic fertilizer. We make an infusion by mixing 1 part of water and 1 part of mullein (horse manure) and, after waiting 7 days, dilute it with water: mullein infusion - 1 to 15, horse balls 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, need to be transplanted 1 and 2 years after planting.

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

We simply transfer the plant, gently shaking off part of the old earth, 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 transplant the plant every two years, when the growing season begins. When transplanting, do not forget to put drainage (expanded clay + charcoal or a layer of sand) with a layer of 2 cm. Thanks to transshipment, you do not 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 cut off - in the spring, on a low trunk of about 18 cm, before the green mass begins to grow. We cut off the shoots, leaving 5 leaves, so that by the beginning of fruiting the tree has branched.

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

Lemon blossom on windowsill and harvest

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

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

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

Flowers do not need pollination and bloom for about 2 months.

Fruiting of lemons is possible up to 4 times a year: it depends on the variety. The development of the fetus and the beginning of maturation takes about 6-8 weeks. The peel of fully ripe lemons acquires a rich golden hue: it means it's time to harvest.

If you tighten it with the collection, 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 a lemon at home so that it grows strong and healthy, and gives a lot of fruit. Follow all the rules for keeping a room lemon, and it will delight you with beautiful flowering and abundant fruiting all year round.

In the wild, citrus fruits grow well, multiply, bloom, bear fruit. For the home, this type of plant is quite capricious. If you want to have beautiful tree with good fruits, learn more about the features of lemon care at home.

The lemon tree is propagated by cutting, stone or grafting. However, it is not necessary to plant it yourself. Moreover, it also requires certain knowledge. Now there are enough places where you can buy a finished plant in a pot. This is a botanical garden, a specialized nursery, or flower shop. So you've brought a new guest into your apartment. Where to begin?

Place

Determine a place for your pet in advance. Consider several factors:

provide the tree with a permanent "residence". It does not tolerate frequent movements;
rather large height - about two meters. Measure with the size of your ceilings. If you want something lower, you can choose citrus hybrids. For example, Meyer lemon, or citrofortunella. The tree is only up to one and a half meters tall. Require less care than other varieties (admire the photo);
keep it away from radiators. The heat will be detrimental.

Lighting

Homemade lemon loves a bright room very much. Ideal - diffused sunlight, south or southeast side of the house. You can hold it in direct sunlight, up to two hours a day. No more, otherwise the foliage will be burned. In winter, additional lighting is required.

Homemade citrus fruits turn their leaves to follow the light. Therefore, so that you do not have one-sided, to form a beautiful crown, slightly unfold the flowerpot. Do as needed, but carefully.

Too strong, prolonged (more than 12 hours / day) lighting leads to rapid growth, but slows down fruiting. Insufficient - slows down growth, causes disease.

Temperature

The most important stage of caring for a lemon tree falls on the spring. Begins active growth, flowering. Therefore, such a factor as temperature regime plays an important role here.

Citrus bears various temperatures: from +14 to +27 degrees. The peculiarity is that it must be constantly the same. The tree does not tolerate temperature fluctuations. When the flowering period begins, the apartment should not be higher than +18 degrees. Higher temperatures cause the buds to dry out, and then to drop them.

In the spring (starting from +12 degrees) the flowerpot can be moved to the balcony. Also good garden plot. This stimulates growth.

In winter, lemons need cooler conditions than in summer. A warmed balcony is perfect for him. If the apartment is hot, illness can occur, even death. At night, wrap the crown with a light natural cloth.

Humidity

Humidity is of particular importance when caring for indoor lemons. It is moderate, 60-70% at an average temperature (+18 degrees). If the heat - spray the plant, also the air around it twice daily.

The soil

A lemon tree needs soil with a neutral reaction. Avoid acidic. Make sure the soil is loose. An example composition is:

deciduous land, 2 parts;
sand, 1 part;
humus, 0.5 parts;
wood ash, 0.25 parts.

A little clay is added to adult trees. Be sure to use drainage. For example, small gravel or charcoal. The top layer of the soil must be periodically loosened shallowly.

Fertilizer and watering

Lemon care requires careful watering. Ideal moisture is natural: river, rain, snow. Using room water, it is boiled, defended, acidified. This makes her less rigid. 1 gram of citric acid per 6 liters of water. Or: 1 liter - 4 drops of acetic acid; 4 liters - 0.1 grams of ascorbic acid.

Abundant watering is necessary for him in the summer, up to two times daily. The bottom of the pot should be perforated, and the soil should have good drainage. Thus, stagnation of moisture at the roots is avoided.

Reduce watering in autumn. In winter, bring up to one or two times a week. Remember about spraying: leaves, trunk, air around.

Signs that you need to moisturize:

grayish tint of the earth;
the pot makes a ringing sound when you click on it;
drooping young sprouts;
the leaves are rolled up in a "tube";
a clod of soil from dishes crumbles easily.

