How to care for a lemon tree in a pot. Care for a lemon tree at home and features of varieties Lemongrass indoor cultivation and care

The lemon tree is an unpretentious indoor plant that easily adapts to home conditions. For its active growth and development, it will be necessary to create suitable conditions, as well as perform simple manipulations to care for and protect against pests. This article will help you understand all the intricacies of growing a lemon with your own hands, as well as tell you about the rules for planting and how to propagate a tree.

For planting a tree at home use:

• fruit pits;
• cuttings.

Selection of fruits

When buying lemons in a store or on the market, you need to choose only ripe fruits, from which the planting material will be extracted. Citruses should be bright yellow in color with a characteristic odor.

For harvesting seeds, choose only ripe fruits

• lethargic;
• green;
• rotten.

Seed lemon trees grow and develop much faster than plants from cuttings. They adapt better to room conditions (air humidity, temperature and lighting) and are less susceptible to various diseases.

Planting cuttings

Cuttings are also actively used for growing at home. They can be purchased at a flower shop, or taken from a familiar grower.

Important! The offshoot lemon tree has the genetic material of its "parents".

Disadvantages of the method:

• the need to search for cuttings;
• financial costs for the purchase of planting material;

lemon tree sprout

• sprouts do not adapt well to the new environment;
• the crown of the plant is not so lush (unlike citrus grown from a stone).

Soil preparation for lemon seeds

Before you start planting the seeds in the ground, you need to prepare the pots and the ground. For active germination of grains, both a special soil for citrus plants, it is sold in flower shops, and home-made soil are ideal. If the purchased land is already ready for use, then homemade soil should be given a little time and attention. It should consist of:

• ½ sod land;
• ½ humus land;
• a small amount of fertilizer - charcoal and / or peat.

Advice. Flowerpots for planting must be taken capacious and deep so that the root system has a place for its growth and development.

Planting a grain in the ground:

1. Expanded clay, pieces of charcoal or polystyrene are placed at the bottom of the flowerpot (this material will serve as drainage).
2. The pot is filled with prepared or purchased soil.
3. The earth is moistened with rain or purified water.
4. Several grains are planted in a container, immersed to a depth of 0.5-1 cm.
5. The flowerpot is covered with a film to create greenhouse conditions.

With the right fit, sprouts appear pretty quickly.

After 2-2.5 weeks, the first sprouts will already appear on the soil surface, the strongest of them are transplanted into another container for further germination.

• Lemon, like a southern plant, loves heat very much (the ideal temperature for a lemon is 17-27 degrees). Flowerpots with shoots must be placed in a bright room, but not under the direct rays of the sun.
• The tree needs moderate watering (2-3 times a week), since an excess of moisture leads to rotting of the root, and its lack leads to the death of the plant.
• For irrigation, use only settled, rain or purified water.
• Flower growers recommend spraying the tree crown 2-3 times a week (especially in winter) and wiping its leaves from dust.

Fertilizing the soil and top dressing lemon

Lemon, like any other plant, needs fertilizer and top dressing. They noticeably accelerate the growth and development of the tree, fill it with all the necessary nutrients. Experts recommend feeding the lemon tree once every three months.

The lemon tree needs to be fertilized several times a year.

For feeding and fertilizing indoor citrus plants use:

• sodium nitrate (13 g per 1 liter of rainwater);
• ammonium nitrate (5 g per 1 liter of water);
• bird droppings (it is mixed with water (ratio - 1: 1), insisted for 2-3 weeks, diluted with plenty of water (1:20), poured under the root);
• other ready-made dressings sold in specialized stores.

Important! The amount of fertilizer should be moderate, as they are able to accumulate in the plant and its fruits.

Reproduction methods

At home, lemons multiply:

• seeds;
• bends;
• cuttings.

