Stand with pebbles Wiping and spraying

How to care for lemon in winter?

Preparation

A month before the onset of cold weather move lemon tree to a room with suitable conditions.

Before doing this, pre-wash the plant in the shower to get rid of dust and possible insects.

Storage location

Move the plant to a room with a temperature of 15-17 degrees Celsius. This room should have acceptable air humidity and sufficient illumination. Ideal choice will become the south-eastern part of the house.

Do not place the lemon tree on the windowsill above the radiator - it may die from the increased temperature and dry air.

Light balance

Lemon reacts very sensitively to the amount of light, especially in winter time year. The following rule must be observed: the higher the temperature of the room, the more light there should be.

If the room has low temperature(lemon tree tolerates temperatures of 4-6 degrees Celsius well), then it should be dark.

Follow so that the plant is exposed to direct sunlight for no more than two hours a day. This will help avoid burns and drying out of the leaves.

Nutrition and watering

The best water for irrigation lemon - from natural sources. In winter, you can use melted snow and ice as water for irrigation.

To achieve greater effect, dilute 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in melt water.

If in summer you need to water the lemon tree several times a day, then in winter you need to limit it to one to two procedures per week. Excessive watering threatens soil acidification and plant diseases: yellowing of leaves and rotting of roots.

Before watering, be sure to heat the water to a temperature 2-3 degrees above room temperature. Water the plant in 3 steps, taking short breaks between them so that the soil has time to be sufficiently saturated with water.

During the winter spray the leaves of the plant with a special nutrient solution containing microelements. You can buy this solution at any specialized store. Try to ensure that this solution covers the entire area of ​​foliage.

Circumcision

Use disinfected scissors to trim dying leaves and branches. This will help improve air circulation in the plant and improve its condition.

In this video you will find more information about lemon: winter care.

Hydrating Lemon

How often to moisturize homemade lemon in winter? What other methods are there besides watering?

Stand with pebbles

To maintain optimal humidity levels for your lemon tree, purchase a small stand with pebbles.

Place it under the plant pot.

Fill it with water until such a level that the bottom of the pot is not immersed in water, since direct contact with water can harm the plant.

Wiping and spraying

Wiping the leaves with a damp cloth works well for this purpose.

Repeat this procedure once a week.

This will help moisturize the plant and also prevent insects. You can simplify the task and spray the leaves with water from a spray bottle, but this will have less effect.

The water for wiping and spraying procedures must be warm. The use of hot or cold water is not permitted.

So the lemon tree requires special care during the winter months. Monitor the conditions in which it is kept, carefully dose moisture and fertilizers. Then your lemon will grow healthy and with the onset of spring it will give you fruits.

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

Proper care of lemons is a guarantee of fruit production

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

Watering lemon

Home care primarily involves proper watering. In cold weather, water homemade lemon once a week. To do this, you need to settle warm water in advance. In the warm season, watering is necessary once a day, because in the heat any plant requires a lot of liquid.

After each watering, the top layer of soil must be loosened. You need to add water to the ground strictly according to the plan so as not to harm the root system of the lemon, because a large amount of moisture can lead to its rotting, and a lack of water leads to the fact that the lemon tree at home begins to shed its leaves. This is the first answer to the question of how to care for homemade lemon.

Lighting

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

If there are no windows on the right side, then you need to protect the plant from direct sunlight. For correct formation The tree's crown should be rotated several times a month.

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

The lemon tree loves color, but not direct sunlight.

Air temperature

Caring for lemons at home requires temperature control. This is one of the main conditions for lemon fruiting.

The temperature regime for lemon should be as follows:

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

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

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

Humidity level

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

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

Top dressing

Caring for indoor lemon includes feeding it. In summer, it is carried out once every seven days, and in winter - every month, if the lemon bears fruit. If there are no fruits, then you can do this less often. Caring for a lemon tree involves fertilizing with mineral and organic fertilizers.

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

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

Manure is an excellent organic fertilizer for lemons.

Transfer

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

It is necessary to replant the tree several times a year, during the growing season. Use expanded clay and charcoal drainage. You cannot replant a tree during flowering and during the period when it bears fruit. Proper planting is the key to tree health.

Lemon transplantation is carried out in the spring

Flowering and fruiting of lemon

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

Flower removal process:

1. For the first time, a flowering lemon is cut off in half, leaving the ovaries for four fruits.
2. When the tree begins to bloom for the second time, leave the ovaries for six lemons.
3. The third time, the ovaries for eight fruits should be left on the lemon.

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

The plant bears fruit about four times a year, depending on the variety and care. From the moment of development to the moment of maturation, approximately 6 months pass.

A fully ripened fruit has a golden skin. You should not delay harvesting, because the lemon will lose all its beneficial properties.

Lemon blossoms should be regulated

Lemon pollination in pots

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

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

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

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

If desired, you can use special medications. Biological products “Bud” or “Ovary” are popular. They allow fruits to form in cases where the ovary develops very poorly.

Subscribe Stay up to date with new products on our site

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 high yield. 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 tasty and large fruits, but at the same time they require a lot of time for care, since in addition to regular activities, they need more frequent pruning, garter and crown formation. If you are interested in such citrus fruits, choose among the following varieties:

• Novogruzinsky
• Kursk

Creating optimal lighting, temperature and humidity conditions

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 comfortable conditions 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 winter period.

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 twisted, browning leaves on the lemon.

We fertilize, feed...

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 of organic fertilizers, or you can use traditional methods:

• For abundant fruiting, sometimes regular watering is replaced with infusion eggshells. But you shouldn’t 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 needs microelements for normal development: 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 lump and not 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.

Photo of lemon trimming

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.

Homemade lemon - emergency care

Lemon is very whimsical 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 the appearance of the 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 “outfit” 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 higher warm room, extend daylight hours with the help of artificial lighting. 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. To combat them, various types of insecticides are used - 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 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 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, branches 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 an apparently healthy plant, and even during the flowering period, is 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

Like the 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.

A lemon tree with bright fruits and rich dark foliage decorates the windowsill and lures sunlight into the room. Even without special care, this large evergreen plant will be covered with fragrant white flowers and at least one or two fruits. A lemon tree lives from 50 to 100-150 years, which means it can be passed on as a family heirloom. Proper care of a lemon in a pot at home will yield results - the tree will annually delight you with a harvest of tasty and healthy fruits.

Description of the crop and the best varieties

Lemon is a Mediterranean guest, but was born in India. From there the beautiful tree came to the countries of America and Africa. IN southern regions You can find entire groves of these picturesque trees everywhere. Not found in the wild. The pulp of citrina is rich in acids, vitamins and microelements:

• citric acid is the main component of citrus;
• pectins, flavonoids, phytoncides, essential oils– concentrated in the peel, as well as in the pulp;
• vitamins C, B, D, PP;
• ascorbic acid, tocopherol, riboflavin and others;
• microelements - iron, boron, copper, fluorine, zinc, manganese and others.

Only specially bred plants are suitable for growing at home. dwarf varieties, well leafy and abundantly fruiting. To grow a real lemon tree on a windowsill, you can go in three ways:

1. Buy a seedling from an agricultural farm.
2. Plant the seed in the pot.
3. Root a cutting from another mature plant.

The easiest way is to go the first way, the more difficult is the second. But in any case, a grown lemon requires care.