Watering a lemon depends on:

his age (the older, the more often);
air temperature (the higher, the more often);
humidity (at high - less often);
season.

The most important component of lemon care at home is top dressing. Nutrients are essential for normal growth, fruiting. March - October fertilizer is applied every three weeks. Organic fertilizers alternate with mineral ones. In the summer they feed when watering. The rest of the time - 2 hours after moistening. Overfeeding has a negative effect. Therefore, it is better to underfeed. In winter, it is not necessary to feed the lemon.

Video “Growing a lemon at home”

More about growing citrus fruits at home in the video below

Pests and diseases

All indoor plants, lemon, are also susceptible to disease and pest attack. Careful care is essential to ensure a healthy life for your pet. In the meantime, let's figure out who the most dangerous pest is, what problems they can cause.

Shchitovka

Damages leaves. They are covered with brown round scales. They are almost impossible to separate. The shield is covered with a wax shell. Therefore, chemicals are useless here. Soon sticky secretions appear from the leaves. In the absence of measures, they turn yellow, then fall off.

It is best to deal with such a disease at an early stage. Examine the sheets daily, especially the bottom. If you notice an insect, then one leaf can be donated. In case of a widespread lesion, wipe them with a cloth moistened with soapy water. Then - alcohol solution. After all the green parts, treat with an insecticide, as larvae may remain.

spider mite

The most dangerous pest of homemade lemon. At first, the leaves are covered with small yellowish spots. Later they turn brown. And then a web appears where the tick lives. It looks like moving reddish dots. Favorable conditions for propagation - high temperature, dry air. The tick lays larvae in just a week. The leaves are curled into a "tube".

get infected spider mite lemon can from other plants, or by air. It is very difficult to take out. Therefore, it is easier to do prevention:

daily inspect conduct a thorough inspection;
wash the crown weekly in the shower, especially both sides of the leaves;
wipe the greens monthly with soapy water;
citrus should be kept separate from other plants.

When a tick or aphid appears, spray with this solution: pour a tablespoon of tobacco dust with a glass of boiling water. Insist 6 days. Add shavings of laundry soap. Spray for a month, once a week.

Still use the following solution. Pour the chopped head of garlic with a glass of boiling water. Leave for two days. The dishes are dark, closed. Strain. Apply in the same way.

From a tick, aphids, there is the drug "Omite" (4 ml / 1 liter of water). Spray weekly 3 times in a row. Other chemicals may be used. However, it should be remembered that they are toxic to humans. Carry out processing and care only by wearing gloves, with good air access. They destroy aphids in the same way as a spider mite.

The lemon tree is prone to bacterial, infectious, viral diseases. The latter are incurable. These are such as: xylopsorosis. The virus can live 10 years before the first signs appear. Therefore, only a specialist can determine this disease. Tristeza - affects the bark of a plant, up to its death. Leaf mosaic, citrus cancer.

Infectious diseases

Gommoz. It hits the trunk of a tree. Its lower part becomes brown, covered with cracks. A viscous dark liquid flows out of them. The cracks are growing. The decay begins. Damaged parts are cleaned, covered blue vitriol. The plant is transplanted. Take a new, fertilized soil. Before that, inspect, wash the roots. Sometimes it is impossible to cure gommosis.

Malseco. Affects shoots, up to death. At first, their tips are affected, moving to foliage, then wood. The diseased parts have a brick color. Leaves fall. Unfortunately, there is no specific prescription for treatment.

Root rot. It is noticeable when mass leaf fall begins. Treatment. Take the lemon out of the soil. Rinse the roots. Completely remove rotten parts. Transplant to a new pot. Get good quality soil.

The main cause of these problems is poor maintenance houseplant. It should be remembered that not only fruitful, but also ornamental lemons require careful care.

So do everything right, then everything will be fine with your lemon tree.

28.09.2016 33 329

How to care for a lemon at home - a cheat sheet for housewives

Growing exotic plant in an apartment, you need to know how to care for a lemon at home. The tree is capricious enough to get a tasty harvest, it takes a lot of time and effort for the long-awaited result. Only compliance with certain rules will make the lemon bear fruit and delight with healthy growth.

What conditions do indoor lemons need?

Lack of nutrients leads to wilting, yellowing of the leaf apparatus, poor flowering, dropping buds, little or no fruiting. When to fertilize a lemon? Firstly, during the period of budding, fruit setting, and secondly, with visible deficiencies in the plant's nutrients.

When caring for a lemon, you need to remember that the tree has an enhanced growth period 3-4 times a year. To get a crop, you need to regularly feed citrus. Usually, abundant flowering comes from February months to august. In winter, the amount of top dressing is reduced to once a month.

Top dressing of a lemon during the flowering period, exactly, as well as during fruiting, is done once every two weeks. It is better to feed indoor lemon with organic matter. Well suited, for example, Gumi Omi Kuznetsova Lemon, the drug is basically natural, so it can be used for house tree. Dilute 1 tbsp. fertilizer in a liter of water, mix well, pour 0.5 cups per plant (larger volume is required for adult powerful trees). You can use another natural preparation Lemon-Mandarin "Mother Earth".