Lemon tree cuttings

Reproduction by seeds is a fairly common method, it is simple and understandable. Fruits on such plants appear only 10-12 years after planting.

cuttings

1. This is another way to propagate the lemon tree, and is used in spring or summer. Breeding technology:
2. A twig with 3-4 green leaves is cut off with a sharp knife or pruner (the lower edge of the shoot should have a pointed edge).
3. Immerse it in a specialized liquid (growth activator) for 10-12 hours.
4. The treated shoot is planted in prepared sandy soil.
5. It is plentifully sprayed with water, covered with a film (such water procedures are repeated daily).
6. When young sprouts appear, the film is removed from the handle, cared for in accordance with all the requirements and recommendations of specialists.

Reproduction by grafting

Inoculations in the cleft actively propagate indoor lemons. This method is quite effective, but not everyone can succeed. Technology:

Indoor citrus pests

• fungus;
• various harmful bacteria;
• viruses.

Important! Diseases can be seen by the appearance of spots and flaws on the foliage, a decrease in its size, the appearance of various growths and raids.

Common citrus tree diseases:

• gommosis;
• scab;

Lemon disease - scab

• root rot;
• sooty fungus;
• stickiness of the sheets (a sign of the appearance of scale insects).

Gommosis is one of the most serious diseases. It appears in the lower part of the tree, gradually spreading to its upper part (tubercles with a dark brown liquid form on the trunk, "burns" and cracks appear on the affected branches). Gommosis is very difficult to treat. In this situation, only processing with copper sulphate and stripping branches can help.

Manifestation of gommosis

Soot fungus also often disturbs citrus fruits. It manifests itself in the form of dark spots on the foliage, they have a bad effect on the growth and development of the lemon. You can fight it with the help of warm water, it is washed off the formed stains, thereby freeing the leaves from plaque.

Sticky leaves are the result of the appearance of a scale insect. You can fight it with ready-made means that are sold in specialized stores, as well as with the help of folk remedies.

How to grow a lemon at home: video

For seven years I have not bought lemons in the store. This is because I managed to grow several citrus trees at home in pots. There is really nothing complicated about this. In this article I will tell you how to care for a lemon at home.

Lemon is an evergreen perennial plant. It has strong spiny branches with purple tips, large leathery leaves and ovoid fruits. Homemade lemons bloom for 7-9 weeks, all this time delighting their owner with a pleasant aroma.

They can bear fruit in the third year after planting. The fruits ripen for several months. To taste, they practically do not differ from lemons grown in tropical countries.

Beneficial features

Lemon is not just an ornamental plant, it is your reliable home helper. It has many useful properties:

• Phytoncides, which are secreted by citrus leaves, purify the air of microbes.
• The aroma of lemon helps to increase tone, helps a person fight stress.
• Citrus fruits contain a lot of vitamin C, which is necessary for a person to quickly recover from colds and flu.

Lemon essential oil, which can be obtained from its leaves, has a beneficial effect on humans. It improves mood, relieves cold symptoms, relieves anxiety.

What varieties are suitable for home growing

At home, lemons of the following varieties grow well:

• Genoa is a low-growing variety, has a high yield, gives delicious fragrant fruits.
• Lisbon is a tall growing variety that tolerates high temperatures well.
• Pavlovsky lemon is a low variety that delights its owners with fruits with a thin peel.
• Meyer lemon is one of the most popular low-growing homemade varieties. Gives sour fruits.

Any of these varieties grows well in apartment conditions and does not require complex care. You need to choose a lemon that you like best in taste and appearance, and you can safely proceed to plant it.

Growing your own lemon

At home, lemons can be grown from cuttings or seeds. The first option is easier. To grow a lemon from a cutting, you need to do this:

1. Purchase a cutting of the variety of your choice. It is better to buy it from trusted people, as inexperienced gardeners often cut the cuttings incorrectly, which is why young plants die before they have time to take root in the soil.
2. The stalk must be placed in water or in a mixture of sand and earth. It is deepened by 2 centimeters and covered with plastic wrap to ensure the required level of humidity.
3. After 2-3 weeks, the plant that has taken root is transplanted into the ground. Deepen it into the ground by 2-3 centimeters. In order for a young lemon to grow well, it is placed in a room with a temperature of 20-25 degrees Celsius.

