Plant lovers grow citrus fruits even on the windowsill. What factors do you pay attention to in order to see flowering and enjoy it? exotic fruits?

Grow a beautiful tree that will delight fragrant fruits, you can do it at home. But this plant has a whimsical character and requires attention not only to watering, but also to the temperature regime of the room where it is located. Required element care is feeding, which is carried out in accordance with certain rules. Air humidity, lighting, and timely replanting are also important. If all elements of care are performed regularly and efficiently, the plant will bear fruit and delight with ovaries.

Factors that affect lemon growth

The lemon that is grown on your windowsill may be slightly different from those sold in the markets. This is due to the fact that for home breeding they choose indoor varieties. Particularly prized are small lemons, which have very thin peels. In addition, they look very bright and 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 subtropical climate where it comes from. This means that its comfortable air temperature 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 becomes below 70%. And 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 is the level of illumination in the room. Right place For a tree indoors, it is chosen taking into account the fact that it does not like direct sunlight. The most ideal location will have a good amount of light throughout the day, but this light will be diffuse.

Dishes for the tree are also important. To enter the phase of active growth and formation of the ovaries of future fruits, it should be placed in a tighter pot. If the root system is too spacious, the flowering phase will be delayed indefinitely. Ideal for planting plants would be dishes made from natural materials. These are clay products or boxes made of wood.

Land is not particularly important for growth. But it must meet the qualities of air and water permeability. The soil mixture 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 time when the ambient temperature tends to rise. In winter, watering frequency is reduced. Older trees require more moisture. It is advisable that watering be carried out with prepared water. Pre-filled in a container and left to stand will do. You can also use thawed water, although the most ideal option is rainwater.

To lemon Tree bears fruit, it is fed. Any of organic or mineral species fertilizers The frequency of this procedure should not be too intense. The optimal period of time is after 20 days.

Lemon care at different times of the year

To grow a lemon, caring for the plant at home 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 will subsequently become fragrant fruits. The temperature should be in the range of 14-18 degrees. An excessively warm room will cause the buds and ovaries to drop. And such an event can provoke the death of the entire tree.

Contributes well natural growth lemon fresh air. 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 changes due to possible further frost and a decrease in temperature at night. To avoid the death of the plant, it is wrapped.

In summer, open sunlight poses a danger to the lemon tree. 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 temperature regime(16-18 degrees). Definitely support optimal humidity(about 70%). Another important condition for the good condition of a tree in winter is the exclusion of air flows that come from heating sources. The pot with lemon is removed away from heaters and radiators. It is also provided with a light source for at least 12 hours.

The lemon tree is quite capricious to care for. Excessively high temperatures are not suitable for it, nor are too low temperatures. Watering should be moderate, but very dry soil should be avoided. The plant does not like direct sunlight, but requires prolonged exposure to diffused light throughout the day. Without taking into account and fulfilling all these conditions, it is impossible to achieve the appearance of ovaries, which will subsequently delight you with fragrant fruits. Timely watering and fertilizing, the right soil are also of great importance.

Indoor lemon- one of the most spectacular and beautiful ornamental plants. Delighting its owners with bright foliage and fragrant flowers, this citrus fruit, however, belongs to the group of very capricious ones. Care must be carried out correctly. At the slightest violation of technology, the tree will not only not bloom and bear fruit, but may even lose its leaves and die. In order for the plant to develop well and have a lush crown, it should be properly watered and fertilized.

What do you need to know?

Further in the article we will look in detail at how to care for a plant such as indoor lemon at home. Flowering and fruiting of this citrus fruit are possible only if:

• the right choice places;
• using suitable soil;
• regular watering and fertilizing;
• periodic pruning.