Lemon fruiting at home cannot be achieved without fertilizing, neither in spring nor in summer. It is also recommended to spray the underside of the leaves with a fertilizer solution. Top dressing of citrus fruits after transplantation is carried out after 3-4 weeks, the main dose is given before the tree is placed in a new container for 2-3 days. After transplanting a lemon into a new pot, it is recommended to water the plants with Cornesil to improve and restore the root system.

Diseases and pests of lemon, the fight against them

In poor conditions, lemon can be affected by pests, various diseases of an infectious and fungal nature. The main damage is caused by ticks. Red mite and silver mite are most present on lemon, which is grown indoors in the south of the country. known to everyone and most common, both in the middle latitudes and in the north, where plants are year-round in the apartment, without the possibility of being taken out to fresh air.

spider mite - pictured

The spider mite has Brown color, sometimes with a red or yellow tint. With a thorough examination of the plants, the pest is easy to detect. Usually hordes of pests are on the underside of the leaves, braiding the green mass of the tree with the thinnest cobweb. Over the summer, one female can leave up to 10 generations, laying 150 eggs at a time.

The fight against spider mites on a lemon is carried out using a soapy solution, which is used to treat leaves and branches. Do not forget about washing the crown with a regular shower (leaves are washed on both sides). Keep the lemon pot away from other plants. Use garlic infusion, 5-6 crushed cloves are poured into a glass of boiling water, infused for 48 hours and sprinkled with lemon. If the plant is severely affected, insecticidal preparations are used (Omayt, etc.).

in the photo - the harvest of homemade lemon

It can also become an unpleasant guest that damages citrus leaf plates. On the reverse side of the leaves, sometimes on the stems, clusters of small brown scales can be found, which practically do not separate from the plant. It is necessary to deal with the scale insect immediately, otherwise the defeat of the leaf apparatus will lead to, fruiting may slow down. The methods of dealing with scale insects on a lemon are similar to those in the fight against aphids.

In addition to dirty pests, lemon can suffer from diseases such as:

root rot, mainly found when the leaves begin to fall en masse. Here it is necessary to transplant into a new pot with a good washing of the roots and removal of rotten ones;
gommosis destroys the trunk of homemade lemon. In the lower part, browning of the bark and the formation of cracks are noticeable, from which a dark-colored glue-like liquid is released. The size of the cracks gradually increases, the process of decay begins. Citrus urgently requires transplanting into a new soil with the obligatory treatment of the trunk with copper sulphate, in difficult cases- a severely affected bark is first cleaned off, then coated;
malsecco known for its defeat of shoots, sometimes to complete death. The disease begins at the tips of the branches, moves to the leaves, the trunk. Damaged parts will be painted in brick color. The disease has various forms, sometimes the lesion begins with the root system, as a result, the citrus dies very quickly. Unfortunately, at present there are no specific drugs and methods that can destroy the strain of the fungus. Observe preventive measures, if signs are found, treat infected areas of the plant with copper sulphate.

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 life ... But growing a lemon tree on our window and making REAL homemade lemonade out of it is much more pleasant and, most importantly, useful activity. You can find out how to get a full-fledged citrus tree from a stone here, and today I will talk about all the nuances of caring for a lemon at home.

Home Lemon Care: Heat + Light + Persistence

Indoor lemon has a wayward character, which is manifested in its exactingness to the conditions of detention.

In particular, it does not tolerate sudden changes in temperature, humidity and reacts painfully to drafts. Moderately humid and warm microclimate and abundant lighting essential for the well-being of your green pet.

Just don't put the pot in direct natural light, as the lemon doesn't like to roast in the sun either. For example, you can put the plant on the southern or southwestern windowsill and shade it with a tulle curtain or gauze.

Interesting fact- Lemon does not like to be near strong-smelling house flowers, so do not put lilies or rhododendrons next to it.

Autumn, winter and in early spring homemade lemon requires additional lighting with (at least 40 watts). On average, a lamp 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, keep in mind that a lemon plant needs at least 8 hours of sunshine or artificial lighting in winter and from 10 am to 2 pm at other times of the year.

Lamps are installed at the rate of 2-3 pieces per square meter. At the same time, they should be located at least 40-50 centimeters above the level of the highest branch.

Regular and sufficient watering

Homemade lemon loves to swim!

Waterlogging adversely affects the development of a citrus plant, so moderation is important when watering. In the heat, the soil in pots is moistened 3 times a week, on ordinary days the frequency of watering is reduced to one or two times.

How do you know 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 you don’t need to water it, if it falls apart, it’s time to go for a watering can.

Irrigation water should be warm and settled (filtered). The ideal option is melt water, which is obtained from pure snow or after ice has melted. No less good is rain or spring water. Three or four times a month, you can add drunk tea to the water for watering.