Since it is rather difficult to buy quality cuttings, growing a homemade lemon from seeds is more reliable, in my opinion.

For this purpose, the bones of any ripe lemon bought in the store are suitable. The process of germinating seeds is quite simple:

1. From a ripe citrus, you need to pull out the bone, rinse it thoroughly under warm water. After that, you should lower it into warm water so that it is only half deep. The container with the bone must be removed in a place that is hard to reach for children and pets.
2. Next, you need to monitor the condition of the bone, periodically changing the water in the container. As soon as it cracks and a small sprout appears on the surface, the future lemon will need to be transplanted into a small pot. At this stage, you can use ordinary universal soil to grow the plant, then it will need to be replaced with a special mixture, which includes two parts of dry clay and leafy soil, as well as part of the sand and part of the manure. The bone itself should be half-immersed in the ground, otherwise it will not grow.

After transplantation, a young lemon will grow rapidly and gain strength. In order for the plant not to die at this stage, it needs to be properly cared for.

How to care for lemon at home

Indoor lemon is a rather unpretentious plant. In order for it to grow well and quickly, it needs to provide:

1. Regular watering at least 2 times a week. For this purpose, it is recommended to use settled filtered water.
2. Top dressing. It should be carried out once every 3-4 weeks in the summer months and once every one and a half months in the winter. Mineral and organic fertilizers should be used for this purpose. In order for the plant to form correctly, it is recommended to alternate such dressings. They need to be planted in moist soil.
3. Pruning. It is carried out in April, until the lemon tree has entered the phase of active growth. Its trunk is shortened to 5 true leaves. After that, the tree is pruned once a year at the beginning of spring.
4. Frequent spraying. It allows you to make lemon leaves juicy and fleshy, and the fruits more fragrant.

Flowering in indoor lemon usually begins in the 2nd year after planting. Its fruits are formed on the branches of the second, third, fourth order.

If you want to treat yourself to homemade lemons, in the third year of a houseplant's life, remove half of the flowers from it and leave 4 fruit ovaries. The next year, their number can be increased to 6, and a year later - up to 8.

With proper tree care, homemade lemons are juicy and fragrant. To taste, they do not step on their store counterparts.

Plant care in winter

Lemon does not tolerate cold. The plant needs to provide a temperature of +15 to +18 degrees in winter. If possible, he should be provided with additional lighting due to a UV lamp. To make the lemon feel better, it is recommended to slightly warm up the water for watering it in the cold season.

You also need to ensure that the air in the room with citrus does not dry out. If central heating is making it very dry, spray lemon leaves or use an automatic humidifier.

conclusions

In general, growing a homemade lemon is not as difficult as it might seem. To succeed in this business, it is enough to choose the right cutting or seed, as well as follow all the recommendations for caring for a house tree in a pot. Then, already in the third year, lemon can please you with its fragrant fruits.

Some indoor plant lovers have adapted to grow citrus trees on the windowsill. Lemon is especially popular. Growing a lemon at home will not take much effort from the owner.

Lemon cultivation can be done at home

Lemongrass is native to southern countries with a warm and humid climate. Therefore, the main task of the grower is to provide similar microclimatic conditions in the house or apartment.

Why is lemon grown at home?

There are several advantages to growing a lemon crop at home. The main one is the fragrant healthy fruits that the plant produces annually. In addition, placing a lemon on the windowsill can become an interior decoration.

You can grow a lemon at home in a pot or tub. A pot is more suitable for dwarf varieties of a plant, a tub is useful if a large tree is grown from a stone. With enough heat, moisture and light, a room lemon can reach one and a half meters in height and produce up to 150 fruits per season. It is very difficult to achieve such results, but taking into account all the features of care, this can still be done.