For successful agricultural technology at home, you can choose one of the popular varieties.

Pavlovsky	Shade-tolerant. Maximum height– up to 2 meters. Flowering occurs in the third year after planting in mid-spring and in October. Yields up to 15 fruits with thin skin and a pleasant, not pungent taste
Meyer	Height – up to 1.5 m. Cold-resistant, productive, remontant. Blooms in spring, bears fruit all year round. Lemons are thin-skinned, orange pulp with sourness
Panderosa	Height up to one and a half meters. A hybrid of lemon, grapefruit and citron. Unpretentious. An adult plant has spines. Blooms often and profusely, 2-3 times a year. The fruits are large with thick skin
Lunario	Height 1-1.5 m. Blooms with short breaks all year round. The fruits are elongated, pointed in shape, thin skin, slightly acidic, aromatic taste. There may be no seeds at all. The branches are long, the plant needs trellises
Lisbon	Drought-resistant, cold-resistant. Demanding on lighting. The tree is large, heavily leafed. Fruits abundantly, up to 60 pieces per year. The shape of lemons is round or slightly elongated, the peel is thin, smooth, the taste is rich, aromatic, not very sour.

How to care for lemon

Caring for the southern guest includes the usual set for any cultivated plant - light requirements, watering, replanting, fertilizing and treatment. Since lemon is a tree that grows indoors, it is necessary to trim off excess branches and form a crown.

Lighting and temperature

Lemon is a southern plant that loves brightness, but young trees do not tolerate direct sun. They need to be shaded or placed on east window. In order for the crown to form beautifully and harmoniously, the plant must be turned to the light in different directions. An adult tree tolerates heat well. In the summer it is useful to place the pot with the plant on the loggia, in the fresh air, and in the winter to illuminate it with a phytolamp. Lack of lighting negatively affects the plant as a whole - the leaves lose their rich color and the fruits become sour.

The air temperature near the tree should be within certain limits depending on the stage of life of the lemon:

• during the period of active growth and flowering – 17°C. If this threshold is exceeded, the buds will fall off. You can take the pot out onto the balcony;
• with the beginning of fruiting – 20°C;
• rest period – 14-17°C.

Changes and non-compliance with temperature conditions are fraught with illness.

Humidity and watering

The young plant does not like dry air, so it needs to be watered and sprayed in a timely manner. Overmoistening is unacceptable. Winter watering should not be frequent; it is enough to water the soil once a week with settled melt or just warm boiled water, preferably acidified. Between waterings, the soil should dry out by about one centimeter, but no more, otherwise the lemon will begin to dry out. For better water absorption, the soil must be carefully loosened, and to prevent it from hardening, mulch can be placed on top. In summer it is hot and bright on the windowsill, so the soil dries out quickly and the leaves become dehydrated. Starting from March, watering is required up to 3 times a week, but not abundantly - the roots may rot. A trickle of water should go along the perimeter of the pot, and not under the root.

Growing and caring for lemons should take place in conditions of high humidity (60-70°C). To do this, you can place a bowl of water on the windowsill, but it is better to buy a special humidifier. For this subtropical plant, moist air is more important than watered roots.

It is necessary to spray the foliage warm water from a spray bottle. In winter, the air in apartments is very dry due to central heating, and in the summer the hot sun shines through the windows. To avoid sunburn Spraying should be done in the morning or evening so that the leaves have time to dry before the sun hits the window. It is very useful to arrange spa treatments for lemon once a week under warm shower. To avoid flooding the soil, it must be protected with film.

How to feed lemon?

Lemon can bloom and bear fruit in the 2-3rd year. Caring for indoor lemon is:

• timely watering;
• regular spraying;
• competent feeding.

Once a month, add a dose of dissolved in water to the soil after watering. nitrogen fertilizer(urea or ammonium nitrate - 2 g per 1 liter of water). This is especially true for soil poor in organic matter. Nitrogen gives strength to plants; during spring and summer, a powerful leaf apparatus is formed, with which the tree safely endures all the hardships of winter. You can water with diluted slurry of low concentration (1:30).

Under no circumstances should you fertilize with microelements. Unlike other plants, lemons do not have hairs on their roots. Their role is played by mycorrhizal fungi. They seem to stick to the roots of the lemon, and through them the whole plant is fed. Mycorrhizae themselves feed on organic matter, for example, humus. They decompose it, forming valuable substances, which they first feed on themselves, and then feed the lemon. Trace elements kill mycorrhiza, thus the tree is depleted and will soon die. Excessive nitrogen feeding is not good for lemons. The tree can grow with a powerful crown to the detriment of fruiting.

Starting from the second year, in addition to nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium must be used. Superphosphate can be sprinkled on top of the soil and it will slowly but surely feed the plant. Phosphorus promotes abundant flowering and fruiting. The flowering period of the lemon tree is spring, autumn. Single buds appear throughout the year. Fruiting period: after flowering, a fruit is formed that will grow and gain strength for 9 months. This can happen at any time. After harvesting in the spring, it is necessary to feed with urea (or saltpeter) and superphosphate. If the crop is harvested in the fall, you cannot feed it, since the plant goes dormant and excess nutrition will only weaken it. Postpone fertilizing to February.

Transfer

The first can be done after purchasing a young seedling in a pot, but first it must be quarantined for a week away from other plants. During this time, you will make sure that the lemon is healthy and not infected. spider mite. When deciding whether a transplant is needed, inspect the soil to see if the roots are visible, if they are sticking out of the drainage hole, if the pot is visually small. If the issue of replanting is resolved positively, wet the soil, tilt the pot and, holding it by the stem, very carefully pull out the plant with a lump of earth. Inspect the lump - the roots should not stick out from it. If it smells rotten, carefully loosen the root system above the basin. You can put it in warm water and clean it from the earth.

Examine the roots, remove bad, blackened, rotten ones. A little in the pot larger size fill in the drainage, then the soil mixture up to half, place the plant vertically, spread out the roots and fill with soil, not reaching a couple of centimeters to the top. Water and place in partial shade without drafts, let the plant come to its senses and get used to the new place.

For the first 2-3 weeks after transplantation, keep it under a plastic bag with “ventilation” and gradually accustom it to air. If you place a seedling without covering it, it may die. Keep it away from sunlight to avoid sunburn. After the plant has become a little stronger and accustomed to the air, remove the plastic cover. Watering can already be combined with fertilizing.

During the first three years, the lemon is replanted annually. The size of the next pot should be 2-3 cm larger in diameter and depth compared to the previous one. Then the tree should be transplanted into a container of larger diameter once every five years.

Diseases and pests

Indoor lemon is susceptible to viral, bacterial, fungal infections, and pests also live on it.