Bloom

Main decorative value lemon is represented by its dense leaves of a rich dark green color. The star-shaped white flowers with yellow stamens of this citrus are quite spectacular. However, they grow deep in the crown, in the axils of the leaves, and are practically invisible from the outside. Therefore, lemon cannot be classified as a group of beautifully flowering indoor plants. But although the flowers of this citrus are not its main decoration, they smell very pleasant. Moreover, the aroma spreads literally throughout the room.

The abundant appearance of buds is only possible if a plant such as indoor lemon is properly cared for at home. This citrus fruit does not bloom most often precisely because of a lack of soil nutrients and irregular watering. Also, the lack of buds and fruits can be affected by a lack of sunlight.

How to choose a variety?

IN wildlife indoor lemon, which is really difficult to care for at home, grows in hot India. This plant has been cultivated as a crop for a very long time, including in Russia. Lemons were brought to our country back in the time of Peter the Great. Over the years of cultivation, many varieties of this citrus fruit have been developed, both productive and unpretentious. But of course, for growing in conditions limited space Not all varieties are suitable. The most popular varieties among indoor plant lovers are:

1. Pavlovsky. Such lemons favorable conditions can even reach a height of 2 meters. The advantages of this variety include, first of all, the fact that it reproduces very easily. cultivation and care at home for which - the procedures, in comparison with other varieties, are relatively simple, are not very suitable experienced florist. Its fruits are very fragrant and fragile. The variety does not like bright sunlight too much.
2. Meyer. This variety is good for its early fruiting and unpretentiousness. It differs from most other varieties in having more sour fruits. Also, indoor Meyer lemon, cared for at home in much the same way as any other varieties, is compact. This variety grows very short.
3. Novogruzinsky. This lemon can be easily made to yield all year round. Its fruits have no seeds and smell very good.

How to choose a place?

The peculiarities of lemon, among other things, include the fact that it really does not like changes in environment. Therefore, the place for it must be chosen carefully. Most varieties are preferred good lighting. But it does not tolerate direct sunlight.

They put in a lemon, growing and caring for it at home will only be successful if you choose the right place, most often on an eastern window. Bright, but rather diffused morning light is enough for this plant to develop well.

It is also possible to place lemons on a south window. However, in this case, you should definitely take care of shading. Direct sunlight will definitely cause burns to the plant. In addition, the lemon will react to excess lighting by the appearance of a large number of small whitish leaves. Thus, the citrus fruit will simply try to reduce the area of ​​contact with UV rays and lose its effectiveness.

You should also choose a place for the lemon, taking into account that the pot is not cooled by a draft. This is especially true during the cold season. If the temperature of the soil in the pot is lower than the ambient temperature, the plant will shed its leaves.

How to propagate by cuttings?

This is the most easy way get some new lemons at home. Cuttings are taken from an adult plant in early spring. The branch should be mature, about 4-5 mm thick. The lower leaves are removed from the cuttings. It is best to plant a twig in a greenhouse made from an ordinary plastic bottle.

A 2 liter container is perfect. The top of the bottle is cut off, and several holes are made in its bottom to drain water. Next, a layer of steamed sand is poured onto the bottom. Nutrient soil with an acidity of 6.5-7 pH is placed on top. You can buy lemon substrate in a store or make it yourself. In the latter case take:

• leaf soil - 1 tsp;
• humus - 1 hour;
• turf soil - 2 hours;
• sand - 1 tsp.

All components should be thoroughly mixed and placed in a bottle.

The end of the cut cutting is sprinkled with wood ash, powdered with the stimulant heteroauxin and immersed 2-3 cm in the soil. Next, the plant must be thoroughly watered and the bottle covered on top. plastic film. It is not recommended to further moisten the soil in the container until the plant has rooted. The roots of the branches are released in about a month.

When using cuttings as planting material in the future it will be easiest to care for citrus fruits such as indoor lemons at home. Reproduction using this technology allows you to quickly obtain a lush, healthy, fruit-bearing adult plant.

