In order for a plant to feel comfortable at home, it needs to create conditions close to those in which it lives in natural nature.

Light is one of the key factors affecting the development of plants. It is absorbed by chlorophyll in the leaves and with the help of this energy, organic compounds in the plant are built from inorganic substances extracted by the root system. The most natural source of light for plants is the sun.

In nature, plants receive energy for development from the sun.

It should be borne in mind that indoor plants are taken from different climatic zones, where the length of daylight hours and the intensity of the sun's glow are different from what you provide them at home. This can especially affect their health and well-being in the autumn and winter periods. This is where the question of additional lighting for plants arises.

We grow Pavlovsk lemons and Pavlovsk tangerines, so we will consider the organization of artificial lighting for citrus plants. Light, time and spectrum of lighting, we make phytolamps with our own hands.

Natural lighting conditions for lemons

The homeland of lemons and tangerines is the tropics. At this latitude, daylight hours are 10 - 14 hours, depending on the season. Accordingly, it is this daylight that is optimal for citrus crops.

In central Russia, daylight hours range from 7 to 17 hours. Plus there are a lot of cloudy days in autumn and winter. Lemons, as light-loving plants, clearly lack light.

Memo on signs of lack of light

Signs of a lack of light can be seen on young leaves, their color becomes paler, their size decreases, the stem is extended.

You can send the plant to rest for the autumn-winter period, providing it with a temperature of 10 degrees Celsius, then it will not need a lot of light. But in the standard conditions of an apartment it is difficult to ensure this.

In order to achieve the growth and good development of homemade lemons and tangerines in autumn and winter, it is advisable to supplement them for 12 hours a day, creating conditions close to those in which they are in natural conditions.

Necessary illumination for citrus fruits

In addition to the duration of lighting, you also need to take into account the power of the lamps with which we illuminate the plants. Insufficient lamp power will not lead to optimal illumination, excessive lamp power will also lead to a slowdown in the growth and development of the crown of lemons and tangerines.

For citrus plants, a leaf illumination of 6000 - 7800 lux is required. is the power of light radiation, (luminous flux) in relation to the illuminated area. That is, it characterizes the light that actually reached the plant leaves. We can roughly measure the value of the intensity by installing the Luxmeter application or the like on our phone and conclude whether there is enough light for the lemon.

The luminous flux itself is measured in lumens and characterizes the intensity of the glow of the lamp itself. This is the characteristic of the light that the selected lamp emits. It depends on the choice of the lamp and is indicated in its characteristics.

In order for the lamp to shine, electrical energy is supplied to it, the lamp's consumption of this energy is measured in watts (W). This value is also indicated on the lamp.
It is also obvious that having lamps with the same glow intensity, but located at different distances from the plant, create different illumination. Moreover, the illumination drops very quickly when the lamp moves away from the plant - we increase the distance by 2 times, the illumination drops by 4 times.

Signs of an excess of light in a plant - everything should be in moderation

Also, if we take different lamps, then the power consumption in watts and the luminous flux that the lamp emits will be different. The less watts the lamp consumes, giving a higher luminous flux, the more profitable it is to use it - less pay for light.
I want to note that often the light that seems bright to our eyes can be dim and completely insufficient for plants, we perceive the illumination with the help of our eyes very subjectively.

With northern or foliage-shaded street trees windows, illumination for citrus plants is simply necessary for good development. Otherwise, you will be faced with the constant loss of leaves from lemons and tangerines, slow and depressed shoot growth, the citrus plant will be on the verge of survival. The likelihood of lemons flowering and fruiting will greatly decrease, and if they all bloom, then this will be a very strong load on them.

Light spectrum for plants

A very important characteristic of light for indoor plants is the spectrum. In nature, the sun is the source of light for plants. The light that falls from it, we perceive as white. The light that we see in the room, emitted by various household lamps, is also white, but in a different shade. This is determined by what it is made of.

White light is a mixture of all colors

The light we perceive as white is actually a mixture of all the colors of the rainbow. Our brain does not know how to perceive light separately according to the colors of which it is composed and always gives an average value, and the amount of each color determines the shade of white that we see. The light temperature is often indicated on lamps, the higher the value, the visually more blue the emitted light will appear, and the lower, the more yellow.

In fact, the natural sunlight for plants, decomposed in all colors and intensities, looks like this:

Sunlight spectrum

But if you go further and see how the leaves of a plant perceive light depending on its color, you will notice that plants absorb red and blue colors very well and almost do not absorb green. This could be easily guessed, since we see the color of the leaves as green, which means that almost all of it is reflected from them.
What is the conclusion from this? - the energy that is spent by the lamp to create the green spectrum is completely wasted and is almost never used by plants. Accordingly, to illuminate home lemons, we need lamps in which there will be good radiation in the blue and red spectrum and almost none in the green.