Another benefit of growing a lemon is the beautiful appearance of the tree. It has a dense and evergreen crown. During the flowering period, the plant throws out beautiful flowers. Often they are covered with mighty green leaves. The only exception is Ponderosa lemon, whose branches are thin and resemble a sprawling bush. Despite the external weakness, the branches can withstand up to 50 fruits. This ornamental tree can be grown on a windowsill as it does not take up much space.

A lemon bush can produce up to 50 fruits

General features of growing lemon at home

Lemon is a thermophilic tree. The lack of heat affects the fact that the plant grows poorly, gets sick or dies. If you decide to put the pot on the window, then you must:

1. Choose south or east. The plant should receive a lot of sunlight.
2. On sunny days, the tree is placed in the shade, and on cloudy days, it is illuminated with fluorescent lamps.
3. In summer, take the plant to the balcony or loggia. There it receives more oxygen and solar energy. And only by the fall it is brought to its original place. In winter, you should monitor the temperature indicator, which should not fall below 10 degrees.

Special attention is the quality of the soil and the pot. The fact is that lemons have an individual nutrition system. They get water not through ordinary hairs on the roots, but through fungi in the soil. The relationship of a home plant with fungal mycelium is sensitive to external factors. It is easy to break it with a lack of oxygen, improper watering and sudden changes in temperature.

Before you grow a lemon tree, you should take care of a suitable soil. Plant lemons in loose soil types with a neutral pH. It is best to plant citrus fruits in ready-made soil purchased from a specialized store. If indoor lemon is placed in a self-made substrate, it is important to take into account the proportions of humus, soddy soil and sand. Soil with meadow turf, leafy soil, humus and sand is also popular.

Mistakes in care lead to the fact that the lemon tree at home dies from dryness or excess moisture, poor conditions or pests.

Lemon prefers the sunny side of the room

Planting a lemon

For small plants, a clay pot is suitable, for large ones it is better to use a wooden tub, which is considered the best option for placing citrus fruits. Natural material better passes oxygen to the roots of the lemon. Before placing the planting material in a pot, it should be inspected for damage. The landing process itself is simple:

1. The root neck is buried 5 cm deep.
2. The container is filled with soil almost to the very top. It is better if there is a space of 1–1.5 cm between the edge of the pot and the soil.
3. After planting, the seedling is sprayed with water and watered with a solution of potassium permanganate.

The planted tree is left on the windowsill. A young plant needs a lot of light and heat. On hot days, it is better to create partial shade, which will save you from burns. You should not change the place for the pot, the lemon does not like moving. Occasionally, you can turn the tree with darkened leaves towards the sun for even heat.

Lemon seedlings after planting are sprayed with water

Growing a lemon from a seed

If you decide to germinate a varietal lemon from a seed, you should know the features of its cultivation. This process takes much longer than planting seedlings. To find out how long it takes for the germination of grains, you need to take into account the following features:

1. The sprout breaks out of the ground 2 weeks after planting. Sometimes it takes more time (up to one month).
2. Citrus germs require greenhouse conditions, so the pot with the stone is covered with a cut plastic bottle or covered with plastic wrap. Inside such a cap, the humidity is many times greater than in open space, and the transparency of the bottle allows the ascending shoots to receive sunlight. In a homemade greenhouse, watering should not be abused. The soil already gives moisture to the allotted space of the greenhouse, so it should only be sprayed.
3. When a small stalk has broken through, it is accustomed to room conditions, removing the greenhouse cap for 1-2 hours a day.
4. Transplanting into a large pot occurs only when 4 leaves appear on the sprout.

Growing lemon in a greenhouse is also suitable for mature seedlings. With the right organization of climatic conditions, you can do without it. It is also not worth rushing to feed.

Until the citrus root system is fully formed, any external additives will be perceived by the tree as poison. It is best to feed in spring or summer, but not earlier than three months from planting.

