Indoor lemon - the intricacies of growing at home. Learning to grow and care for lemon at home Lemon plant care

Growing indoor plants is a pleasant activity that sometimes brings good results. One of these fruits can be an indoor lemon, which can be grown simply on a windowsill.

Lemon- a fruit that is used in both desserts and snacks, and adding it to tea is even considered classic combination. In addition, lemon is also very beautiful tree with a pleasant smell that will decorate your home. In this article we will look in detail at how to grow lemons and how to care for them.

Varieties of homemade lemons

Some varieties of lemons can be grown only in southern regions , others like lower temperatures and only take root V northern regions . Lemons are divided into the following varieties:

• Lemon Ural – unpretentious plant, which grows well both in hot weather and in low temperature. At proper care produces up to 12 kg of harvest per year
• Pavlova lemon is a lemon variety that was one of the first to be grown indoors. The plant grows best in dark places, but despite this, it blooms all year round. The harvest from this type of lemon varies from 10 to 40 kg per year
• Lemons without a single thorn are called Maykop and Genoa. The first variety of lemon has very thin branches and dark lush crown. The harvest per year reaches 30 kg. The second is noted as a low-growing plant and produces a harvest only from the fourth year of life. The amount of harvest initially does not exceed 8 kg in the first years and up to 40 kg in the subsequent period
• Lemon Ponderosa a variety of citrus fruits whose fruits reach 1 kg in weight. But due to the fact that the fruits are large, the harvest does not exceed 5 pieces per year
• Also, such types of citrus fruits as Anniversary– they can reach 600 grams in weight
• A hybrid variety is a type of lemon such as Chinese- This is a mixture of lemon and orange. A rather capricious plant that requires careful care. Productivity is low - up to 3 kg annually

There are a huge number of lemon varieties that you can grow at home. They are all different - some like heat and sun, others like partial shade and coolness. If you decide to plant a lemon in a pot at home, be sure to check which one temperature and light conditions suitable for this variety.

How to grow a lemon tree at home from a seed?

Lemon can be obtained by grafting, and grow from seed. Step-by-step instruction For growing lemon from seed listed below:

• Take Not big pot, punch holes in the bottom and cover with drainage. Buy citrus soil or make your own. To do this, pour equal amounts into the pot. humus and turf soil
• Buy a ripe large lemon, cut it and, after choosing 2-3 bones, plant in the ground to a depth of 1.5 cm
• Set the temperature in your home not lower than +18С, and spray the soil once every three days. You can’t water until germination, an exception can be made if you see that the soil is very dry
• When the first shoots appear, it will be in about 21 days after planting, move the pot to a lighted, but not very hot place. The plant should be watered no more than once every 2 weeks.
• Lemon needs to be replanted no more than 2 times a year. If you live in a private sector, you can plant the plant in the ground for the summer and return it indoors in the fall. For apartment residents, replanting should only be done if there is not enough room for the lemon in the current pot. Do not buy a pot for replanting that is too large, it should be no more than 5 cm in diameter from the previous size
• In order for a lemon to bear fruit, it is necessary pinch or bud a plant late spring or in summer

Growing lemon from seed

After completing all the above steps, you will be able to V short time grow on your windowsill there is a beautiful citrus tree that will bring a harvest to your table.

Video: How to grow fruit-bearing lemon?

How to graft a lemon?

A lemon grown from a seed will most likely not bear fruit if it is not grafted. For that, To get a citrus harvest you need:

• Cut off the scion just before grafting. It is better to do this between April and August
• Trim the scion to length 6 cm and remove all leaves except the top ones - leave about 4 sheets
• Make a cut from the top approx. 1 cm length and treat the cut area with garden varnish
• Cut off half of each leaf on the scion, tie it with tape to the rootstock, and place it under a glass container or large plastic bottle.
• Through 2 weeks check how the grafting has started - whether the cut leaves are easily separated

If the leaves begin to fall over time, then this is a clear sign that tree grafting was successful and you can slightly loosen the tape with which you tied the scion and rootstock.

Typically, these lemon grafting methods are successful and already a year after this procedure You will see the first, unusually smelling white flowers, which will eventually grow into a delicious citrus fruit.

What soil is suitable for indoor lemon?