If we go even further and remember that light is a wave and each color has its own wavelength and more accurate measurements, we will see that the peaks of light perception by plants are at 445 Nm and 660 Nm wavelengths. This corresponds to deep red and blue-violet colors.

Light absorption by plant leaves depending on wavelength

The red part of the spectrum affects the flowering of the plant and the ripening of fruits, is the main source of energy for photosynthesis, if it is in excess, then the plants stretch too quickly.

The blue color stimulates cell division of the plant, under its influence the stem thickens. It is a signal for the plant in which direction to turn and direct the growth of the stem.

Scientists have noticed this fact long ago, and have designed lamps with a narrow specialization - the illumination of plants for their effective growth.

Types of phytolamps for illumination of citrus plants

For home use, the most suitable lamps are fluorescent lamps and LED lamps. We use both types of phytolamps for growing lemons and tangerines and will tell you about our experience. They can also be used like seedling lamps... We do not even consider incandescent lamps, for their low efficiency and strong heating.

Fluorescent lamps

In our case, fluorescent lamps can be divided into two types: household lamps and specialized lamps for plants. The difference can be understood by the marking of the lamp itself and visually by the glow of the lamp.

Household lamps made in order to illuminate the room with light that is as comfortable as possible for the human eye. Their glow will be white or slightly yellow, depending on the light temperature.

The spectrum of household fluorescent lamps

From the spectrum graph, you can see that household lamps in the red band of the spectrum do not emit enough light. They can be used, but as an additional light source for plants. They emit a lot of light in the green spectrum, which is almost never used by plants, so they cannot be called efficient and economical.

Specialized fluorescent lamps for plants emit more light in the blue and red areas of the spectrum assimilated by plants, having a dip in the green. Their light seems to our eye not bright, purple-pink and unpleasant, but for plants this is just the thing!

Spectrum of a fluorescent lamp for plants

Partially, we use just such lamps here. We use a Camelion FT8-36W / BIO lamp model, they consume a power of 36 W, giving a luminous flux of 1400 lm. They have the best characteristics of the lamps known to us in terms of price / quality ratio. The spectrum is close to what our lemons and tangerines need. If you know better and cheaper, then please write to us in the comments, we will try them.

Luminescent phytolamp for plants

To get from these lamps the required illumination for citrus fruits of 6000-7800 Lux, we install 2 lamps at a height of 20 cm above the plants on an area of ​​1.2 meters by 0.6 meters. Plants thrive in winter and grow well.

LED lamp

Another class of plant lamps that we use to illuminate lemons is LED lamps. They can be divided into two groups:

1. Lamps from groups of individual LEDs of various narrow spectrum;
2. Lamps assembled from the same plant-specific LEDs with a wide spectrum.

Narrow Spectrum LED Plant Lamps

A classic LED, unlike fluorescent lamps, has a narrow emission spectrum. The idea for biolamps from such LEDs is that we put a set of LEDs in it that emit only at those frequencies of the spectrum that are most effective for plants. These, as we wrote above, are peaks at wavelengths of 445 Nm and 660 Nm, respectively, dark red and blue-violet, and sometimes other colors are mixed.

It seems to be an ideal situation - peaks of light absorption by plants are superimposed on narrow peaks of LED radiation. It would seem that the idyll, lemons and tangerines should grow well and prosper ... But! The peaks are very narrow and if the LEDs are even of a slightly different spectrum, then their radiation will not be well absorbed by plants.

And here, as luck would have it, there are two factors: the first is that LEDs with this spectrum are more difficult and more expensive to manufacture than LEDs with a spectrum that is very close, but not the one that is suitable for plants. Their color is also blue and red, you cannot tell the difference by eye, and they are cheaper. The second factor is that manufacturers are very fond of saving and often install exactly these LEDs that are practically useless for plants. They shine, but there is no sense.

Narrow spectrum LED plant violet

To summarize, a good way to illuminate plants and an economical one if you have a spectrometer at hand that can accurately measure the spectrum of lamps upon purchase.

Wide Spectrum LEDs for Plants

Another class of LEDs, in which the capabilities of the LED are expanded by the addition of a phosphor, which expands the spectrum of the LED. With one LED, you can get the entire spectrum of light necessary for plants.

Characteristics of full spectrum LED for plants

We use these LED lamps with a wide spectrum to illuminate lemon and tangerine seedlings. Its disadvantage is its high cost, but we got out of the situation by assembling them with our own hands from separate components ordered in China. It turns out much cheaper.