Using seeds

Planting material for this method of cultivation should be selected as carefully as possible. You need to get the largest seed from an evenly shaped fruit. It should be planted immediately. In this case, you can use a regular container as a container. a plastic cup with drainage holes made in it. You should pour a little sand on its bottom. In this case, the soil used is the same as for cuttings.

It is best to plant several seeds at once in different cups, and then choose the strongest plant for growing. The seeds are buried 2-3 cm into the soil. Watering is carried out immediately after planting. The selected lemon will need to be transferred to a larger container at the age of 3-5 months. Transshipment should be done as carefully as possible. If the roots of the lemongrass are damaged, it will drop its leaves.

How to water?

Moisture is what indoor lemon loves. Caring for it at home, like all citrus fruits, also includes frequent watering. In summer, the soil under the plant is moistened once or twice a day. In winter, water the lemon once a week. With a lack of moisture, the leaves of this plant change color to yellow-brown.

If this happens, under no circumstances should you pour a large amount of water into the lemon at once. Otherwise, its root system will die. You can improve the situation in this situation by slightly moistening the soil under the plant and spraying it generously. Wrapping the stem in a damp cloth will also help.

How to fertilize?

Lemon should also be fed quite often. In the summer, once a month the plant is watered with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. It is best to do this at night. It is also useful to water the lemon with a solution once a month. The best organic fertilizer for this citrus fruit is regular cow manure.

You can also purchase a complex fertilizer containing nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus in the store. Lemon is fed with this product twice a month. Very useful for this decorative culture Wood ash also contains a huge amount of microelements.

Caring for lemons at home in terms of fertilizing can also be done using purchased compounds, designed specifically for citrus fruits. Sometimes indoor plant lovers also replace upper layer soil in a pot with lemon on pond sludge containing a lot useful substances. In winter, if the plant bears fruit, it should be fed with complex fertilizer or organic matter once a month.

Crown formation

Periodic pruning is also something that indoor lemons absolutely require. Home care for this plant in terms of crown formation should be periodic. Otherwise, it may happen that the tree will not bear fruit. The first time, pruning is done immediately after the lemon reaches a height of 20-30 cm. At this time, the top is carefully removed so that 3-4 buds remain on the trunk.

After about a year, shoots of the first level are formed from them. After they reach a length of 20-30 cm, they are also pinched. Next, shoots of the second, third, etc. levels will begin to form on the branches. Each new “wave” should be pinched so that it is 5 cm shorter than the previous one. That is, the branches of the second level should have a length of 15-25 cm, the third - 10-20 cm, etc. Of course, it is necessary to remove diseased shoots growing inside the bush, etc.

Pests

Thus, the lemon should be watered and fertilized on time. It is also necessary to start forming its crown. What other difficulties await a gardener who cares for a plant such as an indoor lemon at home? Diseases strike this country, unfortunately, often. Therefore, the lemon may have to be treated from time to time.

Trees of this variety can be affected by both fungi and microorganisms or insect pests. Most often for amateurs indoor flowers you have to fight scale insects, mealybugs and aphids that attack lemons. All these types of pests are engaged in sucking juice from leaves. You can fight them through soapy water or tobacco infusion(50-60 g per liter). Sometimes scale insects, aphids and mites are expelled from plants using a chlorophos solution (30 g per 10 l).

Diseases

Gommosis is also one of the problems faced by many lovers of ornamental plants who grow indoor lemons. Caring for this citrus fruit at home involves, among other things, periodic inspection of the leaves and stem. In a plant affected by gommosis, cracks appear in the lower part of the stem, from which gum begins to ooze. Treat the tree with garden varnish or clay. Cracks are pre-disinfected with a solution copper sulfate 3%. Then the wounds are simply carefully covered with varnish or clay.

This is how a plant such as indoor lemon is cared for at home. The photos on the page clearly display the beauty of these citrus fruits. If you grow your lemon following the rules described in the article, you will grow the same spectacular fragrant tree with bright green leaves and a lush crown.