Gomoz	Brown spots on the trunk and branches, then the bark dies. A golden sticky liquid emerges from the cracks and hardens in air.	Cortical injuries. Overwatering of soil, lack of potassium and phosphorus, excess nitrogen	Cut off all affected areas and branches, treat the wounds with a 3% solution of copper sulfate, cover with garden varnish
Root rot	Dropping leaves. No damage is visible visually. You need to get the plant out and inspect the roots		Remove diseased roots and plant in fresh soil. Place in the sun, stop watering for a week, just wipe the leaves with a damp sponge
Sooty fungus	Stems and leaves darken, black spots appear	The result of the appearance of a pest is scale insects. It secretes a sugary liquid on which a black fungus settles.	Soap solution (2 tbsp per liter of water. liquid soap), wipe the entire plant. After an hour, rinse. Repeat after 2 days. Garlic broth, insecticide solution. Systematic rinsing of foliage with clean cold water
Scab	Putrid spots on young foliage and branches. The plant drops its fruits	Fungus	Trimming all affected parts. Spraying the crown with 1% Bordeaux mixture
Anthracnose	Yellowing, falling leaves, drying out branches. Red spots on fruits	Fungus	Removing dead branches. Spraying the tree three times with Fitosporin or a 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture
Tristeza	Leaves fall, bark dies	The virus affects weak lemons that are not cared for	There is no treatment, the plant dies
Sheet mosaic	Dark or light stripes on the leaves. Then their deformation, stopping the development of the lemon		There is no treatment. You can reduce the manifestations with regular feeding
Citrus cancer	Brown spots of various shapes on leaves and fruits. The fruits become distorted and the tree dies		It is impossible to cure. For prevention: spring treatment liquid copper fungicide
Root and common aphids	Foliage drying out, curling	Pest	Removing affected leaves. Spraying with a decoction of garlic peels and insecticides. Complex feeding. Transplantation into new soil
Spider mite	Curling leaves, cobwebs	Dry indoor air	A solution of 1% boric acid. Requires up to 5 sprays
Melseko	The shoots dry out, the foliage falls off starting from the ends of the branches. The broken branch is painted red	Lack of lighting. In winter there was not enough light, the plant was not illuminated	There is no treatment, only observation. If no improvement is visible, the plant is destroyed.

Why doesn't lemon blossom or bear fruit?

Gifts are expected from the citrus tree. Strewn with white flowers and then yellow fruits, it becomes the decoration of the room. But sometimes expectations are in vain - an adult plant does not want to please its owners. Reasons for failure may include the following:

• Untimely or careless transplantation. The tree must be transferred annually for the first 3 years to a larger pot and fresh soil, while ensuring that the root system is not injured. Then the transplant is done at regular intervals, for example, once every 5 years.
• Incorrect watering. Cold water- this is a shock, the ovaries will fall off. Infrequent irrigation also causes the buds to dry out and fall off.
• Lack of sunlight. During the period of intensive growth and preparation for ovaries, lemons need a lot of sun.
• Unsuitable soil. Alkaline or strongly acidic is not liked by citrus. It is optimal to use slightly acidic soil.
• Stressful situations. Frequently moving the pot from shade to light, from heat to draft causes stress, and the lemon refuses to bloom and bear fruit.

If you take good care of your tree, it will generously reward you with beautiful and long-lasting flowering, and then a bountiful harvest environmentally friendly and extremely healthy lemons - aromatic and tasty.

Growing a lemon tree at home is not that difficult, but you will need some knowledge. This plant comes from India, therefore, the first condition for its successful growth is a favorable climate.

Variety selection

If you have decided to plant a lemon tree in your home, then the first thing you should think about is which variety to choose. Today, many varieties are popular, but not all of them are suitable for beginners. This is due to the difficulty of caring for some plants of the most common varieties.

So, first of all, you need to decide how much time you are willing to devote to caring for your lemon tree. If you can periodically feed it, rotate it, monitor the intensity and frequency of watering, and shade the windows when necessary, then you can safely choose “capricious” varieties. If such actions are too complicated for you or you don’t have time to do all this, then stop at the simpler option.

The fruitfulness of the plant is also important. Think about why you actually need lemon at home. Maybe you just like the way lemon trees look. Perhaps you're excited by the prospect of smelling citrus scents throughout your home. For some, the opportunity to collect and eat their own harvest is important. Some people also want to give home-grown lemons as gifts. Depending on what you have chosen, select the appropriate variety.

You also need to pay attention to how a particular plant reacts to climate change. Perhaps you want to take the lemon tree with you to the dacha in the summer and plant it there, or simply transfer it to the garden. Some varieties do not withstand such experiments, while others react extremely favorably to such actions.

Carefully study the varieties and their characteristics and only based on the knowledge gained, determine which variety is right for you.

"Genoa"

Not so long ago, this variety was one of the rarest representatives. It could only be found in private collections of citrus growers or in specialized nurseries. However, over time, the situation has changed radically, and now the Genoa variety is quite common. There are no problems with purchasing such a sample.

This variety known since 1875. For the first time it was appreciated in the USA, where it was brought from Italy. Since then, breeders have been constantly working on the qualitative characteristics of the Genoa lemon tree and, as they say, bringing it to mind.

Lemon of this variety is famous for its taste. Genoa lemons are considered to be one of the most delicious lemons, so it is not surprising that over time this plant has become so common. It is also distinguished by its aesthetic appeal. The tree grows small; biologists classify this variety as low-growing. If we talk about the height of apartment options, then the tree is no higher than one and a half meters. In greenhouses everything is a little different: here “Genoa” reaches 3 m in height.

Difficulties with growing these citrus fruits arise for beginners. "Genoa" is extremely demanding on lighting: a lack of light, as well as its excess, has a bad effect on fruiting and the general appearance of the tree. The variety is also demanding on watering and care. Therefore, lovers of indoor plants who are just starting their journey are not recommended to choose this variety.

"Panderosa"

The Panderosa lemon was the result of crossing a lemon of another variety, which is unknown, and a citron. Scientists are still arguing whether this happened by accident or whether the variety was deliberately bred in the United States. However, this variety has become one of the most popular for breeding at home.

Basic distinctive feature are large beautiful fruits pear-shaped. If you grow the ornamental Panderosa lemon in the garden, you can get fruits weighing up to half a kilogram. When grown at room temperature, lemons reach 200 g in weight. The taste and smell are pleasant, with obvious citrus notes. A fully ripened fruit has juicy pulp, which is not as sour as other varieties.

The plant is not picky. The main condition is that the lemon tree must be well lit. South-facing windows are ideal for this. You also need to monitor such characteristics as regularity of watering and the presence of pests. Unfortunately, the Panderosa variety is more susceptible to their appearance than others. It is important that the container is of sufficient size.

If possible, you need to let the plant “breathe”. From time to time you need to place it near an open window or move it to a loggia or balcony. The plant tolerates high temperatures well, but is absolutely not adapted to cold.

In this regard, it is imperative to insulate the place where it is kept for the winter: do not open windows, do not lean the tree against the window, and monitor the appropriate amount of light. The temperature should remain at least +10 degrees.

"Mayer"

The Mayer variety is also called the Mayer lemon. This evergreen tree differs from others in its ability to bloom and bear fruit several times a year. In addition, other characteristics also differ: the size, taste and smell of the fruit.

Since this variety is exclusively indoor, there will be no need to take the plant out to “breathe.” Fruits have fewer seeds. Their skin is thinner and the aroma is brighter. In this regard, such a lemon acts as an air flavoring agent, filling the entire space with a citrus scent. The fruits are more sour and small.

Lemon "Mayer" is a dwarf lemon. This variety does not require a constant stream of sunlight. It is much more favorable to place it where the light is diffused. The eastern and western sides are perfect for this. In winter, it is necessary to take care of sufficient insulation. The plant cannot withstand temperatures below 12 degrees or above 20 degrees. Please note that regarding high temperature– an important condition for lemon fruiting. If “Mayer” freezes, then you will never get a lemon harvest.