Lemon is a very whimsical plant and will not grow in any soil. In order to plant a citrus tree in a pot, you can use soil from the store (special bags of soil marked “For citrus fruits”), or make the right mixture on one's own.

The soil mixture for young lemon consists of turf and leaf soil in proportion 2:1 and sand with humus in a 1:1 ratio. For a more mature plant, the amount of turf soil increases by one indicator and will be 3:1 in the ratio with leaf soil.

A particularly good addition to such soil is rotted oak leaves. This is a very nutritious environment for the root system of the citrus tree.

Do not plant the plant in soil from under flowers or simply dug up on the site. The lemon will not only stop growing, but may simply die in such conditions.

How to feed lemon at home?

If you grow lemon at home, be prepared for the fact that it will not be as big as its relative in the store, but in terms of smell and aroma the home harvest will be many times greater than the purchased one.

In order for a lemon to bear fruit, its leaves to be bright green, and the tree itself to look strong and healthy, it needs Fertilize regularly and correctly. The main nutrients for lemon are nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. The first has positive results on plant growth, the second - on the formation of large, tasty fruits, the third - preserves bright color lemon leaves.

Sold in stores special solution for citrus fruits, where all the necessary components are collected in the correct ratio. It is best to fertilize the plant summer or autumn. Homemade fertilizers can be chicken droppings, diluted with water in the ratio 1:9.

Lemon propagation at home

You can propagate lemons using seeds or cuttings. Each of these methods has negative and positive sides:

• When propagated by seeds the tree is more powerful compared to the lemon obtained from cuttings
• At seed propagation fruits appear only in 7 years, from the cutting there will be lemons already after 3 years

Let's look at these types of reproduction in more detail. A seed after eating a lemon plant in a pot with a mixture of soil, humus and sand to a depth of no more than 2 cm, spray the soil. During seed propagation, the first shoots from the seeds appear in a month at most. Over time, the plant grows long, thin branches that need to be trimmed.

Propagation by cuttings- more quick way get beautiful tree. Need to be planted in a pot with drainage 5 cuttings from a healthy lemon with slices and cover with a jar. In three weeks the first shoots will appear. It is worth replanting such a lemon into a pot 2 months later after the shoots appear.

When propagating lemons, it is necessary Fertilize the plant once every few months manure or a special mixture from stores. Fruits after this propagation method, depending on the variety, may appear as early as next year.

Lemons grown from seeds will not bear fruit immediately - only after 7-8 years.

Don’t be too lazy to use at least the first method, because it’s not at all difficult to stick lemon seed in a pot. But the beautiful green tree that will grow from such a seed will delight the eye every day.

Pests of indoor lemon

There are a lot of options for solutions to save lemons from pests, here are some of them:

• Solution with soap and machine oil (oil can be replaced with kerosene or copper sulfate) – mix these components in a 1:2 ratio and thoroughly wipe the leaves. After a few hours, wash them clean water. Repeat in a week
• Soap emulsion with mustard– dissolve 250 g in a bucket of water laundry soap and 10 times less mustard powder, mix well. Pour 250 g of copper sulfate into the resulting solution
• Soak a sponge in mild vinegar solution and wipe the leaves
• Lubricate the inside of the bucket turpentine and cover the plant. After a few hours, remove the container and wash the leaves with warm water
• 100 g hot pepper Grind in 1 liter of water and cook for about an hour. After this, strain through cheesecloth and leave for two days. Before use, dilute with water in a ratio of 1:10
• 50 g garlic pass through a garlic press and pour in 300 g hot water, leave for a week dark place. Before use, add 350 grams of soap and dilute in a bucket of water

One of the enemies indoor lemon- aphid

Diseases and treatment of homemade lemon

Indoor lemons can overcome various fungal, viral and bacterial diseases. After receiving such a disease, ulcers, growths, rot and other signs form on the leaves and trunk of the tree.

If you do not take care of your lemon, it becomes very vulnerable to such diseases. When you see any signs of fungus or bacteria on the plant, remove all fruits and flowers, so that they do not take away the strength from the lemon necessary to fight pests.

To prevent and treat manifestations of the disease, it is necessary to use the drug "Fitosporin". Use it to spray and water the diseased tree according to the instructions.