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

Caring for homemade lemon: heat + light + consistency

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

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

Just don't place the pot directly daylight, since lemon also does not like to fry in the sun. For example, you can place the plant on a south or southwest window sill and shade it with a tulle curtain or gauze.

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

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

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

Regular and sufficient watering

Homemade lemon loves to swim!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Making a menu for homemade lemon

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

When caring for lemons 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 supplied exclusively in liquid form and low concentrations are used (no more than 1-2 grams per liter of water).

In addition, do not forget the most important principle feeding any household and garden plant- It’s better to underfeed than to overfeed.

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

When and how to replant homemade lemons

At good care the lemon tree is “rushing” literally before our eyes. Up to 10 years, the lemon is replanted 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 large quantities oxygen, for transplantation it is better to choose containers made of breathable materials - for example, clay or wood.

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

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

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

1. Plants up to 4 years old: leaf soil, mature manure, high peat, fine river sand (1: 2: 1: 0.5).
2. Plants from 4 to 10 years: turf soil, leaf soil, high peat, lake silt, river sand (2:1:1:1:0,5).
3. Plants over 10 years old: turf soil, leaf soil, high-moor peat, lake silt, coarse river sand (3:1:1:2:0.5), ash from burning straw at the rate of 200 grams per 10-liter bucket of soil.

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

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

Rules for seasonal lemon care at home

Spring

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

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

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

Summer

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

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

Autumn

Gradually prepare the plant for moving to closed room: First, bring him into the house for one to two hours, then for half a day, and so on.

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

Winter

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

Lemon is one of the few fruit-bearing plants that can be grown at home without much difficulty. Unlike exotic and, which can also be grown at home, even a child can germinate the seed of an eaten lemon (which they often amuse themselves with). But growing a little lemon is not everything. To achieve full fruiting, you need to make an effort and have at least a minimum of knowledge on how to care for lemons at home. Subsequently, all these efforts will pay off handsomely. If we omit the undeniable decorative qualities of the evergreen lemon tree and the beauty of fragrant flowers, and focus only on fruiting, then lovers of “useful” indoor plants will be delighted. Indoor lemon produces large, full-fledged fruits, which are often superior in taste to store-bought ones. An adult lemon tree at home is capable of bearing fruit throughout the year, and the quantity of fruit is quite capable of allowing you to forget about buying lemons.

Growing lemon from seed

As I already mentioned, the easiest way to grow a lemon is from a seed. This is often done casually by sticking a seed into a pot with any other indoor plant. Usually such seeds germinate and grow for some time, but in most cases that’s all it ends with. If you want to grow a full-fledged lemon tree from a seed, then you need to allocate it an individual space with the most suitable soil for it. In principle, the usual mixture for indoor flowers is also suitable for germinating lemon seeds, but it is better to make it even easier by diluting it with pure peat. For germination, seeds taken from well-ripened fruits are best suited (unripe lemons are often found on sale). The pot should be small - 7-9 centimeters in diameter (as for). The bone is buried about a centimeter - one and a half. Next, put the pot in a bright, warm place. It is advisable, like, to create greenhouse conditions for the grain. To do this, just cover the pot with regular glass jar. At this point, the process of planting lemon seeds can be considered complete. During the germination process, make sure that the soil does not dry out. A sprout should appear in a couple of weeks.

Caring for lemon seedlings is also simple. Keep the soil moist, do not let it dry out too much, spray it periodically. To maintain greenhouse conditions, leave it under the same jar, only periodically (once a day) remove it for a few minutes to ventilate and remove condensation from the walls of the jar. The young lemon is kept in this way until it grows to about 15 centimeters. After this, you can transfer it into a more spacious (10 cm in diameter) pot, add more nutritious soil (more about it below) and begin caring for an adult lemon.