The lemon tree of this variety is sensitive to the slightest changes in microclimate. It was said above that it is exclusively indoors, so putting it outside or in the garden is not best idea. As a result, instead of increasing fruiting and improving leaf color, you will get the opposite result. The plant will simply shed both leaves and fruits, if they are already present.

It is important to monitor indoor air humidity. If it is insufficient, the plant will be attacked by various pests. Humidity should be at 60-70%.

"Pavlovsky"

This variety comes from Turkey. The variety "Pavlovsky" was brought by the merchant I. S. Karachistov. Of course, later scientists crossed the original variety many times, so the result was a modern Pavlovsky lemon with all its inherent characteristics.

The lemon tree is a dwarf tree and rarely exceeds one and a half meters in height. At home, it is much more common to find meter-long plants. They do not consist of one solid trunk, but grow in the form of shrubs with 3-4 thin trunks. The crown's diameter is the same as its height - about a meter. The branches are prickly.

Abundant flowering occurs twice a year: in spring and autumn. Flowering begins early after planting a tree - already 2-3 years.

However, the disadvantage is that early flowering is bad for general condition plants, therefore it is recommended to completely remove all emerging flowers in the 2-3rd year, and in the 4th year - all flowers are too close to each other or weak.

Lemon begins to bear fruit after 3-4 years, but the fullest harvest can be obtained only after 15-20 years. For the first time, the plant produces only 1 fruit, later – 2-4 fruits, no more. The matter is further complicated by the fact that in some cases there is not enough lighting, so the fruits set and ripen longer than usual. If ripe fruits are not removed in time, they will continue to develop, losing their pleasant taste. The pulp will become rough and tasteless, the skin will become too thick. Therefore, it is important to harvest on time.

You can often find fruits without seeds. Usually there are few of them - no more than 10 pieces. The bulk of the fruits still have seeds, but there are few of them - 10-20 pieces per fruit.

"Kursky"

This variety was popular in the Soviet Union. Then it could be seen on almost every windowsill of indoor plant lovers. Now this variety is not so in demand due to the fact that many foreign hybrids have appeared that have more tasty and aromatic fruits and require less scrupulous care.

Lemon "Kursky" has an attractive appearance. The plant has a spreading, powerful crown on thick branches with thorns. This is both a plus and a minus of the variety. Due to the fact that the crown is spreading, it cannot be grown on the average windowsill. No amount of pruning can cope with the abundant growth of branches in all directions.

The leaves are beautiful, rich green. They have an atypical shape: they are not round, as usual, but feather-like, and often several times narrower in width than in length.

The "Kursky" variety is one of the most cold-resistant plants. It can be grown at temperatures not lower than +4 degrees, but we do not recommend taking risks. Acceptable temperature is +10-15 degrees.

The lemon tree of this variety is highly productive. IN ideal conditions it can produce up to 30 fruits per year, weighing 200-250 grams each. If you grow a lemon outdoors, the weight of the fruit can reach half a kilogram. If the conditions are not met, the fruits will be small: only 150-170 grams.

The fruits are pear-shaped, dark yellow. The taste is typical. Lemon pulp is sour, but not bitter. The fruits are juicy. The skin is thin and smooth, not lumpy. Another plus is that the fruits can be stored for a long time. They tolerate transportation well.

"Novogruzinsky"

Today, the Novogruzinsky variety is the highest yielding. Despite the fact that it has been known for a long time, no one has yet managed to surpass it in the number of fruits collected from one lemon tree. Still in the open spaces Soviet Union he was popular. By the way, the “Kursky” variety was bred precisely on the basis of “Novogruzinsky”.

Lemon "Novogruzinsky" is excellent for decorative cultivation. It bears fruit once a year, but abundantly. IN natural conditions The height of the plant reaches 2 meters, when grown indoors - 1.5 meters. The crown is wide and spreading, so you definitely need to allocate free space for this lemon tree. The color of the leaves is light green, the leaves are slightly elongated.

The fruits are attractive and fragrant, having a slightly elongated shape. The skin is up to 5 mm thick, without tubercles, shiny. The fruits are small. Weight rarely exceeds 120 g. However, the pulp is juicy, aromatic, and moderately sour.

It is worth noting that lemons begin to bear fruit only 5 years after planting. This pays off in the fact that, in fact, no maintenance is required for it. Neither air humidity nor the condition of the soil have any significant effect on the condition of the plant and its ability to bear fruit.

However, keep in mind that it is better to place a pot with a lemon tree near a window that faces south or east. At the same time, the plant should not be exposed to scorching rays of the sun. The window must be shaded. Every week the tree must be rotated 10-15 degrees so that the crown is formed evenly and all leaves receive the same amount of sunlight.

In winter, it is necessary to change the intensity of watering so that the lemon “rests”.

"Lunario"

This variety is strikingly different from the others in its flowering phases. If other varieties bloom depending on the time of year, then “Lunario” blooms every new moon. Therefore, when planning all maintenance work, you will need to focus not on the season, but on the phases of the moon.

So, “Lunario” blooms all year round, so at every moment of time an adult tree bears fruit, and has unripe fruits, and blossoming flowers, and buds. This variety is classified as low-growing. In indoor conditions, the height of the tree rarely exceeds one and a half meters, in rare cases it can reach two meters. The leaves are emerald green, dark, smooth, shiny, large. Often their length reaches 15 cm. The thorns on the branches are long and sharp, reaching 4 mm in length.

The fruits have an oblong oval shape. The color is unsaturated, pale yellow, sometimes even greenish. Therefore, compared to ordinary lemons, it seems that the Lunario fruits are unripe, but this is not the case. In terms of taste, the pulp is not inferior to other varieties. It is sour and aromatic, there are few seeds in it, which is also a plus.

For "Lunario" important factor is light. This does not mean that there should be a lot of direct sunlight. Quite the opposite: diffused light is very important, so the window must be shaded. Lighting is especially important in winter. Since the day is short, you will have to take care of artificial lighting.

Do not expose the lemon tree to drafts, otherwise it will shed its leaves. Also, “Lunario” does not tolerate low temperatures and insufficient air humidity, so carefully monitor the microclimate in the room.

Spray the tree with water at room temperature to maintain optimal humidity of 60-80%.

Preparatory work

Before you start planting lemons, you need to pay attention to several significant factors. It was already said above that for some varieties the choice of soil and location matters, for others it does not. Naturally, plants from the first category will require more thorough preparation.

Depending on how well the “homework” was done, the lemon will grow spreading and beautiful or short and with small fruits. Be sure to pay attention not only to the soil, but also to the place in which the pot with the plant will be located. For some lemon trees, a small area on the windowsill is enough, while others will require a large amount of free space. The illumination of the area also plays a role. This is more important for some varieties than others.

Finally, another significant condition is the container in which the decorative lemon is planted. The material from which the pot is made is not so important. It can be either ceramics or plastic, or metal - there is not much difference. Please note that tall and narrow pots are suitable for lemons. Their diameter should be no more than 15 cm. If you decide to transplant the plant into another pot, make sure that the new one is different in height, but not in diameter. The 15 cm rule works here too.

There must be holes at the bottom of the container so that excess moisture does not collect at the bottom, leading to rotting of the roots, but comes out. You don't need a pot that is too high, since the plant's roots are quite compact.