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

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

A native of the tropics, lemon loves to take a shower Spray the plant regularly with a spray bottle and wipe the leaves with a soft, damp cloth. In general, I advise you to turn such water procedures into a weekly ritual.

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

We make a menu for homemade lemon

The phase of active growth in a room lemon falls on the period 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 a lemon at home, I advise you to pay special attention to 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 served exclusively in liquid form and use reduced concentrations (no more than 1-2 grams per liter of water).

Also, don't forget the most important principle top dressing of any home and garden plant It's better to underfeed than to overfeed.

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

When and how to transplant a homemade lemon

At good care lemon tree "rushing" literally before our eyes. Up to 10 years, the lemon is transplanted once a year, then the plant is 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 a lot of oxygen, it is better to choose containers made of breathable materials, such as clay or wood, for transplanting.

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

When compiling a mixture for transplanting a lemon, the age of the plant should be taken into account. For young lemons, a light soil mixture is better, and for older plants, it is more dense, with a high content of clay.

Here are a few options for potting mixes for indoor lemons of different ages:

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

It is good to enrich any of the mixtures with 100-200 grams of granular 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 powder the cuts with wood ash.

Rules for seasonal lemon care at home

Spring

For lemon, spring comes in early February. From now on, start slowly feeding your green friend. In addition, at the end of winter it is good to do grafting work.

In February and March, lemon plants begin to bloom actively. Indoors, you need to maintain a temperature regime of +16 to +20 degrees.

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

Summer

In the warm season, follow the regularity of watering and the timely application of fertilizers. If desired, the lemon can be exposed to fresh air (but not under direct sun!).

Lemon Care summer time also implies intensive feeding (but, again, no 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, begin to illuminate the plants with fluorescent lamps.

Winter

In the winter months, make sure that the lemon is not in the through wind, and also that there is no hypothermia of the earthen clod in the pot. Reduce watering to once a week.

If the lemon blooms in the cold season, do not allow all the buds to open (leave no more than 1 flower for every 15 leaves). Let me remind you that in the first year, all the buds from the plant are cut off, not even allowing them to open.

I also present to your attention an overview video about all the rules for caring for lemon at home.

This article is part of a series on growing lemons at home. With the first part containing detailed instructions on obtaining a lemon seedling from a seed, you can familiarize yourself with. And in order not to miss the release of new articles, I advise you to subscribe to blog updates!

Plant lovers grow citrus fruits even on the windowsill. What factors are paid attention to in order to see flowering and enjoy exotic fruits?

You can grow a beautiful tree that will delight with fragrant fruits at home. But this plant has a whimsical character, requires attention not only to watering, but also to the temperature regime of the room where it is located. An obligatory element of care is top dressing, which is performed in accordance with certain rules. Air humidity, lighting, and timely transplantation are also important. If all elements of care are performed regularly and efficiently, then the plant will bear fruit and delight with ovaries.

Factors That Affect Lemon Growth

A lemon that is grown on its own windowsill may differ slightly from those sold in the markets. This is due to the fact that for home breeding choose indoor varieties. Small lemons, which have a very thin skin, are especially valued. In addition, they are very bright and look beautiful on the window. Larger fruits will have a dense and thick skin, and will look no less exotic.

The difficulty of caring for this fruit-bearing tree is that it is accustomed to the climate of the subtropics, where it comes from. This causes it to comfortable temperature air should not be more than 17-18 degrees. In an apartment in winter, due to heating, this figure is higher. The presence of batteries also affects humidity. It goes below 70%. And the compliance of the indicators characterizing the air with the standards is very necessary for the tree to grow.

No less important for the growth of lemons and the degree of illumination of the room. The right place for a tree indoors is chosen taking into account the fact that it does not like direct sunlight. The most ideal location will have a good degree of illumination throughout the day, but this light will be diffused.

Crockery for the tree also matters. To enter the phase of active growth and the formation of the ovaries of future fruits, it should be placed in a closer pot. If the root system is too spacious, then the flowering phase will be postponed indefinitely. Ideal for planting a plant will be dishes from natural materials. These are clay products or boxes made of wood.

Land for growth does not really matter. But it must correspond to the qualities of air and water permeability. The soil mix may contain peat and sand. Fertility will add humus. The soil should be loosened.

Moisture has a direct effect on growth. Therefore, abundant watering in spring and summer, when the ambient temperature tends to rise. In winter, the frequency of watering is reduced. Older trees require more moisture. It is desirable that watering is carried out with prepared water. Suitable pre-collected in a container and standing. You can also use defrosted water, although most perfect option- rain.

In order for the lemon tree to bear fruit, it is fed. Any of the organic or mineral types of fertilizers will be suitable. The frequency of this procedure should not be too intensive. The optimal period of time is after 20 days.

Lemon care at different times of the year

To grow a lemon, home care for a plant must take into account some differences depending on the time of year. In the spring season, it begins a phase of active growth, and then forms buds, which later become fragrant fruits. The temperature regime should be in the range of 14-18 degrees. An excessively warm room will lead to the dropping of buds and ovaries. And such an event can provoke the death of the entire tree.