Full Spectrum Plant LED 3W

We separately order 3W LEDs for plants of the full spectrum from China on the Aliexpress website (in fact, they give 2W), a driver for them (power supply) for 10 LEDs, and also in a hardware store we buy an aluminum beam as a heat sink and hot melt glue. We mount all this on a beam, and you get an inexpensive, highly efficient and economical lamp for lemons and seedlings.

DIY full spectrum LED plant lamp

If we go back to the characteristics, then with a power consumption of 20 watts, it provides illumination of plants, like a 36-watt fluorescent lamp on the spectrum desired by plants. Now in winter we illuminate some of the lemons with LED lamps, some with fluorescent ones, and under those and other lamps the plants feel good, the difference is not noticeable.

Time relay setting

There is another trick in plant illumination - the use of a time relay. Sold in electrical goods and watercolors stores. We set a weekly backlight schedule: days, on and off times. No need to remember what time to turn it on and off. A very handy thing - just set it up and forget it.

Automatic timer itself will turn on and off the light at the right time

Behavior of seedlings at the beginning of illumination

Also from personal observation: if your lemons previously received insufficient light, and then you immediately installed a powerful backlight, then some plants may have leaves larger than standard ones. This is not scary, the next growth will already give normal leaves. If possible, then you need to increase the illumination gradually, but if this is not done, then it's okay.

Resume on the topic of artificial lighting for indoor plants

Pavlovsk lemons, as light-loving plants in the autumn-winter period, need additional lighting, especially if they live in server rooms or shaded windows. The most energy-efficient and effective at home method of supplementing indoor lemons and tangerines will be the use of specialized fluorescent lamps for plants labeled Bio, Flora or the like. They are also suitable for lighting phyto-lamps made of LEDs, if you are sure that their spectrum meets the needs of plants. Such lamps are expensive, the best option is to assemble them yourself. Well, to automate the processes of turning on and off the lamps, use a time relay.

Proper lighting will provide the plant with everything necessary for the development of fruit ripening.

We will make Pavlovsk Lemons great again!

If you have a lemon "settled", 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 trying the fruits of their citrus, but also just 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 these purposes. 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
• Maikop
• Eureka
• Genoa

Among the most common varieties in our latitudes, Meyer's lemon, caring for it is the least troublesome in comparison with other species. This variety is sometimes called the Chinese dwarf, and its fruits are not as sour as those of other varieties. Dwarf lemons do not have a rich harvest, but they will add comfort to the interior of the apartment.

Indoor lemon video

Tall lemons will certainly delight you with tasty and large fruits, but at the same time, they require a lot of time to care, because, in addition to the usual activities, they need more frequent pruning, garter and crown formation. If you are interested in these citrus fruits, choose from the following varieties:

• Novogruzinsk
• Kursk

How to take care of 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 will have to provide the tree with comfortable conditions for growth and development.

The first thing that matters to a lemon is light.

Homemade lemon photo

For the arrangement of the pots, it is better to choose southeast windows with moderate lighting, if, of course, you are lucky and you have them. But what if your whole 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.

There is always plenty of light on the south side of the house, and even a surplus for lemon. Therefore, at midday it is necessary to shade your citrus, saving it from the destructive effects 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 the thermal regime.

In the spring, during the budding period, the room temperature should be 14 - 16 degrees. A high degree contributes to the drying out and shedding of the buds, and a low degree slows down or even stops this process. During the rest period, room temperature is sufficient up to 26 degrees. If possible, transfer your pet to the glassed-in 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 temperature changes and drafts. As a true southerner, indoor lemon requires meticulous care.

Homemade lemon in the photo

Moisture. This parameter is very important for 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 heating devices are far from the plant. Water the lemon with cold water, which has settled for 5 hours. Water should be poured not directly under the root, but evenly over the entire soil surface. The air around the tree should also not be dry - at least 60% humidity. Otherwise, you risk seeing twisted, brownish leaves on the lemon.

Lemon, like the rest of the plants in your home, needs support and 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 with this method, 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 with superphosphate twice (for 1 liter of 50 grams of fertilizer).
• Ammonium nitrate is highly recommended for improving growth. It is taken in the proportion of 30 grams per liter of water. Watering with such fertilizer can be carried out monthly.
• Water your lemon periodically with a 7-day infusion of horse manure, diluted tenfold.
• Lemon needs microelements for normal development: magnesium, phosphorus, nitrogen and others. To compensate for their deficiency, you can use the Citrus mixture 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 replanting 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 condition.