There is a nuance. This simplicity has a significant drawback. For many years, a lemon grown from a seed will be only an ornamental plant; fruiting for a long time is out of the question. Only after 10 years can you count on flowering and the beginning of fruiting. There is a way to speed up this process, but it will speed it up by a maximum of 4 - 5 years. This method is not easy and I will definitely describe it separately.

Other ways to grow indoor lemons

A more effective method is to graft a cutting of a fruit-bearing lemon onto an adult non-fruit-bearing tree. The same lemon grown from the seed can be used as a rootstock. By the way. Any citrus tree (tangerine, orange, etc.) is suitable as a rootstock. Lemon is grafted, just like. This operation is quite complicated and beyond the capabilities of most novice flower growers, so if you decide to do it, think carefully about whether you can carry it out efficiently.

Despite the fact that fruiting of such a lemon will begin much earlier than when grown by other methods, it also has a number of significant disadvantages.

– Firstly, the method is complex and requires skills.

– Secondly, you need to have a well-developed (at least three years old) rootstock, and growing it also takes time...

Growing lemon from cuttings is the most effective, simple and reliable way grow fruit-bearing indoor lemon. For it you only need cuttings taken from an adult fruit-bearing lemon tree. I have already described in detail how to grow a lemon from a cutting. You can read -. I can only add that although the flowering of such lemons can occur within a few months after rooting (as evidenced by the photo below), they will not begin to bear fruit immediately either. First, they need to develop well. But after three to four years you can safely count on the first harvest.

This lemon was grown from a cutting 4 months ago. A bud has already appeared on its top.

How to care for indoor lemon

Caring for lemons at home is, first of all, a set of rules that must be strictly followed! These rules are simple, but ignoring at least one of them will lead to, if not fatal, then very unpleasant consequences.

Lighting

Lemon is considered a short-day plant. This means that he will calmly tolerate the lack of light. But also call indoor lemon shade-tolerant plant It's also not possible. In a well-lit room with many windows, it will grow successfully even in its far corner. But if there is not enough light, the lemon will immediately react to it with the appearance of chlorosis. The leaves will become faded, embossed, veiny. It may even go so far as to shed leaves. This is especially true in winter, when daylight hours become very short. In some cases, artificial additional illumination of the lemon may be required. But if it’s too much dark room, and it also depends on the type of lemon tree. Lengthening daylight hours and bright lighting, on the one hand, promotes the growth of homemade lemons, but on the other hand, it slows down the onset of flowering and, accordingly, fruiting. As practice has shown, lemon can grow well on a western windowsill (as long as it fits there). Other window sills, including eastern ones, are not The best decision to place it. The most suitable place for it is on a table or stand near the south or east window. And although a certain amount of direct sunlight will only benefit it, it must be protected from the scorching rays of the southern side.

Lemon develops cyclically. Regardless of the time of year, indoor lemon enters the stage of active development every 3-4 months. That is, if your lemon is frozen and does not grow new shoots and leaves, this does not mean anything. If there are no signs of deterioration in his health, then the time has not come yet.

Temperature for lemon

Indoor lemon does not like heat. The most comfortable temperature for him lies within +17 – 20 degrees. More heat is possible and desirable only during the period of fruit ripening. For the formation of buds and ovaries, the temperature of indoor lemon should be moderate and even cool (+15 - 18 degrees). If it gets warmer, it is quite possible that the buds will drop. Preferably in winter. To do this, he needs to be kept very cool at +12 – 15 degrees. In practice, this content is applied only to young lemon trees or those that have not yet reached fruiting age. For fruit-bearing trees, this is the time of fruit ripening, which means they need a higher temperature.

An indoor lemon is essentially a lemon tree adapted to indoor conditions; therefore, in the summer it will be most comfortable outdoors. It should not be forgotten that this is a southern tree and sudden changes in temperature are undesirable for it. If a sharp cold snap is expected, it is better to bring it indoors.