Fresh air contributes well to the natural growth of lemongrass. From the moment the air temperature outside the window stabilizes at 13-14 degrees, the plant can be placed on the balcony or terrace for the entire warm period. However, they monitor possible temperature differences due to possible still frost and its decrease by night time. To avoid the death of the plant, it is wrapped.

In summer, the danger for the lemon tree is open sunlight. Therefore, this situation is carefully controlled to avoid burns.

Winter time for lemon is characterized by the stage of final ripening of the fruit. Optimal conditions for this period include moderate temperatures (16-18 degrees). Be sure to maintain optimal humidity (about 70%). Another important condition for the good condition of the tree in winter is the exclusion of air flows that come from heating sources. A pot of lemon is removed away from heaters and radiators. It is also provided with a light source for at least 12 hours.

Lemon tree care is quite capricious. Too high temperatures are not suitable for him, as well as too low. Watering should be moderate, but very dry soil should be avoided. The plant does not like direct sunlight, but requires prolonged exposure during the day to diffused light. Without taking into account and fulfilling all these conditions, it is impossible to achieve the appearance of ovaries, which will subsequently delight with fragrant fruits. Timely watering and fertilizing, proper soil are also of great importance.

Lemon Growing Mistakes Video

You bought a young lemon tree in the hope of receiving crops of fragrant fruits all year round for tea parties and strengthening immunity.

Indoor lemon: home care

Lemon care consists in regular watering, sufficient lighting, top dressing, observing the temperature regime and air humidity. It is equally important to know how to transplant a homemade lemon.

Having decided to grow a lemon tree at home, familiarize yourself with the intricacies of care:

Watering a lemon

How to water a lemon? In the cold season, from October until spring, we moderately water the tree once a week using warm water. In the spring and summer months, as well as in September, we spill the soil well with warm water once a day. Periodically loosen the top layer of the earth.

lighting for lemon

Temperature regime

Caring for a homemade lemon involves maintaining a certain air temperature.

While the lemon grows and gains green mass, or blooms, we keep it in a room where 17-20 degrees of heat is observed.
When the fruits appear and ripen, you need a temperature a couple of degrees higher.
In winter, during the dormant period, a temperature of no higher than 14 degrees, or 18 ° C, is required if the plant is not “sleeping” yet - in this case, we provide it with a 12-hour daylight hours using fitolamps.

Do not keep the lemon in a hot room and do not 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 cool weather is expected).

Indoor lemon: home care

Humidity level for lemon

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

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

The third option: turn on a household air humidifier next to the plant.

Top dressing lemon

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

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

Fertilizer with minerals. For top dressing, you will need a ready-made product such as a “citrus mixture”, in which the proportions N: P: K are 14:16:18. Dilute it in water according to the attached instructions and water the soil.
organic fertilizer. We make an infusion by mixing 1 part of water and 1 part of mullein (horse manure) and, after waiting 7 days, dilute it with water: mullein infusion - 1 to 15, horse balls 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, need to be transplanted 1 and 2 years after planting.

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

We simply transfer the plant, gently shaking off part of the old earth, into another pot with soil. The diameter of the new pot should be 4 cm larger than the diameter of the previous one.

crown formation

As the lemon grows, the crown should be cut - in the spring, on a low trunk of about 18 cm, before the green mass begins to grow. We cut off the shoots, leaving 5 leaves, so that by the beginning of fruiting the tree has branched.

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

Formation of the crown of indoor lemon

Lemon blossom on windowsill and harvest

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

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

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

Flowers do not need pollination and bloom for about 2 months.

If you tighten it with the collection, the skin will become thicker, the slices will dry out and the juice will lose its characteristic acidity.

How to care for lemon at home? This question interests every inexperienced gardener. After all, it is care that affects the growth and fruiting of the plant. Lemon is a very useful citrus for the human body. With it, you can make delicious tea and boost immunity.

Proper lemon care is a guarantee of fruit

Therefore, if you want to get all the useful vitamins, you need to know how to care for a lemon tree.

watering lemon

Home care is primarily proper watering. In cold weather, homemade lemon is watered once a week. To do this, warm water must be defended in advance. In the warm season, watering is necessary once a day, because in the heat any plant requires a lot of liquid.

After each watering, the top layer of soil must be loosened. You need to bring water into the ground clearly according to the scheme so as not to harm the root system of the lemon, because a large number of moisture can lead to its decay, and lack of water leads to the fact that the lemon tree at home begins to throw off the leaves. This is the first answer to the question of how to care for a homemade lemon.

Lighting

Worth knowing about proper lighting if you are wondering "how to care for indoor lemon". After all, no plant can exist without sunlight. The lemon tree does not need long daylight hours. The amount of light affects only the formation of leaves, not fruits. It is better to keep the tree at home on the windowsill, which is located in the east.