In the photo, a lemon transplant

1. 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 earthy ball and not to hurt the root system.
2. If you find damaged roots, cut them off with a sharp knife or blade.
3. For transplanting, take a capacity 30-50% larger than the previous one. Too big, like too small a pot, slows down growth. Give preference to a cone-shaped container.
4. Place the crock at the bottom of the pot on the drain hole so that its convex side is on top. Then a layer of drainage (small pebbles, pebbles), a thin layer of dry manure and an earthen mixture are laid.
5. Closer to the center of the pot, a tree is installed along with a lump of earth. Slowly start filling the container with soil between the lump and the walls of the pot. You can lightly press down on the laid soil, but there is no need to tamp 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, making it possible to develop lateral branches. Please note that the first fruits appear on the branches of the 4th-5th order (rows from the bottom) and until they are formed, there is no need to wait for the fruits.

Vertically grown branches should be pruned without mercy.

To form the correct shape, the flower pot must be carefully turned 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.

The formation of the crown is also carried out at the moments of picking fruits. Ripe lemon is cut not only with a stalk, but also with a section of the branch itself with 1-2 internodes. This stimulates the growth of the branch.

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

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

Excess watering will quickly make itself felt by a sudden leaf fall. Seemingly healthy leaves suddenly fly around en masse. As soon as a symptom is identified, proceed with a transplant immediately. Carefully remove the tree from the pot, set it together with the earth lump on newspaper or cardboard so that the roots dry out. You need to plant in the soil, slightly moistened and continue to water moderately.

In the photo, homemade lemon with fallen leaves

It is very difficult to save a frozen lemon. In conditions of a sharp cold snap, the vital activity of the plant may cease. In addition to falling foliage, the trunk darkens when freezing. You can try to carry out "resuscitation". 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 removing, be sure to inspect the rhizome, remove dead and rotten parts. Remove dried out branches.

Overheating is no less dangerous for citrus. The appearance of brown spots on the leaves clearly indicates overheating. Therefore, on hot summer days, remove the container with the plant deep into the room. Make sure that the air from the air conditioner does not enter the crown. No additional watering or cooling is required.

Important! You cannot often change the place and habitat, it takes a long time and badly to adapt to new circumstances. Therefore, it slows down growth and fruiting, and may even show signs of disease. Drafts and unventilated rooms are equally destructive for him.

Photo of a lemon tree

Lemon pests and diseases

Appearing white flies may indicate stagnation. Their larvae feed on roots and cause significant damage to the plant. To combat them, insecticides of various types are used - irrigation solutions and aerosol forms for the destruction of insects that have managed to hatch. Karbofos and Aktelik are quite effective against these insects.

It is necessary to regularly look at lemon leaves, on which ticks and scale insects can settle. Outwardly, mites are 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 at intervals of three to four days several times under a high pressure shower head. Multiple infusions are effective

• garlic (infuse 1 medium-sized head in 0.5 l of water),
• onions (1 onion, finely grated, poured with a liter of water),
• bay leaf (2-3 leaves per 0.5 liter can of water)
• strong infusion 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.

Scabbards look like small brown turtles, motionless and tightly attached to leaves. It is difficult to deal with them. Three times at weekly intervals, wipe the plant, including leaves on both sides, twigs and trunk, thoroughly 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 the penetration of liquid into the root system.

Lemons often "get sick" from improper care. Brownish 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 different from that at the present time. Perhaps it was the acidity of the soil that caused the disease.

Video about pests of indoor lemon

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

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

Winter is just around the corner. And winter is a special time in the life of plants. During this period, they go into rest mode in order to endure adverse conditions. Indoor plants also need to be prepared for the onset of cold weather, in winter they need special care, even though they are in a warm apartment. About how to do it right take care of indoor lemon in winter, we will tell you in this article.

Watering

In winter, the irrigation regime will differ from the summer one. The number of waterings in winter should be reduced to once a week, it is best to water in the evening hours. Frequent watering is fraught with acidification of the soil in the pot, and, consequently, further diseases of the lemon tree. Water slowly, gradually, allowing the water to soak well into the soil. Water for irrigation must be at room temperature, you can even heat it up a little, up to about 30-35 degrees.

In winter, it is imperative to monitor the moisture content of the soil; warm batteries can very quickly dry out an earthen lump. But the plant should not be poured either.

And also winter is the ideal time to water lemon with melt water, as this water is considered the best for this purpose. Melt the required amount of snow, allow the resulting water to warm to room temperature and water your lemon tree with it. Melt water is much softer than tap water, it will not saline the soil, which means it will have a beneficial effect on the condition of your lemon.