Selecting a location

Place the pot with the plant in a house or apartment in well-lit places. Although it cannot be said that lemon is a capricious tree, it cannot be thrown on the balcony and forgotten, watering it occasionally. It is important to pay attention to the microclimate. The future productivity of the plant and its appearance depend on how suitable it is.

It should be noted that lemon is sensitive to temperature fluctuations, so take care of a stable temperature background. The ideal location from this point of view is in a room without drafts. Choose window sills or places on the floor panoramic windows, which are not a curiosity today. Your lemon tree will thank you for this.

The catch is that you can’t expose the tree to the scorching rays of the sun either. Indeed, lemon reacts well to the sun in the early morning or before sunset, but midday heat is contraindicated for it. Therefore, windows must be shaded for a few hours in the middle of the day, and then opened again to allow light to enter. Ordinary curtains or blinds are suitable for this.

It is important not to completely block the flow of sunlight, as this will negatively affect the fruitfulness and general condition of the crown.

You cannot place a lemon on a windowsill under which there is a heating radiator. It is also prohibited to have a heater or air conditioner nearby. The fact is that a constant conflict between the temperatures of the heating/cooling equipment and the air in the room will have an extremely negative effect on the condition of the lemon, and as a result the plant will shed its leaves and fruits. Unfortunately, it will not be possible to completely neutralize the negative impact of an incorrect choice of location, but it can be smoothed out by watering and unrolling the plant daily.

Of course, the ideal place for growing lemon at home is a winter garden or greenhouse, but not everyone has the opportunity to make such a room in their home. Therefore, try to choose the best place available.

Soil

Lemon tree soil needs to be properly drained. Exactly good drainage- half the success. Ordinary soil for seedlings or dug up garden plot won't do. You remember that the plant comes from India. Consequently, he also needs special land intended for citrus fruits.

The best drainage fillers are:

• expanded clay;
• sand + wood ash.

In the first case, the filler can be purchased at garden store, in the second - do it at home. You will need medium-fraction river sand and ash. Experienced gardeners It is recommended to use wood ash from conifers, as it is rich in essential microelements.

If for some reason you cannot buy ready soil For citrus fruits, you can prepare regular soil yourself to make it more suitable for growing lemon. There is a whole formula:

• 3 cups of soil with humus (it is better to take forest soil);
• 1.5 tablespoons of wood ash;
• 0.5 cups of river medium-fraction sand;
• water.

The amount of water is determined as you go. The mixture should not be very liquid - like cream or sour cream. The drainage prepared in this way will be useful just before planting, because the roots of the lemon tree will need to be buried in it.

Thus, preparatory work cannot be called excessively energy-consuming, but they significantly simplify all procedures further care, since less fertilizers and other things will be required.

Reproduction

It would seem that the most logical thing that can be assumed is that a lemon can be grown from an existing seed. Indeed, this approach has its place, but it is not without a large number of disadvantages:

• very long period of germination and overall growth;
• it takes a lot of effort for the seed to germinate at all;
• and most importantly, such a lemon will not bear fruit.

Due to this the best option propagation is by cuttings. Propagation by cuttings is much simpler and preferable, here's why:

• you won’t have to wait too long for the lemon to sprout and form;
• the plant will bear fruit in any case, and sometimes fruiting can occur already 3-4 years after planting;
• choose good seedlings much easier than good seeds, and you will be almost one hundred percent sure that you received exactly the variety you wanted;
• if you plant cuttings according to all the rules, the plant will develop correctly, which cannot be said about seeds.

On the other hand, there are often cases when a purchased seedling turns out to be infected with some kind of disease or pest. In this case, it is necessary to resort to proper treatment in time.

If you have no experience in breeding work If you do not plan to resort to cross-pollination, we strongly recommend that you buy a ready-made seedling for further planting. Only in this case can you be guaranteed to get a harvest in the future. You can also find out information about caring for a specific variety directly from the nursery or from the specialists from whom the cuttings are purchased. They will be happy to share their secrets.

How to plant?

Planting lemon sprouts occurs according to the following scheme.

• First you need to prepare the soil for citrus fruits; in the absence of such, you need to prepare a special mixture (discussed above).
• After the mixture is ready, you need to place the lemon in an empty pot and then fill it with the mixture. Please note that the mixture should only cover the roots and not fill the entire pot.
• You can pour ordinary soil on top. There is no need to compact it too much.
• Water the plant thoroughly. If the soil “shrinks”, add the missing one and moisten everything again. Pour out any water that comes out through the drainage holes in the container so that the cavity under the flower pot is dry.

In general, the planting process itself cannot be called difficult. In the case when you do not use a homemade mixture, but a ready-made soil from flower shop, the procedure is extremely simplified: you need to place a lemon sprout, sprinkle it with soil, wet it well, add the missing soil and water everything thoroughly again.

The first days you need to carefully monitor the plant. If the first signs of any disease or pest appear, treat the plant in a timely manner before it has time to infect nearby specimens.

Care

It is important to properly care for your lemon tree so that it grows beautiful and healthy and produces a good harvest. Be that as it may, the main requirement is the high aesthetic characteristics of the indoor plant. If it is not pleasing to the eye, it is unlikely that anyone will want to keep it on their windowsill.

Proper care consists of three components: correct pruning, timely feeding and suitable watering. All these processes depend on the time of year and the age of the plant, so first of all you need not to grab at least something, but to study, and in what case and how best to act.

You can’t leave a lemon tree completely without care. New shoots grow, roots rot, nutrients are not received - these are the results of a neglectful attitude towards care procedures. Lemon is not the most capricious plant, but it definitely needs the most basic care. Please note that if you care for it properly, it will delight you with bright emerald greens and rich yellow delicious fruits.

Of course, this or that specific care is largely determined by the plant variety, but the basic rules are the same. This applies to a greater extent to pruning and fertilizing, since the intensity and frequency of watering depends more on the variety. For example, those varieties that came from Italy and those that were brought from Turkey will require both different temperatures and different watering. Some will need to be watered every other day, others once every three days.

Trimming

In first place in importance is pruning. The shape of the crown, the level of yield and the size of the fruit depend on how well and timely it is carried out. However, the basis is precisely the beautiful crown. After all main task indoor plants are a delight to the eye.

So, in the first year of life, the shoots become 30-40 cm higher. During this period, you cannot touch the plant, otherwise you risk completely ruining the shape of the crown.

In the second year of life, in the spring, you need to trim the shoot heavily, leaving it 20-25 cm in height. This is done so that the bush begins to branch. After such a procedure, beautiful lateral shoots appear.

In the future, proceed to correcting the lower shoots. They must be cut off completely. All that needs to be preserved is the three upper shoots, from which the crown will be formed. It is not recommended to leave more or less shoots, as in this case the proportions will be disrupted.

In the third year of the plant’s life, perform the above procedure from the very beginning with the upper shoots, first shortening each of them to 20 cm, and then cutting off all the lower shoots from each, except for the top three. By pruning, you stimulate the development of side shoots so that the crown becomes spreading.

Please note that it is enough to bring such pruning to level 5-6. That is, for many years you will have to do the same thing with newly grown new shoots, acting according to the same scheme, but in the end you will get beautiful plant with a chic crown and a healthy appearance.

Once you have perfected your lemon tree, all you need to do is remove new shoots. Work on the shape of the crown will come down to just this.