If there are no windows on the right side, then you need to protect the plant from direct sunlight. For the correct formation of the crown, it is necessary to turn the tree several times a month.

The shadow negatively affects the development of the lemon. Try to properly care for the lemon, then such problems will not arise.

The lemon tree loves color, but not direct sunlight.

Air temperature

Lemon care at home provides for temperature control. This is one of the main conditions for the fruiting of a lemon.

The temperature regime for a lemon should be as follows:

When the lemon begins to bloom or actively grow, the air temperature should be at least 17 ° C.
When active fruiting began: 20 °C.
During the dormant period, which most often occurs in winter, the apartment should be between 14 ° C and 18 ° C.

For a lemon at home, care in terms of temperature should be strictly observed. The slightest changes cause illness and lead to death.

In summer, lemon can be taken out into the fresh air.

Humidity level

Caring for a homemade lemon includes controlling the moisture level. In order for it to grow normally and bear fruit, the humidity must be high, especially in summer due to the heat. On such days, the plant must be sprayed daily and washed once a week in the shower.

To increase the humidity level, you need to put a small container of water next to the pot, which will evaporate and create optimal conditions for the growth of the tree. If desired, you can purchase a special humidifier, which should be in the same room as the lemon.

top dressing

Caring for a room lemon includes its top dressing. In summer, it is carried out once every seven days, and in winter - every month, if the lemon is fruitful. If there are no fruits, then this can be done less often. Caring for a lemon tree involves top dressing with mineral and organic fertilizers.

Before adding nutrients, the plant is watered. This will avoid burning the roots. If you are using ready-made mineral fertilizer, then the proportion of substances (N:P:K) is 14:16:18. Use the tool according to the instructions.

Organic fertilizer for lemon must be properly prepared. To do this, fill the manure with water and leave it for a week. After that, the mixture is diluted in a ratio of 1:15. Twice a year it is recommended to treat the soil with potassium permanganate, this will prevent diseases.

Manure is an excellent organic fertilizer for lemon

Transfer

Growing a lemon includes not only proper care, but also its transplantation. It is recommended to do it with trees every two years while they are young. In the spring, it is necessary to purchase special soil and, by transshipment, transplant a lemon into a pot that is 4 cm larger than the previous one in diameter. Thanks to the transshipment method, the roots retain their strength and quickly take root in a new place.

It is necessary to transplant a tree several times a year, during the growing season. Use expanded clay and charcoal drainage. You can not transplant a tree during flowering and during the period when it bears fruit. Correct fit- a guarantee of the health of the tree.

Lemon transplantation is carried out in the spring

Flowering and fruiting lemon

Lemon trees must be carefully looked after, especially during the period when flowers appear on it. This happens for the first time two years after sowing the seeds. When the plant blooms, you can not leave all the flowers on it, because. To. young tree not able to grow all the ovaries that have appeared.

Flower removal process:

For the first time, a flowering lemon is cut off halfway, leaving the ovaries for four fruits.
When the tree begins to bloom for the second time, ovaries are left for six lemons.
For the third time, the ovaries for eight fruits should be left on the lemon.

These manipulations with the tree allow you to properly care for it and achieve active fruiting. The older the tree, the more lemons it will produce. Therefore, do not be afraid to pick flowers.

The plant produces fruits about four times a year, depending on the variety and care. Approximately 6 months pass from the moment of development to the moment of maturation.

A fully ripened fruit has a golden skin. It is not worth delaying the harvest, because the lemon will lose all its beneficial properties.

Lemon blossom should be regulated

Pollination of lemons in pots

Flowering and fruiting occur only in mature plants. If the lemon is still young, then it is recommended to pick off all the flowers. The tree must have about 20 mature leaves to bear fruit. Early fruiting depletes the plant, it may die. If the tree is strong, then you need to wait until it blooms, and then you can pollinate.

How to pollinate a lemon correctly? First you need to create the necessary conditions. Humidity should be 70% and air temperature 25 °C. It is also worth preparing special tools:

soft brush;
a small piece of fur;
cotton swab.

Carefully, using prepared tools, collect pollen from the stamens and transfer it to the pistils. Do this with all the flowers. If you doubt that the pollination process was successful, you can repeat it.

If desired, you can use special preparations. Biological products "Bud" or "Ovary" are popular. They allow the fruits to form, in the event that the ovary develops very weakly.

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If a lemon has “settled” in you, caring for it at home will require a lot of work. It belongs to remontant plants, therefore, under certain conditions, it is able to bloom and bear fruit all year round. But not everyone succeeds not only in tasting the fruits of their citrus, but also simply admiring the flowering. What is the reason? Let's figure it out.