Growing a lemon from seed will take quite a long time.

watering lemon

Growing a lemon at home is not an easy task, often a lemon does not survive even a few months. And one of the reasons for this is improper watering. Providing proper care at home is necessary for the plant to grow healthy and strong. How to properly water

1. Provide moderate watering with settled water 1 time per day. You can water it twice a day (it is necessary to monitor the condition of the soil).
2. Water lemon 2 times a week in winter.
3. Drain accumulated water in the pan immediately after watering. The roots of the plant can rot from excess moisture.
4. Spray lemon leaves daily with warm water. It is especially important to do this in winter, when the air becomes dry from the operation of heating systems.

Experienced growers advise beginners to find a balance of moisture: avoid overflows and lack of moisture. With its shortage, the leaves of any kind of lemon begin to turn yellow. If timely watering is not done, microiza and the plant die. If yellowed leaves are detected, the lemon should be sprayed with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

We must not forget about the benefits of a warm shower. Like everything standing still in the home, the lemon is covered with a layer of dust and dirt. It should be washed off, because dust interferes with the process of photosynthesis. Bathing plants spend no more than 1 time per month.

Remove dust from lemon leaves regularly.

lemon fertilizer

Recommendations on how to care for a lemon also apply to plant nutrition. Citrus fruits are sensitive to fertilizers. The preparations must be constantly changed, because when using one fertilizer, the pH of the soil can change to an acidic or alkaline side. In such soil, the lemon does not ripen, grows for a long time, gets sick and dies. To avoid this, you should:

1. Choose only mineral compounds for fertilizer.
2. Fertilize from March to October with a frequency of 2-3 weeks. For young plants, it is enough to carry out the procedure once every one and a half months.
3. Combine top dressing with watering in the summer.
4. In spring and autumn, feed the plant only after watering. Fertilizer is applied at least 2 hours after soil moistening.
5. In winter, fertilize once.

Unlike complex mineral fertilizers, not all organic matter is suitable for lemon. The most effective is a weak solution of manure with water (1/6) and an extract from wood ash. A special infusion of birch and quinoa leaves is popular.

Some citrus growers face the problem of flowering. When flowers do not appear among the ripening leaves on the crown, this indicates poor feeding. Why does the plant react this way? The fact is that the lemon does not have enough strength for the fruit. And changing the fertilizer will help him cope with this problem.

From quinoa you can prepare an infusion for fertilizing lemon

The Importance of Pruning

The need for pruning is caused by decorative and sanitary features. Its shape and scheme most often depend on the purpose of growing a tree. Small ornamental plants do not need sprawling large branches, so they are cut as much as possible, making the crown compact. For citrus fruits that bear fruit, the rule of balancing branches and shoots applies. The most common method of such pruning is pinching.

It begins after the lemon has reached the age of one year, with preliminary pruning of the main shoot. It is best to leave 30 cm in length. This is necessary so that the lateral buds on the tree begin to germinate.

Only after the lemon gets stronger and gives new branches, they should be pinched. There are 3-4 leaves on each branch. This pruning method allows the tree to grow strong, able to hold and allow them to fully mature.

It is important to prune old dried branches. Lemon spends his strength on them, but it will not work to revive them. Therefore, it is better to rid the lemon of excess load. Also amenable to pruning are those shoots that grow inside the crown. They most often prevent neighboring branches from developing and receiving enough sunlight.

Enjoying a ripe lemon fruit grown on your own balcony or windowsill will only work if the flowers are shaped correctly. Weak immature plants can throw out a large number of flowers already in the second year of life. You can't leave them. The structure of the tree cannot withstand a heavy load, and the lemon will die, giving all its strength to the fruits. To grow a large crop, you should:

1. In the second year of a lemon's life, leave 2 flowers on the entire tree or completely remove the inflorescences.
2. During flowering, carefully monitor the health of the tree, protect it from drafts and perform all the features of caring for it.
3. Know the rule for forming inflorescences - 1 fruit should have 10 leaves. All other ties are removed.

Lemon harvest can be expected 4-5 years after planting

Do not expect high fertility rates from a houseplant. The tree grows and develops very slowly. Any human error can delay flowering. You should constantly monitor the condition of the lemon and feed, cut and water it in a timely manner.