Spots on lemon leaves are also a sign of one of the diseases - treatment must be started immediately

Fungal diseases on trees may cause the following visible signs:

• Yellowing leaves, fallen buds and red spots on the fruits. For treatment, spray with Bordeaux solution
• Pink warts on the leaves and orange spots on the fruit. It is necessary to cut off the affected parts and spray with Bordeaux mixture
• Red spots, cracks on the trunk of the plant. For treatment, clean the affected areas, anoint with a solution of copper sulfate and garden pitch. Carry out similar procedures until complete recovery.

To ensure that the lemon does not have similar signs and does not die from an advanced disease, it is worth regularly inspecting the plant and apply therapeutic measures to save the tree.

Video: Indoor lemon and its diseases

Why do my homemade lemons' leaves fall off?

If homemade lemon costs not in a lit place, then this may be the first reason why the plant’s leaves fall off. To solve the problem with leaf fall of a citrus tree you need:

• Place the tree on the windowsill on the south side
• IN winter time additionally illuminate the plant with artificial lighting lamps

AND insufficient and excessive watering leads to leaf fall on the lemon. In the first case, the dried roots die off and the flow of sap to the leaves stops, which in turn begin to fall off.

In case of excess moisture the soil becomes more dense, which blocks air access to the root system. Again, the root dies and the situation repeats with insufficient watering. Therefore, monitor the amount of watering of the citrus tree.

If a lemon's leaves fall off, it means you're not looking after it well enough.

During summer period lemon intensively consumes minerals from the soil. If you do not replenish the supply with fertilizers, the lemon leaves will begin to turn yellow and fall off.

IN winter period the heated room is similar in climate to the desert. Excessive dry air is stressful for lemon. Therefore, to prevent it from starting to shed leaves in such conditions, regularly Spray the leaves 2 times a week and do not place the lemon close to a heater or radiator.

Leaves may fall due to overwatering, and also due to lack of water

If the room temperature below +10C and there is a constant draft– this can also cause leaf fall.

Rid the lemon of such stressful situations– take care of the temperature in the room where it is stored lemon Tree, and the amount of watering the plant.

How to trim indoor lemon?

In order for a lemon tree to bear fruit well and have the correct shape, you need to regularly prune and turn the tree on the windowsill relative to the sun every two weeks. You can straighten the trunk by tying the branches with copper wire. This way the branches will grow in the right direction.

If the lemon already has fruits, then when ripe it should trim not only the fruit, but also a branch 5-7 cm long, on which the crop grew. And within a week, new shoots will grow at the cut site.

To obtain a fragrant tree with fruits, it is necessary to prune it.

If you have too many fruits on the tree, then you need to adjust their quantity at the rate of 1 fruit per 10-12 leaves. All other lemons must be removed so that the plant does not have a very hard time. Give correct form your plant so that it bears fruit well and looks healthy.

Is it possible to plant indoor lemons outside?

Very helpful plant lemon outside. Choose a place that is not too open and lit. The best option there will be a place where Sun before lunch, partial shade after. Be prepared for the fact that after replanting the lemon may drop its flowers. But this is not scary, this is the plant’s reaction to stress during transplantation.

If you don't want the lemon to have no flowers, plant the plant outside in a pot. Thus, the tree will be in the same conditions, but in the fresh air.

With good climatic conditions lemon will grow on the streets that's all summer season . In October, it is advisable to return it indoors, because there may be night frosts and the plant may freeze.

Anyway Do not delay the stay of indoor lemon outdoors- as soon as the temperature starts to drop, it is necessary return to the premises.

Careful care and compliance with the listed measures will allow an exotic guest to stay in your home for a long time - an indoor lemon, which will definitely delight you bright greens and delicious citrus fruits.

Video: How to grow lemon at home?

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

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

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

If you decide to grow a lemon tree at home, familiarize yourself with the intricacies of care:

Watering the lemon

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

The main thing in watering a lemon is to avoid stagnation of water in the soil, leading to rotting of the roots, and not to overdry the earthen ball: this can lead to the leaf curling and the leaves and lemons falling off.

Lighting for lemon

How to care for homemade lemon in terms of lighting? Lemons don't need long daylight hours if you want more fruit rather than leaves. The tree bears fruit well in bright, diffused light: it is best to keep it on windows facing east. If the window is south, in the summer we be sure to protect the plant from direct sun rays.

To ensure that the crown grows evenly, we turn the lemon tree in the direction of the sun twice a month. And we don't allow low light: In partial shade and shade, the leaf grows slowly, and the fruits are too sour.