Variety selection

First of all, for planting in the house, you should choose varieties specially bred for this purpose. They do not grow to gigantic dimensions, but at the same time they are characterized by high yields. Pay attention to these varieties of dwarf and semi-dwarf lemons:

Meyer
Pavlovsky
Novogruzinsky
Maykop
Eureka
Genoa

Among the most common varieties in our latitudes is the Meyer lemon, caring for it is the least troublesome compared to other species. This variety is sometimes referred to as Chinese Dwarf and its fruit is not as acidic as other varieties. Dwarf lemons do not have a rich harvest, but they will add comfort to the interior of the apartment.

Video about room lemon

Tall lemons will certainly please you with tasty and large fruits, but at the same time they require a lot of time for care, because in addition to the usual activities, they need more frequent pruning, tying and crown formation. If you are interested in such citruses, choose among the following varieties:

Novogruzinsky
Kursk

Creating the optimal mode of lighting, temperature and humidity

How to care for a lemon in an ordinary city apartment, when there is no heating, then windows to the north, then the air is too dry for citrus? You'll have to provide the tree comfortable conditions growth and development.

The first thing that is important for a lemon is light.

Homemade lemon photo

For the arrangement of pots, it is better to choose south-east windows with moderate lighting, if you are lucky, of course, and you have them. But what to do if all your alternative is the north or south side.

On the northern windows, the lemon will noticeably lack light, so you will have to use fluorescent lamps, extending the daylight hours for the plant up to 12 hours. This is especially true for the winter period.

On the south side of the house, there is always plenty of light, and for a lemon, even in excess. Therefore, at noon it is necessary to shade your citrus, saving it from the destructive effect of direct sunlight, which can leave real burns on the leaves.

Lemon is a native of the Pacific tropics, so it is not surprising that the tree is demanding on thermal conditions.

In spring, during the budding period, the temperature in the room should be 14 - 16 degrees. A high degree contributes to the drying and dropping of buds, and a low degree slows down or even stops this process. During the dormant period, room temperature up to 26 degrees is sufficient. If possible, move your pet to a glazed balcony for the summer. Fresh air will benefit the lemon and the question of how to care for the lemon will not be so acute. However, you should be wary of both sudden changes in temperature and drafts. Like a true southerner, indoor lemon requires scrupulous care.

Pictured is homemade lemon

Moisture. This parameter is very important for a lemon. Therefore, it is necessary to control that the soil in the pot is constantly slightly moist. In summer, it is reasonable to increase the number to 3 waterings per week, and in winter you can reduce it to 1 time, but spray the air around the tree. This is provided that the heaters are far from the plant. It is imperative to water the lemon with non-cold water, which has settled for 5 hours. Water should not be poured directly under the root, but evenly over the entire surface of the soil. The air around the tree should also not be dry - at least 60% humidity. Otherwise, you risk seeing twisted, browning leaves on the lemon.

We fertilize, feed ...

Lemon, like the rest of the plants in your home, needs support, so it needs to be fed periodically.

Young lemon trees do not need additional stimulation; lemons that have reached 3-4 years of age need to be fertilized.

Pictured is a lemon tree

You can purchase specialized mixtures of organic fertilizers, or you can use folk methods:

For abundant fruiting, sometimes ordinary watering is replaced with an infusion of eggshells. But you should not get carried away in this way, so as not to reduce the acidity of the soil with an excess of calcium.
If the plant develops normally, has a healthy appearance and pleases with flowering, fertilization can be abandoned.
During the growing season, it is worth feeding the lemon twice with superphosphate (50 grams of fertilizer per 1 liter).
Ammonium nitrate is highly recommended to improve growth. It is taken in a proportion of 30 grams per liter of water. You can irrigate with this fertilizer monthly.
Periodically water your lemon with a 7-day infusion of horse manure, ten times diluted.
Lemon requires trace elements for normal development: magnesium, phosphorus, nitrogen and others. To make up for their deficiency, you can use the Citrus Mix fertilizer once a quarter. 2-3 grams of this fertilizer is diluted in a liter of water and used instead of the main watering.

Pruning and transplanting indoor lemon

Young lemon trees should be transplanted at least once a year.

Instances older than 3 years - with a frequency of 2-3 years. However, the need for a transplant may arise "unscheduled", for example, due to illness or deterioration of the lemon.

Pictured is a lemon transplant

The soil around the trunk is watered abundantly so that it softens, then the tree is carefully removed. In this case, extreme caution must be exercised so as not to disturb the earthen ball and not to hurt the root system.
If you find spoiled roots, cut them with a sharp knife or blade.
For transplanting, take a container 30-50% larger than the previous one. Too big, as well as too small a pot, contributes to growth retardation. Give preference to a cone-shaped container.
At the bottom of the pot, on the drain hole, place the shard in such a way that its convex side is on top. Then a drainage layer is laid (small pebbles, pebbles), a thin layer of dry manure and earth mixture.
Closer to the center of the pot, a tree is set along with a clod of earth. Slowly begin to fill the container between the lump and the walls of the pot with soil. You can lightly press the laid soil, but it is not necessary to compact it tightly.

Lemon pruning is done in order to form a beautiful crown and improve fruiting.