Some citrus owners get the first good fruits after 4-5 years. Their number rarely exceeds 5-8 pieces. More harvest to come. The tree reaches its maturity only by 8–10 years, and at home, the lemon lives up to 40–45 years.

Transplant Features

Some citrus owners are faced with the problem of the rapid death of the plant. If its cause depends on watering and fertilizing, then the tree suffers from an improperly selected pot. Too much capacity causes root rot. It is better to use pots commensurate with the root of the plant and replant the tree only when it becomes crowded. It is best to increase the space gradually, controlling the growth of the roots of the tree.

We must not forget about the proper access of oxygen to the roots. It is better to install the pot on a pallet with a gap so that air penetrates into the soil. A lining of stones or wood should be installed under the bottom of the pot.

After transplantation, the citrus is returned to the same place where it stood before. Any change of environment is bad for the health of the plant. It can get sick and even die. If you want to turn the tree with its shaded side towards the sun, then you should change the angle by no more than 10 degrees. Only in this way will the lemon grow strong and healthy.

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

Lemon tree - description

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

The formation of a flower bud occurs throughout the year, but more in the spring. After the appearance of the bud, the lemon tree flower develops for another month and only then blooms. Lemon blossoms for several days. The aroma of blossoming buds is thin and sweet, a bit like the smell of acacia or jasmine. With a sharp drop 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 optimum temperature of the room in which the plant is located is +16 +18 ° C, humidity should be at least 60%.

The color scheme of the lemon pericarp can be from light yellow to red or green. The peel of a lemon is dense from orange to bright yellow. 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 a lemon is from 6 to 9 centimeters, the diameter is from 4 to 6 centimeters. The inner part in the section has several nests with seeds. The fruits of the lemon tree can be located both singly and in clusters. In form, they differ depending on the variety or type of hybrid.

Types of lemon trees

By the presence of a stipule, it can be determined that a lemon tree in a pot is a hybrid. These varieties include Jubilee lemon, Meyer lemon, Ponderosa lemon. Pavlovsky lemon, Novogruzinsky lemon, Genoa, Lisbon, Ural lemon, Kursk lemon, Maikop lemon, Jubilee lemon, Eureka, Lunario and other species are also distinguished.

Some types of homemade lemons during flowering have a reddish-lilac color of flowers. Indoor or ornamental types of lemon trees are unpretentious, relatively low and produce 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 fruits. Flowering and fruiting begins 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 condition of the lemon is unknown, most likely it is a hybrid that arose in the process of evolution. As an agricultural crop, lemon is grown in the CIS countries: in Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. The leaders in the cultivation of lemons are India, Mexico, Italy, Turkey.

Lemon Tree Care

In order for this plant to delight 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, prune, and water your lemon tree.

Primarily, watering a lemon tree produce only settled (at least a day) water. The trickle of water must be directed as close to the ground as possible to avoid erosion of 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 air temperature in the room is not higher than 15 ° C, the lemon goes into “sleep mode” and does not require strong lighting. A pot with a lemon tree is placed as close as possible to the window, but it is better if direct sunlight does not fall on the lemon. If the lemon tree began to bloom prematurely, such buds must be removed, otherwise the plant may die.

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, nevertheless, pests were found, a soap solution or tobacco tincture should be prepared, with which each leaf is treated. You can also purchase special insecticides. The most dangerous and common homemade lemon pests are the worm, scale insect, aphid, mite, nematode and garden slug.

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

An interesting fact: if you move a plant from its usual place where it was constantly, and simply unfold the pot of lemon, the plant can slow down growth and bear fruit poorly.