Watering lemon and air humidity for it

Equally, excessive watering and drying out the soil are dangerous for indoor lemons. The frequency of watering directly depends on the air temperature, the size of the plant, the volume and density of the soil in which it grows. Of course, in the warm season, lemons need to be watered much more often. It is advisable to maintain constant moisture in the soil in the pot, but without unnecessary zeal, so as not to flood the plant. Until you have studied all the urgent needs of your lemon, wait until the top layer of soil dries out, then water. In winter, especially when kept in cool conditions, watering is reduced.

For indoor lemon it should be increased. Especially if you keep it in warm conditions in winter. During this period, heating devices greatly dry out the air, which will inevitably affect the plant. Spray it as often as possible. But if the conditions are cool, then spraying is excluded! In the summer, wherever the lemon is located, outdoors or indoors, be sure to spray it at least once a day.

Lemon feeding

There are many fertilizers available for citrus fruits. But, alas, not all of them correspond to the description and purpose. Over the years of growing lemons, I went through a great many of them until I found a really worthy one. I'm afraid that you will face the same search. After all, your city simply may not have such fertilizer. But if you’re lucky, it’s a fertilizer for citrus fruits, from the “Master – Agro” series. From March to September, feed your lemon with this (or a similar) fertilizer every week. If it bears fruit, then feeding can be continued after this period. There are also traditional ways to use lemon. In particular, infusion of ash (preferably birch), infusion of birch leaves or quinoa leaves.

Lemon transplant

Note! Untimely and incorrect transplantation of a lemon can ruin all your efforts to grow it!

An indoor lemon tree cannot be replanted. Most of the so-called “recommendations” say that it needs to be replanted almost every year, and even in a pot 5–6 centimeters larger. It is not right! Lemon loves cramped potty, and too spacious a container is the most common reason that the lemon does not bloom. Moreover, in a large pot, the risk of soil acidification and root rot increases many times over. But you still can’t do without transfers. As the root system grows, the capacity must also be increased. But only slightly, a couple of centimeters maximum. Even if you have to replant more often, your plant will develop normally. Determining the need for a transplant is easy. If the lemon roots begin to make their way through the drainage holes of the pot, then this is the most obvious sign. But this may not happen, and a transplant is required. Therefore, I advise you to carefully remove the lemon from the pot along with a lump of earth once a year (in spring) and inspect it. It usually comes out very easily. If the roots have entwined the entire lump, then replanting is required immediately; if only part of them breaks through the lump, then replanting is desirable, but not necessary; if the roots are not visible at all, then return the lemon to its place; there is no need to replant it this year. Replanting a lemon is also not difficult. As is, with a lump of soil, place it in a larger pot and fill the empty space with fresh soil. Previously new pot prepare. Create a good drainage layer, pour on it required quantity fresh soil, so that when the tree is placed on it, about 0.5 centimeters remain from the surface of the soil to the edge of the pot. Lemon really doesn't like being disturbed. root system. That's why the transshipment method is used. Try to avoid replanting by clearing the roots from the ground and use it only when absolutely necessary. For example, if the soil has become sour and there is a danger of the lemon roots rotting.

Advice. If you do not replant the lemon into this year, then simply carefully remove the top layer of soil in the pot and replace it with fresh one. This procedure is safe and very useful. You can do it as often as you like and at any time.

For indoor lemon it should not be overly heavy. It should allow water and air to pass freely, while at the same time being sufficiently fertile. There are many mixtures for citrus fruits on sale, but not all of them are suitable for proper cultivation lemons. Sometimes they have to be lightened with peat or, on the contrary, made heavier and enriched with humus. When choosing soil for indoor lemon, be sure to check its composition.

If possible, it is better to make an earthen mixture yourself: two parts of leaf soil, one part of humus and sand. You can also add a quarter part wood ash or ash.

Advice. Even if you bought ready mixture, then add ash to it too.