Top dressing

One of the rules for caring for decorative lemons is timely application of fertilizers. You can feed a lemon tree with many means - organic and not only.

For the first time, it is advised to apply fertilizer only after the tree has reached 2-3 years of age. Initially, for full growth, those nutrients, which are contained in the soil. As soon as reserves are depleted, they must be replenished so that this does not affect the quality of the lemon tree.

They feed the plant during the period when it is actively blooming. Traditionally, the flowering phase falls in the spring or early summer. During this period of time, it is necessary to apply fertilizers every 2 weeks until autumn. With the onset of autumn, lemons need to be fertilized much less frequently - once every 6 weeks.

Please note important rule for applying any fertilizers. A couple of hours before you start fertilizing, you need to water the lemon well. clean water. This will allow the fertilizer to quickly penetrate the bud to the very roots of the plant. Consequently, the effect of their introduction will become more pronounced.

The most preferred types of organic fertilizers are:

• wood ash;
• birch tincture;
• highly diluted manure.

It is necessary to apply organic fertilizers in the same way as mineral ones, the only difference being that you will have to be more careful with the dosage. For example, when diluting manure, you need to make sure that its concentration becomes 5-6 times less. As for birch tincture, it is made according to the following scheme:

• a glass of leaves is poured with 0.5 liters of water;
• keep in a cool, dark place for 2-3 days.

The effect of mineral and organic fertilizers is approximately the same.

Watering

Watering plays no less a role than pruning and fertilizing. It is important to properly moisten the plant so that the roots do not rot and the ground does not become waterlogged. Also, do not allow excessive dehydration: this will cause the lemon tree to shed its leaves.

There are several phases during the year, each of which requires the use of various schemes glaze.

May-September

October-April

In winter, you need to water the lemon no more than once a week, otherwise the flowering and resting cycles will be disrupted.

Pay attention to the quality of water for irrigation. Be sure to warm it to room temperature, letting it sit for 5-6 hours. Watering should be non-directional and uniform. It is best to moisten the entire area of ​​the pot.

In summer, it is recommended to periodically spray the lemon tree. It is better to use boiled water at room temperature for this. The settled one will not work. The same applies to the winter period, especially if in the same room there are heating equipment, drying the air.

Please note that regular spraying is often more important than timely watering. This is due to the fact that a humid atmosphere is more important for a lemon tree than moist soil; it receives the lion's share of moisture through leaves and bark.

Diseases and pests

Like any other indoor plant, lemon is often attacked by pests or diseases. In order to react in time, you need to “know the enemy by sight.” Therefore, carefully read how this or that pest manifests itself and how to deal with common symptoms - falling and yellowing of leaves, curling of foliage, the appearance of a sticky coating or honeydew.

Leaves turn yellow

Pay attention to the fact that yellowing of leaves is most often a reaction not to disease, but to improper care. Lack of light or insufficient watering is the first thing to think about if the crown of your lemon tree begins to turn yellow.

Also consider doing an unscheduled feeding. Yellowing leaves are a strong indicator that the lemon is lacking nutrients. There is no need to split hairs and apply fertilizers one at a time. The “Mighty Three” potassium + nitrogen + phosphorus will work best in this case.

It happens that there seems to be enough light, but the daylight hours turn out to be too short. It is important to provide the lemon with a 12-hour influx of light. If you can’t organize natural lighting in this way, think about connecting artificial lighting. An excellent alternative to the sun is fluorescent lighting. Under its influence, photosynthesis will proceed in the same way in the leaves.

It also happens the other way around. If the plant is located under scorching rays, unprotected, then burns may appear on the leaves. They will react in exactly the same way as in the case of insufficient lighting - they will turn yellow. To prevent this from happening, during peak solar activity, either shade the windows or move the lemon tree away.

If only the tips turn yellow, this indicates a lack of hydration. Include daily spraying with boiled water at room temperature into your care schedule. If you have a humidifier, you can place it near the lemon tree to create a favorable microclimate around it. An ordinary cup of water will do just as well. As the water evaporates, it will humidify the air around the lemon.

Finally, foliage can turn yellow due to sudden changes in temperature, whether from a draft or exposure to a heater. The only way to correct the situation is to rearrange the lemon tree pot or heating/cooling equipment.

Leaves are falling

Falling leaves is another problem that many amateur gardeners face. As in the previous case, the reasons should be sought first of all in improper care. However, there is no need to panic ahead of time - everything can be fixed quickly.

It is by the crown that one judges how healthy the plant is and how well and abundantly it bears fruit. It happens that you just need to change the care a little, and the plant immediately restores its former gorgeous crown. But sometimes this doesn't happen. Then you need to do the following.

If you think that the problem lies in insufficient moisture, then instead of increasing watering frequency, introduce regular spraying. It has already been said above that much lemon is better absorbs moisture through the leaves.

In case the matter is insufficient lighting, install additional fluorescent lighting. By the way, keep in mind that this will be needed in most regions of Russia in the autumn-winter period.

Important nuance is what kind of water you use for irrigation. If you do not leave it for 5-6 hours as needed, then there is a high risk of overcooling the roots. This, in turn, can disrupt their work and affect the condition of the crown. If you think this is the case, just change the temperature of the water you pour on the lemon.

It happens that the pot turns out to be too cramped. As a result, the roots cannot expand, so the plant does not receive enough nutrients. The solution is to transplant into a larger container, which differs from the existing one by no more than 5 cm in diameter. Usually this supply is sufficient.

Watering too much will cause the soil to become waterlogged. This can lead to rotting of the roots, which also has a bad effect on the general condition of the plant. If you notice that the container is not draining enough, either add drainage holes in the bottom, or, if the pot cannot be fixed, transplant the lemon into another container.

An important factor due to which a lemon can shed its leaves is pests. Carefully examine the soil, leaves and shoots for their presence. You can even lightly dig up the roots (extremely carefully!) to check that they too are not affected.

If pests are still found, carry out high-quality treatment.

Leaves are sticky

The only change in foliage not related to improper care– stickiness of leaves. Suddenly they start to look like they've been coated in clear sugar icing. In particularly advanced cases, crystals even form.

Initially, the disease is caused by a pest - a scale insect, which settles inside the lemon tree itself. If you do not treat it in a timely manner, it is fraught with the appearance of sooty fungus. If you do not treat it, the lemon will most likely die, since not only the leaves are affected, but also the shoots.

To remove plaque, you need to make a solution of transformer oil and water. You will need 6 ml of oil per 1 liter of water. Process each leaf on both sides. In this case, the treatment will have to be repeated after a week. This solution fights not only the plaque itself, but also its cause – scale insects.

Another remedy is tobacco solution. They need to spray the plant with a spray bottle for 3 weeks at weekly intervals. The tobacco solution can be replaced with carbofox.

As you can see, the poor condition of a plant is not always due to disease. Often the gardeners themselves are to blame for this, as they do not pay full attention to caring procedures.

In addition to such manifestations, lemon can be affected by a number of pests.

Shchitovka

Among other things, scale insects contribute to clogging of the pores on the leaves and stems, which greatly affects the plant’s ability to breathe. As a result, a lemon tree that is suffocated and infected with sooty fungus (the fungus, by the way, is also one of the results of the life activity of the scale insect) dies within a few months.