Temperature

Caring for homemade lemon requires maintaining a certain air temperature.

• While the lemon is growing and gaining green mass, or blooming, we keep it in a room where the temperature is 17-20 degrees.
• When the fruits appear and ripen, the temperature is needed a couple of degrees higher.
• In winter, during the dormant period, a temperature of no higher than 14 degrees is required, or 18°C, if the plant is not yet “sleeping” - in this case, we provide it with 12 hours of daylight with the help of phytolamps.

Do not keep the lemon in a hot room or allow sudden temperature changes.

In the summer, you can take the tree outside - the main thing is to have time to bring it home before evening (if the weather is expected to be cool).

Humidity level for lemon

We figured out how to water a lemon: we find out what level of air humidity is suitable for growing it. It needs quite high humidity, especially in the hot season - in summer or during the heating season.

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

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

Third option: turn on a household humidifier next to the plant.

Lemon feeding

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

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

• Fertilization with minerals. For feeding you will need a ready-made product such as a “citrus mixture”, in which the proportions N:P:K are 14:16:18. We dilute it in water according to the attached instructions and water the soil.
• Organic fertilizer. Make an infusion by mixing 1 part water and 1 part mullein ( horse manure) and, after waiting 7 days, dilute it with water: mullein infusion - 1 to 15, horse ball infusion - 1 to 10.

Twice a year we water the soil with a weak solution of potassium permanganate to enrich and disinfect the soil.

Lemon transplant

Young lemon plants in a pot, which we will learn today how to care for, need to be replanted 1 and 2 years after planting.

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

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

Subsequently, we replant the plant every two years, when the growing season begins. When replanting, do not forget to put drainage (expanded clay + charcoal or a layer of sand) with a layer of 2 cm. Thanks to transshipment, you do not have to think about how to root a lemon. The main thing is not to transplant while the lemon is blooming or bearing fruit.

Crown formation

As the lemon grows, the crown should be trimmed - in the spring, at a low stem of about 18 cm, before the green mass begins to grow. We cut off the shoots, leaving 5 leaves, so that the tree will branch out before fruiting begins.

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

Lemon blossom on the windowsill and harvest

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

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

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

The flowers do not require pollination and bloom for about 2 months.

Lemons can bear fruit up to 4 times a year: it depends on the variety. It takes about 6-8 weeks for the fruit to develop and begin to ripen. The peel of fully ripened lemons takes on a rich golden hue: this means it’s time to harvest.

If you delay picking, the skin will become thicker, the slices will dry out and the juice will lose its characteristic acidity.

Now you know how to care for lemons at home so that they grow strong and healthy and produce a lot of fruit. Follow all the rules for keeping indoor lemons, and they will delight you all year round. beautiful flowering and abundant fruiting.

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

Lemon tree planting material

To plant a tree at home use:

• fruit seeds;
• cuttings.

Fruit selection

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

To harvest seeds, choose only ripe fruits.

• sluggish;
• green;
• rotten.

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

Planting cuttings

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

Important! The lemon tree from the shoot has genetic material your parents".

Disadvantages of the method:

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

Lemon tree sprout

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

Preparing soil for lemon seeds

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

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

Advice. Flowerpots for planting must be spacious and deep so that root system had room for its growth and development.

Planting a grain in the ground:

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

At correct landing, sprouts appear quite quickly

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

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

Fertilizing the soil and fertilizing lemons

Lemon, like any other plant, needs fertilizers and feeding. They significantly accelerate the growth and development of the tree, filling it with all the necessary useful substances. Experts recommend feeding the lemon tree once every three months.

Lemon tree needs fertilizing several times a year

For feeding and fertilizing indoor citrus plant use:

• sodium nitrate (13 g per 1 liter of rainwater);
• ammonium nitrate (5 g per 1 liter of water);
• bird droppings (mix with water (ratio 1:1), leave for 2-3 weeks, dilute with big amount water (1:20), pour under the root);
• other ready-made fertilizers sold in specialized stores.

Important! The amount of fertilizers should be moderate, as they can accumulate in the plant and its fruits.

Reproduction methods

At home, lemons reproduce:

• seeds;
• bends;
• cuttings.