Lemon tree - home care

Many people ask if it is possible grow lemon at home. In fact, caring for a lemon at home is not so difficult. First you need to seriously approach the choice and purchase of a seedling. When buying 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, about 10-15 centimeters. It is not difficult to determine the age of the leaves, the old ones have a dark green glossy color, and the young leaves are lighter with a delicate structure. When buying, you should not take an adult plant, its plus lies only in its beautiful appearance. But there is a huge minus: a change of place adversely affects the lemon tree, up to 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 in the process of its growth; randomness cannot be allowed in it. For this, tweezing is used (removal of the top of a young growing shoot). Sometimes the lemon is pruned to increase the yield.

Useful properties of lemon and lemon tree

In the process of growth, 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 macro elements such as chlorine, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, sodium, magnesium, iron boron, zinc, copper, fluorine and many others . Also, lemons are able to 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 harvested 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 shelf for vegetables and fruits.

The lemon tree illuminates the room with juicy and bright fruits, and also decorates the windowsill. We will tell you in detail how to care for a lemon grown in a pot. At home, everything is quite simple, you just need to provide the plant with proper lighting, watering and feeding. It is noteworthy that a lemon tree can live up to 100 years and even more, so it is inherited.

Preparing to grow a lemon from a stone in a pot

Before you grow a strong and completely healthy lemon from the stone, carry out preparatory activities.

1. First, select planting material. For this purpose, remove the seeds from fresh fruits. In no case do not use a seed that you got a long time ago. It won't grow.

2. As soon as you collect the bones, rinse them in warm water. Do not wait and do not dry, immediately immerse in the substrate. Such a simple move will increase the number of shoots by 60%.

3. Citrus growers share another effective method to enhance the quality of the future tree and seed germination rate. They recommend using a sharp knife to free the seed from the hard shell. It prevents the sprout from breaking out.

4. Before caring for a lemon, it must be germinated in a pot. But before planting at home, the collected material is aged for 3 hours in a special growth stimulator. Seed coats must not be allowed to dry out. The growth stimulator is used only when planting seeds with a shell.

Growing a lemon from a stone in a pot at home

Lemon can be obtained from the stone, following the step-by-step instructions at home. Growing is not difficult, given all the nuances.

1. So, first take care of shallow containers, make holes at the bottom (side) to let excess moisture out. Thus, you will prevent stagnant water and rotting of planting material.

3. Now about the soil. It is better to make it yourself from river sand, humus and garden soil. Crushed coal (wood) is added to the substrate for enrichment with nutrients and a bactericidal effect.

4. If it is not possible to make soil, buy a ready-made substrate at the Summer Resident or Everything for Gardening store. Choose soil suitable for growing citrus fruits.

5. Before caring for a lemon in a pot, it must be planted and germinated at home. The ideal period for sowing seeds is February. If you are in a hurry, then the manipulations are carried out earlier.

6. So, first you need to moisten the soil until water begins to pour out of the drainage holes from below. This means that there is enough liquid. Now you need to make holes 2 cm deep, place the bones in them and sprinkle.

7. If the container is in the format of a rectangle, it is allowed to plant a couple of seeds in it at the same time. Plants will not interfere with each other, because when 3-4 leaves appear, they will already need to be transplanted.

8. Place a film over the containers, make holes to prevent condensation from accumulating. Leave the seedlings at a temperature of 22-25 degrees. The temperature must not be allowed to drop, otherwise the sprouts will not hatch.

9. Now it remains only to wait. As practice shows, you will see the first sprouts after 1-4 weeks. During the specified period, spray the soil with a spray bottle. Do not water the soil unless there are obvious signs of drying out.

How to care for seedlings of lemon from the stone

How to care for an adult lemon in a pot, we will describe below. In the meantime, we will study the features of caring for seeds planted in the soil. At home, all manipulations come down to the following:

1. When you see green sprouts hatching above the soil, accustom them to room temperature gradually. Periodically remove the film from the surface of the container so that the sprouts "breathe".

2. After the appearance of 3-4 leaves, remove the polyethylene for good. It's time to transplant small plants into their individual pots, in which they will grow stronger every day.

3. In the first year of a seedling's life, all care comes down to pinching, watering, timely transplanting and forming the first crown.