The best way to get rid of scale insects is to remove the adults by hand and then treat the plant to kill the young ones. Unfortunately, no spraying against adult scale insects will help, since they are reliably hidden by a hard shield. Each place from which the scale insects have been removed must be wiped with alcohol.

A similar treatment procedure is repeated 3-4 times at weekly intervals to completely get rid of the pest.

Spider mite

The result of the activity of the spider mite is the slow death of the plant due to the fact that all the juices are literally drunk from it. It is difficult to detect spider mites because they are very tiny and almost invisible to the naked eye. You can judge that a spider mite has appeared on a lemon tree by yellow dots on the leaves and yellowing of the tips. In very advanced cases, the plant becomes covered with cobwebs.

If you notice the results of spider mite activity, and then find the “hero of the occasion” under a magnifying glass, immediately proceed to treatment. You should not experiment with traditional methods. None of them have been proven to be effective. Immediately bring in the “heavy artillery” – chemicals.

One of the most popular products is Fitoverm, which, to tell the truth, is not completely chemical. It is safe for surrounding plants, including the lemon tree itself. Half a day after treatment, the tick cannot feed and dies within a couple of days. To achieve optimal results, you need to repeat the treatment procedure after a week, the total number of treatments is 4 times.

Also good, but more dangerous, are Actellik and Demitan.

Mealybug

In particularly advanced cases, when the number of scale insects is large, there is a feeling that dirty cotton wool has stuck to the plant. As in the case of scale insects, a dangerous sooty fungus can appear as a result of the life activity of the mealybug.

There are mealybugs different types. Some of them only affect the root system, so if the plant becomes lethargic, be sure to loosen the soil and check if the roots are affected.

As in the previous case, we do not recommend that you resort to traditional methods. The insidiousness of the mealybug is that when unfavorable conditions it simply goes into hibernation and then becomes active again. Therefore, it is important to act immediately for sure.

The tricky thing about aphids is that you need to know what type of insect you are dealing with. Some breeds are highly resistant or immune to certain components, so treatment may not be effective. In this case, it is important not to give up and try new approaches to treatment.

The size of aphids is 1-3 mm. The larvae are generally invisible due to their lack of color and small size. Most often, aphids get onto the lemon tree from neighboring indoor plants, so regularly check if the lemon’s “neighbors” are sick.

Interestingly, you can get rid of aphids in the first stages using ordinary laundry soap. You just need to wash all the leaves and stems with a strong soapy solution. This procedure must be repeated several times every 3 days until all symptoms of aphid infestation disappear.

Thrips

Thrips are similar to aphids in many ways, but these pests have the advantage of being able to fly. Therefore, thrips often enter the lemon tree through open windows.

Larvae and adults feed on leaves. Hence the characteristic black dots on the leaves. Over time, if there are a lot of insects, they can completely destroy the foliage on the lemon, since the leaves damaged by thrips turn black and fall off.

“Aktara” is recognized as the best remedy for combating thrips. The solution of this drug must be watered generously on the plant, and the flow must be purposefully directed to the root, without wasting money on the surrounding soil, as with regular watering.

Whitefly

A signal that the lemon is sick is the appearance of a sticky coating and yellowish spots. As a result, sooty fungus may appear, from which the plant in most cases dies. Over time, the leaves curl and fall off.

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 fertilizing. It is noteworthy that a lemon tree can live up to 100 years or even more, so it is passed on by inheritance

Preparing to grow lemon from a seed in a pot

Before you grow a strong and completely healthy lemon from a seed, carry out preparatory measures.

1. First, select planting material. For this purpose, remove the seeds from fresh fruits. Never use seed that you obtained a long time ago. It won't germinate.

2. As soon as you collect the seeds, rinse them in warm water. Do not wait or dry it, immediately immerse it in the substrate. This simple move will increase the number of seedlings by 60%.

3. Citrus growers share another effective method of enhancing the quality of the future tree and the rate of seed germination. 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 sprouted in a pot. But before planting at home, the collected material is kept for 3 hours in a special growth stimulator. The seed coats should not be allowed to dry out. The growth stimulator is used only when planting seeds with a shell.

Growing lemon from a seed in a pot at home

Lemon can be obtained from the seed by following step-by-step instructions at home. Growing is not difficult if you take into account all the nuances.

1. So, first take care of shallow containers, make holes at the bottom (side) for exit excess moisture. This way you will prevent stagnation of water and rotting of the planting material.

3. Now about the soil. It’s better to make it yourself from river sand, humus and garden soil. Crushed coal (charcoal) is added to the substrate to enrich it with nutrients and have a bactericidal effect.

4. If it is not possible to make soil, buy a ready-made substrate at the “Dachnik” or “Everything for Gardening” store. Choose soil designed for germinating citrus fruits.

5. Before caring for a lemon in a pot, you need to plant it and germinate it at home. The ideal period for sowing seeds is February. If you are in a hurry, 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 below. This means there is enough liquid. Now you need to make holes 2 cm deep, place the seeds in them and sprinkle.

7. If the container is rectangular in size, it is allowed to plant a couple of seeds in it at the same time. The plants will not interfere with each other, because when 3-4 leaves appear, they will need to be replanted.

8. Place film over the containers and 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 all that remains is to wait. As practice shows, you will see the first shoots after 1-4 weeks. Spray the soil with a spray bottle for the specified period. Don't water the soil if not obvious signs drying.

How to care for lemon seedlings from seed

We will tell you below how to care for an adult lemon in a pot. In the meantime, let’s study the features of caring for seeds planted in the soil. At home, all manipulations boil down to the following:

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

2. After 3-4 leaves appear, remove the polyethylene completely. The time has come 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 replanting and formation of the first crown.

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

5. In the summer, fertilizing is carried out for 2 weeks (alternating minerals with humus solution).

6. Young plants need to be replanted every year. The roots should not be disturbed, so move with extreme caution.

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

8. To prevent the plant from weakening, do not allow it to bear fruit until it is 3 years old. Therefore, simply remove the first shoots directed deep into the crown. Rotate the seedling systematically to ensure even illumination.

How to care for a potted lemon tree

Now let’s look in detail at how to care for an adult lemon in a pot. Follow these simple instructions at home.

No. 1. Provide lighting

1. Don't forget that the plant in question loves light. Moreover, it should be bright enough.

2. However, protect the seedlings from 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 out onto the loggia or street. If necessary, build a canopy.

No. 3. Keep an eye on the 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 air (!), not soil.

Watering a lemon tree in a pot

No. 1. Summer/spring/autumn watering

1. During the warm season, take care of frequent and abundant hydration. If the room is cool and there is high humidity, frequent watering no use.

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 more than 1 cm deep.

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 over-water to prevent the tree from rotting.

Soil and fertilizing 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 features.

No. 1. Soil

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

2. To create such 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. Place 2 cm of drainage on the bottom of the pot. It will not 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, apply fertilizer once every 20 days. At the same time, alternate mineral and organic fertilizing.

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 timely pruning of the tree at home.

1. Pruning is considered an integral part of care. Properly form the crown depending on the purpose of growing lemon.

2. If the plant is grown as a decoration, the crown should be kept compact. To obtain full-fledged citrus fruits, a completely different method is used.

3. A fruit-bearing tree must have several main branches consisting of fruit wood. Shape the crown by pinching.

4. Pinch the zero shoots, which are 25 cm long. Next, repeat the procedure at a height of 20 cm from the previous pinching. As a result, 4 developed buds remain in this segment.