Air humidity

In winter, due to the beginning of the heating season, the air in the apartment becomes dry, its humidity decreases. This can negatively affect the health of your lemon tree. in winter implies that dry air should be humidified, for this you can use containers with water. Place them indoors, preferably near radiators, so that the water evaporates faster. You can also use special devices for humidifying the air.

Be sure to spray the crown

Spray your tree weekly with water from a spray bottle or wipe the leaves with a damp cloth. For this, the water must be warm.
Several times a month arrange "water procedures" for him: wash the plant with a shower in the bathroom. Such a procedure will saturate the plant with moisture, wash away dust from the leaves and help get rid of possible insects.

There are several more ways moisten the lemon tree in winter... One of these ways to maintain optimal plant moisture is to purchase a special pebble stand. It is necessary to place in this stand, pour water into it so that the bottom of the pot does not submerge in water.

Light mode

The lemon tree is quite sensitive to the amount of sunlight, especially in winter. At this time, you need to be very careful to ensure that your plant receives a sufficient amount of light. It should be remembered that the higher the temperature in the room where it is contained, the more sunlight it needs.

Do not place under the sun for a long time, the tree may get sunburn. It is also better not to put the tree next to the window, because cold air can blow from it, and lemons do not like drafts. Placing the pot next to heating radiators is also not a good idea, the plant will dry out quickly from the increased temperature and dry air.

It looks very beautiful on the window, but this arrangement is fraught with sunburn and hypothermia

If the lighting in your apartment is not enough, you need to additionally highlight it. winter implies that, for normal health, citrus fruits need 12 hours of daylight, but in winter it is much shorter. With a lack of light, the plant begins to shed its leaves, its state is generally depressed, in the worst case, the tree may die. This is where supplementary lighting comes to the rescue - prolonging daylight hours with the help of lamps.

Now in stores you can find a wide variety of lamps: fluorescent, sodium, metal halide and LED. Almost in each of these groups you can find phytolamps, the spectrum of which is most optimal for plants.
Be sure to pay attention to the power of the lamp, it is measured in watts. The more watts a given lamp has, the greater the flux of light, and, consequently, the greater the efficiency of the lamp. One or three 40-watt lamps will be enough for backlighting.

The use of phytolamps will help the plant survive the lack of sunlight without consequences.

At what height should the lamp be positioned? For more effective backlighting, the lamp should be positioned as close to the lemon as possible. But it is very important not to place it too close to the plant, because the plant will be too warm. You can find out the optimal height for a phytolamp by placing your hand under it. If your hand feels too warm, you should raise the lamp higher. In general, the recommended lamp height is 15-20 cm.

Pruning and feeding

In general, pruning lemon in winter is not very necessary, especially if your plant hibernates in cool conditions. You should only cut off already dead branches and leaves. This procedure will generally improve the condition of the lemon tree.
Feeding may not be needed in winter.

Lemon overwintering

There is another wintering option for your lemon - you can introduce it into the winter state of dormancy that is natural for all plants. This method is also called "cold wintering". This method is especially suitable for beginner citrus growers, as resting lemon requires a minimum of attention.

Before wintering, you need to carry out some preparatory measures. About a couple of months before the onset of cold weather, move the tree to the room in which you are going to leave it for the winter. Before doing this, do not forget to wipe well to get rid of dust and possible insects.

Where to put during cold weather? A glazed loggia or veranda is perfect for this. The most optimal conditions for the room where you are going to put the plant for the winter is soft diffused light and a constant temperature of about 7-10C. With a combination of such conditions, it will be able to maintain normal vital activity, but will not evaporate excess moisture. But it is worth lowering the temperature gradually, by several degrees for 10-14 days. If you abruptly move from a warm room to a cold one, the leaves from the plant may fall off.

And also lemons can hibernate in complete darkness, but provided that the temperature in this place will be maintained at + 3-5 degrees. During cold wintering, the temperature should not be allowed to drop below 0 degrees, this temperature is destructive for the lemon and can cause massive leaf fall. You also need to avoid raising the temperature in the daytime to 15 degrees, such overheating can also cause massive leaf fall.

A well-wintered one will certainly shoot new shoots in the spring.

Although your lemon tree is dormant, it still needs to be watered occasionally. The plant needs watering only when the soil in its pot becomes dry (when trying to squeeze the soil into a lump, it should crumble).
In the spring, with the onset of warmth, one can be taken out of a state of rest, but this must be done gradually.

It is impossible to bring from cold to warm without first heating the soil in the pot. It is necessary to increase the temperature and the amount of light gradually, over several days, in order to avoid leaf fall due to temperature differences.

Here are all the tips to help the lemon tree survive the winter properly. If you follow them, your green pet will again delight you in the spring with flowering, and later - with delicious fruits.