Lemon tree cuttings

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

Cuttings

1. This is another way to propagate a lemon tree and is used in spring or summer. Reproduction technology:
2. Using a sharp knife or pruning shears, cut off a branch with 3-4 green leaves (the lower edge of the shoot should have a pointed edge).
3. Immerse it in a specialized liquid (growth activator) for 10-12 hours.
4. The treated shoot is planted in prepared sandy soil.
5. Spray generously with water, cover with film (such water treatments repeat daily).
6. When young shoots appear, the film is removed from the cuttings and cared for in accordance with all the requirements and recommendations of specialists.

Reproduction by grafting

Indoor lemons are actively propagated by grafting into clefts. This method is quite effective, but not everyone can succeed. Technology:

Pests of indoor citrus

• fungus;
• various harmful bacteria;
• viruses.

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

Common citrus tree diseases:

• gommosis;
• scab;

Lemon scab disease

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

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

Manifestation of gommosis

Sooty fungus also quite often disturbs citrus fruits. It appears in the form dark spots on foliage, they have a bad effect on the growth and development of lemon. You can fight it with warm water, it washes off the resulting stains, thereby freeing the leaves from plaque.

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

How to grow lemon at home: video

Growing lemon from seed: photo

Lemon(Citrus limon) belongs to the Rutacea family and unites dozens of evergreen varieties citrus trees small size. These beautiful plants with a well-leafed crown are distinguished by fairly abundant fruiting. The leaves of the lemon tree are very dense, shiny, dark green in color and have an ovoid plate shape with jagged edges. Some lemon varieties are perfectly adapted for growing at home. Caring for a lemon tree is quite simple. Photo indoor varieties lemon and rules home care behind this miniature tree you will find later in this article.

Many lovers of indoor plants have long appreciated decorative qualities lemon, as well as the opportunity to annually receive a harvest of tasty, juicy and healthy fruits. Indoor lemon can be used to form a floral composition of bushy and tree-like plants in home interior. These would look interesting together with lemon: miniature trees such as Ficus Benjamin, Dracaena Marginata, Crassula Money Tree, Zamioculcas Dollar Tree, Schefflera in the form of a bonsai, myrtle with a lush crown, home yucca.

Some of the most popular indoor varieties of lemon trees in our country include Pavlovsky (Citrus Limon Pavlovsky), Ponderosa, Meyer (or Chinese). Typically, Pavlovsk lemons grow up to 1.5-2 meters in height, have a rounded crown with oblong shiny leaves. They begin to bear fruit already in 3-4 years. The rough skin of the ripe fruit is light green in color. For panderosa lemon, the first fruiting season at home can begin in the second year. The variety is famous not only for its delicate, pleasant-tasting fruit pulp, but also abundant flowering. Large cream-colored flowers are collected in beautiful inflorescences.

IN last years The leader in the popularity of growing at home is held by the Meyer lemon (Citrus Limon Mejer). The miniature tree reaches a height of 1.2-1.5 meters. By pruning and pinching young shoots, you can give a very interesting, original shape to the crown of this lemon tree. This variety of indoor lemon is valued for beautiful flowers white with a unique delicate aroma. Fragrant flowers usually bloom at the end of winter, 2-6 pieces per inflorescence or one per shoot. But the most important thing distinctive feature Meyer lemons are very juicy, sweet fruits with yellowish-orange flesh. Fruit round shape are protected by a thin skin and change color as they ripen from green to bright yellow or light orange. This miniature lemon tree is often used to form an original phytodesign indoors or for landscaping. winter gardens. Against the background of these compact trees with a lush crown, such popular flowering indoor plants as the phalaenopsis or dendrobium orchid, the flower Male happiness (anthurium) or Female happiness (spathiphyllum), Thompson's clerodendrum, New Guinea balsam, home gerbera, miniature Saintpaulia violets, geranium will look interesting with lush large flowers, tuberous begonia, Persian cyclamen.

♦ WHAT IS IMPORTANT!

Location and lighting.

Indoor lemon refers to light-loving plant. The plant will feel comfortable on the windowsill of a window facing the east or west side of the room. You can place a pot with a tree next to the south window on a stand, but in this case you need to shade the window glass so that direct sunlight does not damage the foliage (the leaves begin to appear on the leaf blade). yellow spots from burns). If possible, take the lemon tree outside open air when the temperature does not drop below 12°C. At home, try to ventilate the air more often, but keep the plant away from drafts. When will they come short periods sunlight during the day, be sure to place phyto- or other high-quality plants next to the pot fluorescent lamps. The daily lighting period for indoor lemon is 12-14 hours.