5. Pinch the shoots located on the first row after 25-30 cm. As they ripen, 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.

A lemon from a seed will bear fruit if all requirements are taken into account. At the same time, citrus fruits will begin to ripen on the tree even without grafting. Don't expect a good harvest earlier than 4 years. If you graft, the ripening period of the first lemons will be slightly reduced. For the rest follow clear instructions tree care.

It will take 5 minutes to read

Lush flowering indoor flowers will no longer surprise anyone. Now that a huge amount is being sold varietal plants from outright exotic to completely traditional, flower growers really value the experience of growing exotic flowers on their own fruit crop from seed.

One of the most common exotics in modern apartments is a lemon. Even a beginner in the field of growing indoor plants can grow a fruit-bearing lemon tree at home, following certain rules.

Description of lemon tree

The home lemon tree is a fairly tall tree, reaching one and a half meters. Photos of various types of lemon trees are widely distributed on the Internet and allow a comprehensive look at this plant.

Lemon tree blossom

Flowering time occurs in March-April. Buds form on young shoots of the current year. The flowers are very showy with a strong fragrant aroma. Depending on the variety, they can be arranged either in clusters of 3-5 inflorescences, or individually.

Reference. The leaves are large, leathery, dark green. The fruits, depending on the variety, range from pale yellow to yellow-orange. Fruit ripening occurs within 8-9 months.

Lemon is a remontant plant, that is, the plant can develop fruits and flower at the same time.

The plant prefers good lighting and warm, moist air.

There are two ways to plant and grow a lemon tree at home:

• rooting cuttings;
• grown from a lemon seed.

How to grow a lemon tree from a seed

For growing a lemon tree from a seed, a seed from a fruit bought in a store is quite suitable, the main thing is that it does not have any mechanical damage from a knife or anything else.

Planting lemon seeds

The planting pot must have sufficient drainage holes to remove excess moisture. Drainage is placed at the bottom; it can be expanded clay or any other small stones.

The largest seeds are extracted from ripe fresh lemons and planted in a container filled with soil for seedlings or any other soil mixture for rooting plants, sold in specialized stores.

The seeds are placed to a depth of 1.5-2 cm, watered abundantly and covered with transparent plastic film. It is worth making 2-3 small holes in the film for air circulation so that the earth does not become moldy from excess moisture. The pot should be placed in a warm and bright place and wait for germination.

As a rule, the first shoots appear on 14 - 21 days. The film is removed after the second pair of leaves appears. Young plants are watered with warm and settled water. Plants also respond well to fine spraying of leaves. For the first one and a half to two months, young plants do not need to be fed. Then gradually introduce mineral and organic fertilizers.

Grown seedlings are sorted according to the characteristics of a productive tree. Signs include:

• strong leaves;
• developed root system;
• presence of shoots.

Having grown a lemon tree from a seed, you can go further.

How to grow a lemon tree from cuttings

It is widely believed that growing a lemon tree from a cutting is a more promising process than growing from a seed; in addition, the tree’s yield increases significantly.

Lemon seedlings

Planting of cuttings is carried out from February to May in soil mixture for seedlings, for better rooting you can add a little charcoal and sand. The pot must have drainage holes.

Cuttings are taken from fruit-bearing trees at the age of 6 years. For pruning, slightly lignified cuttings are taken. There should be several leaves left on the branch, the lower ones of which are subsequently removed, and the rest, except top sheet, cut in half.

After planting, water abundantly and cover with a glass jar, creating an impromptu greenhouse.

The jar is removed after the plants have completely rooted and new leaves appear. The plant is often sprayed with settled water, creating the usual humidity.

Lemon tree care

Caring for a lemon tree consists of the following mandatory activities:

• watering and spraying;
• feeding;
• crown formation;
• replanting as needed;
• inspection and removal of pests.

Whether a lemon tree is grown from a seed or from a cutting, it needs to develop a beautiful, well-branched crown. The formation of the crown is not just an aesthetic necessity, but a mandatory procedure that guarantees the correct development of the tree. Even if your plans do not include the desire to get a fruit-bearing tree, since the dark leathery leaves of the lemon tree themselves make it worthy of decorating any interior, to give the plant a well-groomed appearance, you should pay attention to pruning and pinching unnecessary shoots.

Forming the crown of a lemon tree

When the seedling reaches a height of 25-30 cm, the top is pinched off, stopping its growth in height. After some time, side shoots will begin to actively form on the tree, which should also be pinched when they reach a length of 25-30 cm. With subsequent shoots you need to do the same.

Watering and spraying

A homemade lemon tree should be watered with moderately settled water for 1-2 days. In nature, citrus fruits grow in warm and humid climates, so daily spraying with settled water will bring tangible benefits to the plants.

Lemon feeding

In the spring-summer period, lemon feeding can be done once a week. In the autumn-winter period, reduce to 1 time per month. Fertilizing can be done either with complex fertilizers, sold in specialized stores, or with self-prepared solutions.

Replanting a homemade lemon

Citrus fruits do not tolerate the replanting procedure well, so it is not necessary unless absolutely necessary. Young plants can be replanted annually before flowering. Plants on which flower ovaries have appeared are best left alone.

28.09.2016 33 329

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

Growing exotic plant in an apartment, you need to know how to care for lemon at home. The tree is quite capricious, so getting a tasty harvest requires a lot of time and effort to achieve the long-awaited result. Only following certain rules will make the lemon bear fruit and enjoy healthy growth.

What conditions do indoor lemons need?

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

When caring for a lemon, you need to remember that the tree has an increased growth period 3-4 times a year. To get a harvest, you need to regularly feed citrus. Usually, abundant flowering occurs with February month to August. In winter, the amount of fertilizing is reduced to once a month.

Lemon feeding during the flowering period, as well as during fruiting, is done once every two weeks. It is better to feed indoor lemons with organic matter. Well suited, for example, Gumi Omi Kuznetsova Lemon, the drug is based on natural, so it can be used for home tree. Dissolve 1 tbsp. fertilizers in a liter of water, mix well, pour 0.5 cups per plant (a larger volume is required for mature powerful trees). You can use another natural preparation Lemon-Mandarin “Mother Earth”.

Lemon fruiting at home cannot be achieved without fertilizing, either in spring or summer. It is also recommended to spray the underside of the leaves with a fertilizer solution. Citrus fruits are fertilized after transplantation after 3-4 weeks; the main dose is given 2-3 days before placing the tree in a new container. After transplanting the lemon into a new pot, it is recommended to water the plants with Cornesil to improve and restore the root system.

Diseases and pests of lemon, combating them

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

spider mite - pictured

Spider mites are brown in color, sometimes with a red or yellow tint. With a careful inspection of the plants, the pest is easy to detect. Usually, hordes of pests are located on the underside of the leaves, entwining the green mass of the tree with the finest cobwebs. Over the summer, one female can leave up to 10 generations, laying 150 eggs at a time.

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

in the photo - homemade lemon harvest

It can also become an unpleasant guest that damages the leaf blades of citrus fruits. On the back of the leaves, sometimes on the stems, you can find clusters of small brown scales that are practically not separated from the plant. It is necessary to fight the scale insect immediately, otherwise damage to the leaf apparatus will lead to fruiting that may be inhibited. Methods for combating scale insects on lemon are similar to those used to combat aphids.

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

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