At a tree height of 20-25 cm from the ground, pinch the stem, allowing the side branches to develop. Please note that the first fruits appear on the branches of the 4th-5th order (row from the bottom) and until they are formed, there is no need to wait for the fruits.

Vertically grown branches should be pruned without pity.

To form the correct shape, the flower pot must be gently rotated relative to the sun every 10 days. Gardeners sometimes improve the crown using copper wire - they fix individual branches with it, giving them the desired direction of growth.

Photo of a lemon pruning

The formation of the crown is also carried out at the time of picking the fruit. A ripe lemon is cut not only with the stalk, but also with a section of the branch itself with 1-2 internodes. Thus, the growth of the branch is stimulated.

Homemade lemon - emergency care

Lemon is very whimsical to environment and reacts instantly to the slightest fluctuations in temperature or humidity. Measures must be taken to save the plant.

Dried citrus needs watering. By appearance foliage - it becomes yellowish-brown and rare - it is easy to guess the cause of the disease. But do not rush to irrigate the soil abundantly, you can ruin the root system. It is better to pour a little settled water under the root, and spray around the crown. You can wrap the trunk with gauze, folded in several layers and soaked in water. Let the tree stand in such a “dress” for several hours, but do not leave it overnight.

Excess watering will quickly make itself felt with sudden leaf fall. Healthy-looking leaves suddenly fly around en masse. As soon as a symptom is identified, immediately transplant. Carefully remove the tree from the pot, place it along with the earth clod on newspaper or cardboard so that the roots dry out. You need to plant in the soil, slightly moistened and continue to water sparingly.

Pictured is a homemade lemon with fallen leaves

A frozen lemon is very difficult to save. In conditions of a sharp cold snap, the vital activity of the plant may stop. In addition to falling leaves, the trunk darkens when frosting. You can try to "resuscitate". To do this, move the lemon to a warmer room, extend the daylight hours with the help of artificial lights. It makes sense to transplant into another pot. When excavating, be sure to inspect the rhizome, remove dead and rotten parts. Remove dead branches.

Overheating is no less dangerous for citrus. The brown spots that appear on the leaves clearly indicate overheating. Therefore, in hot summer days remove the container with the plant deep into the room. Make sure that the air from the air conditioner does not get on the crown. Additional watering or cooling is not required.

Important! You can not often change the place and habitat, it takes a long time and poorly adapts to new circumstances. Therefore, it slows down growth and fruiting, and may even show signs of illness. Both drafts and unventilated rooms are equally detrimental to him.

Photo of a lemon tree

Pests and diseases of lemon

Appearing white flies may indicate congestion. Their larvae feed on roots and cause significant damage to the plant. Insecticides are used to control them. various kinds- solutions for irrigation and aerosol forms for the destruction of insects that have managed to hatch. Karbofos and Aktelik are quite effective in the fight against these insects.

It is necessary to regularly look at the leaves of the lemon, on which mites and scale insects can settle. Outwardly, ticks look like tiny spiders. They are given out by the color orange or brown, which stands out noticeably against the green background of the back of the leaves. They tighten the damaged areas with a thin cobweb, by which it is easy to recognize pests. Rinse the twigs and leaves on both sides several times at intervals of three to four days under a shower head with strong water pressure. Effective multiple spraying infusions

garlic (1 medium-sized head insist in 0.5 liters of water),
onion (1 onion, grated on a fine grater, poured with a liter of water),
bay leaf (2-3 leaves per 0.5-liter jar of water)
strong brewing of green tea (for 2 cups of boiled water, 2 tablespoons of dry tea leaves).

Attention! It is not recommended to water the soil with these means.

Scale insects look like small brown turtles, motionless and tightly attached to the leaves. It's hard to fight them. Three times with a weekly interval, thoroughly wipe the plant, including leaves on both sides, twigs and trunk, with a mixture of soap and kerosene, taken in a ratio of 1 / 0.5. Cover the ground with cardboard or polyethylene, wrap the trunk at the very bottom with a narrow bandage to prevent liquid from penetrating into the root system.

Often lemons "get sick" from improper care. Browning leaves on an outwardly healthy plant, and even during the flowering period, is one of the ailments. In this case, reconsider the conditions for keeping the flower, it may make sense to transplant it. But in this case, choose a soil other than at present. Maybe it was the acidity of the soil that caused the disease.

Video about indoor lemon pests

As for the human body, disease prevention is important for citrus fruits. To prevent diseases, follow the regimen, transplant, trim damaged areas. Sometimes a sudden disease can be dictated by the depletion of the plant itself. In this case, limit flowering to a few buds, and, no matter how sorry, remove the rest. Each house has its own separate microclimate, not always suitable for lemon. The task of the owner of the plant is to gradually adapt it to the existing conditions.

Sometimes the process of caring for a lemon at home is comparable in terms of trouble to caring for young children - it is difficult at the beginning, but all work is rewarded when the tree begins to grow actively.