Lemon trimming

Will definitely answer the question “How to trim a lemon?” only possible if you only have it for now ornamental plant and is not bearing fruit yet. At this time, it can (and should) be given the shape of a branched tree. In this it is not much different from, or. Young lemons, grown from cuttings or seeds, usually initially grow in one stem, “fishing rod”. When it reaches a length of 15 - 20 centimeters, pinch the top, this will stimulate the growth of side shoots. You can also cut off the top if the “fishing rod” is too long. The effect will be the same. But it’s better not to overuse pruning. If possible, use pinching only. This is especially true for fruit-bearing plants. For such a lemon, every leaf counts! In theory, each fruit needs an average of 25 leaves for full development, therefore, the more lemons on the tree, the more leaves are required. At the same time, removing old, dried branches will not only improve the appearance of your indoor lemon, but will also extend its life.

I wish you successful cultivation and a bountiful harvest!

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If you have a lemon, caring for it at home will require a lot of work. It belongs to the remontant plants, therefore, under certain conditions, it can bloom and bear fruit all year round. But not everyone manages not only to taste the fruits of their citrus, but also to simply admire 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 productivity. 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 Meyer lemon; caring for it is the least troublesome compared to other types. This variety is sometimes called Chinese Dwarf, and its fruits are not as sour as other varieties. Dwarf lemons are not known for their rich harvest, but they will add coziness to the interior of the apartment.

Video about indoor lemon

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

• Novogruzinsky
• Kursk

How to care for lemons in an ordinary city apartment, when there is no heating, the windows face north, or 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 is important for a lemon is light.

Photo of homemade lemon

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

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

On the south side of the house there is always plenty of light, and even too much for a lemon. Therefore, during the midday hours 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 in terms of thermal conditions.

In the spring, during the budding period, the room temperature should be 14 - 16 degrees. A high degree causes the buds to dry out and drop, while a low degree helps to slow down or even stop this process. During the rest period, room temperature up to 26 degrees is sufficient. If possible, move your pet to a 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 pressing. However, you should be wary of both sudden temperature changes and drafts. Like a true southerner, indoor lemon requires meticulous care.

The photo shows a homemade lemon

Moisture. This parameter is very important for lemon. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that the soil in the pot is constantly slightly moist. In summer it is reasonable to increase the number of waterings to 3 times per week, and in winter you can reduce it to 1 time, but spray the air around the tree. This is provided that heating devices stand far from the plant. Be sure to water the lemon with non-cold water that has stood 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 curled, browning leaves on the lemon.

Lemon, like other 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.

The photo shows a lemon tree

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

• For abundant fruiting, sometimes regular watering is replaced with an infusion of eggshells. But you should not get carried away with this method, so that excess calcium does not reduce the acidity of the soil.
• If the plant develops normally, has a healthy appearance and pleases with flowering, you can refuse to apply fertilizers.
• During the growing season, it is worth feeding the lemon with superphosphate twice (50 grams of fertilizer per 1 liter).
• Ammonium nitrate is highly recommended for improving growth. It is taken in a proportion of 30 grams per liter of water. You can water with this fertilizer monthly.
• Periodically water your lemon with a 7-day infusion of horse manure, diluted ten times.
• Lemon for normal development microelements are needed: magnesium, phosphorus, nitrogen and others. To compensate for their deficiency, you can use Citrus mixture fertilizer once a quarter. 2-3 grams of this fertilizer are diluted in a liter of water and used instead of the main watering.

Pruning and replanting indoor lemon

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

Copies older than 3 years - with a frequency of 2-3 years. However, the need for a transplant may arise “unplanned”, for example, due to illness or deterioration of the lemon’s condition.

The photo shows a lemon transplant

1. The soil around the trunk is watered generously to soften it, then the tree is carefully removed. In this case, extreme care must be taken so as not to disturb the earthen ball and not to touch the root system.
2. If you find damaged roots, cut them with a sharp knife or blade.
3. For transplantation, take a container 30-50% larger than the previous one. A pot that is too large, like a pot that is too small, will slow growth. Give preference to a cone-shaped container.
4. Place a shard at the bottom of the pot on the drainage hole so that its convex side is on top. Then a layer of drainage (small stones, pebbles), a thin layer of dry manure and earthen mixture is laid.
5. Closer to the center of the pot, a tree is installed along with a lump 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 there is no need to compact it tightly.