4. In addition, in cold weather and cloudy weather, seedlings should be illuminated with LED phytolamps or fluorescent lamps.

5. In the summer, top dressing is carried out for 2 weeks (alternation of minerals with a solution of humus).

6. Young plants need to be transplanted every year. You can not disturb the roots, so move with extreme caution.

7. If the earth ball around the root system has not formed properly, it is not at all necessary to replace the entire soil. Citrus growers recommend changing the top layer.

8. To prevent the plant from weakening, do not allow it to bear fruit until the age of 3 years. Therefore, the first shoots directed deep into the crown, simply remove. Systematically rotate the seedling so that the lighting passes evenly.

How to care for a lemon tree in a pot

Now we will analyze in detail how to care for an adult lemon in a pot. Follow the simple instructions at home.

No. 1. Provide lighting

1. Do not forget that the plant in question loves light. And it should be bright enough.

2. However, keep the seedlings out of direct sunlight. As soon as the tree gets stronger and grows, nothing will threaten it.

No. 2. Maintain the temperature

1. The lemon tree is classified as a subtropical plant. Therefore, it needs moderate heat.

2. In winter, provide the seedling with a temperature of +12 degrees. In the summer season - no higher than +22 degrees. Take the tree to the loggia or the street. Build a canopy if necessary.

No. 3. Keep an eye on humidity

1. In addition to watering, the tree requires systematic spraying with water.

2. For this purpose, boiled liquid at room temperature is used.

3. Attention: the seedling needs exactly high humidity (!), And not the soil.

Watering a lemon tree in a pot

No. 1. Summer / spring / autumn watering

1. In the warm season, take care of frequent and abundant moisture. If the room is cool and there is high humidity, frequent watering is useless.

No. 2. winter watering

1. In winter, watering is carried out as the top layer of soil dries. Make sure that the soil does not dry out deeper than 1 cm.

2. To do this, mulch it, that is, sprinkle it with hay / sawdust / pieces of bark, etc. Then the plant will not dry out. Do not abuse watering so that the tree does not rot.

Soil and top dressing of a lemon tree in a pot

It is important to learn how to care for a lemon tree in a pot, and continue to grow it at home. Consider some of the features.

No. 1. The soil

1. A lemon tree needs fertile soil that will pass water and oxygen without problems.

2. To create such a soil, it is enough to combine peat, rotted leaves, sand, humus and 2 parts of turf in equal proportions.

3. Maintain acidity at pH 5.8-6.5. Lay 2 cm of drainage on the bottom of the pot. It won't retain water.

No. 2. top dressing

1. In order for the lemon tree to develop fully, systematically pamper it with fertilizers of mineral and organic origin.

2. With the onset of spring and until mid-autumn, fertilize 1 time in 20 days. At the same time, alternate mineral and organic top dressing.

4. Adhere to the main requirement - fertilize in the warm season 2 hours after watering.

Pruning a lemon tree in a pot

The answer to the question of how to care for a lemon in a pot will be incomplete if you do not consider the timely pruning of a tree at home.

1. Pruning is considered an integral part of care. Correctly shape the crown, depending on the purpose of growing a lemon.

2. If the plant is grown as a decor, the crown should be made compact. To obtain high-grade citruses, a completely different method is used.

3. A fruit-bearing tree should have several main branches, consisting of fruit wood. Form a crown by pinching.

4. Pinch off zero shoots that are 25 cm long. Then repeat the procedure at a height of 20 cm from the previous pinching. As a result, 4 developed kidneys remain on such a segment.

5. Pinch the shoots on the first row after 25-30 cm. As they mature, cut them 5 cm shorter than the previous row. At the end, complete the formation of the crown on the shoots of the last order.

Lemon from the stone will bear fruit if all requirements are taken into account. At the same time, citrus fruits will begin to ripen on a tree even without grafting. Do not expect a good harvest earlier than in 4 years. If you get vaccinated, the ripening period of the first lemons will be slightly reduced. For the rest, follow the clear instructions for caring for the tree.