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

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

Vertically grown branches should be pruned without pity.

To form correct form The flower pot must be carefully rotated relative to the sun every 10 days. Gardeners sometimes improve the crown using copper wire - they secure 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. A ripe lemon is cut off not only with the stalk, but also with a section of the branch itself with 1-2 internodes. This way the growth of the branch is stimulated.

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

Dried citrus needs watering. By appearance foliage - it becomes yellowish-brownish and sparse - it is easy to guess the cause of the disease. But don’t rush to irrigate the soil abundantly; you can damage the root system. It’s 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 this “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 off en masse. As soon as a symptom is identified, perform a transplant immediately. Carefully remove the tree from the pot and place it together with the soil ball on newspaper or cardboard to allow the roots to dry. You need to plant it in soil that is slightly moistened and continue to water it moderately.

In the photo there is a homemade lemon with fallen leaves

It is very difficult to save a frozen lemon. In conditions of sudden cold weather, the vital activity of the plant may cease. In addition to the falling of leaves, the trunk darkens when it freezes. You can try to carry out "resuscitation". To do this, move the lemon to a warmer room and extend daylight hours with the help of artificial lights. It makes sense to transplant into another pot. When removing, be sure to inspect the rhizome and remove dead and rotten parts. Remove dried branches.

Overheating is no less dangerous for citrus. Appeared brown spots on the leaves clearly indicate overheating. Therefore, on hot summer days, move the container with the plant deeper into the room. Make sure that air from the air conditioner does not hit the crown. No additional watering or cooling is required.

Important! You can’t change your place and habitat often; it takes a long time and doesn’t adapt well to new circumstances. Therefore, it slows down growth and fruiting, and may even show signs of disease. Both drafts and unventilated rooms are equally destructive for it.

Photo of lemon tree

Pests and diseases of lemon

The appearance of white flies may indicate stagnation. Their larvae feed on roots and cause significant damage to the plant. Insecticides are used to combat them various types- watering solutions and aerosol forms to kill insects that have managed to hatch. Karbofos and Aktelik are quite effective in combating these insects.

It is necessary to regularly inspect lemon leaves, on which mites and scale insects can settle. Externally, mites resemble tiny spiders. They are distinguished by their orange or brown color, which stands out noticeably against the green background of the back of the leaves. They cover the damaged areas with a thin web, which makes it easy to recognize pests. Wash the twigs and leaves on both sides several times at intervals of three to four days under a shower head with strong water pressure. Repeated spraying with infusions is effective

• garlic (infuse 1 medium-sized head in 0.5 liters of water),
• onion (1 onion, finely grated, poured with a liter of water),
• bay leaf (2-3 leaves per 0.5 liter jar of water)
• strong brew 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 products.

Scale insects look like small brown turtles, motionless and tightly attached to the leaves. It's difficult to fight them. Three times at weekly intervals, 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.

Lemons often get sick from improper care. Browning leaves on the outside healthy plant, and even during the flowering period - one of the ailments. In this case, reconsider the conditions of keeping the flower; perhaps it makes sense to replant it. But in this case, choose a different soil than the current one. Perhaps it was the acidity of the soil that caused the disease.

Video about indoor lemon pests

As for human body, disease prevention is important for citrus fruits. To prevent diseases, follow the regime, replant, and trim damaged areas. Sometimes a sudden illness can be caused by depletion of the plant itself. In this case, limit flowering to a few buds, and, no matter how sorry it is, remove the rest. 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 troubles to caring for small children - it is difficult at the beginning, but all the work is rewarded when the tree begins to actively grow.