Temperature conditions.

Comfortable temperature for a lemon tree in spring and summer is 16-24°C. Sudden changes in temperature during the day can worsen the decorative value of the plant - lemon leaves begin to curl and turn yellow at the edges.

In order for the budding period to occur on time and the lemon fruits to ripen completely, it is advisable to organize a “cold wintering” the day before. In winter, try to keep the temperature in the range of 14-17°C.

Air humidity.

The best option is moderate humidity. Protect the lemon from dry air during heating season and in the summer heat. Try to spray the plant with warm, settled water more often (3 times a day in dry indoor air). You can place a pot with a tree on a tray with wet pebbles, and place a container of water next to the pot.

Watering.

Water indoor lemons with warm boiled water or water that has stood for several days. Late autumn and in winter you need to water the plant very moderately, when the top layer of soil is completely dry. But it is also impossible to overdry the earthen ball, as the leaves will begin to turn yellow and crumble. In spring and summer, you can water the plant abundantly, but without overflowing. Pour out any water that flows into the pan. With constant waterlogging of the earthen coma, the roots begin to rot.

Earth mixture and fertilizing.

To plant lemons, you can use a purchased citrus substrate or make an earthen mixture yourself: turf land, leaf soil, humus, peat and coarse sand (proportion - 2:1:1:1:1).

In winter, there is no need to feed the lemon (a weak solution of complex fertilizer once a month) if the room is slightly cool. If the room is cold, then there is no need to apply fertilizers during wintering at all. In spring, summer and until mid-autumn, apply liquid fertilizers once every two weeks, alternating organic fertilizers with mineral ones.

Transfer.

For replanting, it is best to choose a baked clay pot with a hole in the bottom. Young plant replanted every year, and an adult lemon - once every 3 years, changing the top layer of soil annually. A 2 cm drainage layer of expanded clay is poured onto the bottom of the pot, and a layer of sand is placed on top. The new pot for replanting should be 5-6 cm in diameter wider than the previous one. Do not bury the root collar of the tree into the substrate.

Trimming.

Reproduction.

Lemon can be propagated by seeds, cuttings, layering, or grafting (a cutting from a fruiting plant can be grafted onto a three-year-old rootstock grown from a seed).

At home, propagation by cuttings is most often used. From a fruit-bearing indoor lemon, use a sharp knife to cut off a shoot 3-4 mm thick, ripened since last year. We bury the cuttings a few centimeters into a container with damp sand. Roots will begin to appear when high humidity air and temperature 21-24°C.

If desired, anyone can grow a lemon tree at home. Care at home is not particularly difficult, but there are, of course, certain points. If you do everything correctly, then in the 5th or 7th year you can expect fruits from the plant you grew yourself. The leaves of the evergreen lemon tree release phytoncides, refresh the air in the room, and emit a delicate, unobtrusive aroma.

Fragrant, tasty, healthy citrus is familiar to everyone; we see its bright yellow fruits on store shelves all year round. Lemon is good as a fruit, useful as a preventative drug, tasty as candied fruit, and simply beautiful, like an exotic indoor tree. However, even dark green leathery lemon leaves look beautiful and at the same time have a beneficial effect on the human body.

Lemon tree, photo:

Depending on the variety, the lemon tree may be different sizes. If the goal is precisely the fruit, and not just a decorative function, then you can get the result in two ways. Citrus grown from cuttings will begin to bear fruit earlier (with proper care), but the plant from the seed will be healthier and actively developing.

If you do not want to bother yourself with the germination/growing process, you can purchase ready-made lemon bushes and seedlings in specialized departments and stores. You can buy a lemon tree in an online store that belongs to botanical garden, for example, or from amateur breeders. If you are not looking for easy ways, you are interested in the process of plant birth itself, then you will find information about how in another article. The planting method itself is not particularly different from the technology for growing other citrus crops.

Lemon tree care?

An important stage of care - correct lighting at home. The permanent location of the lemon should be well lit, but direct sunlight should still be avoided. How to care for a lemon tree? Try to decide in advance permanent place residence of the plant, since it does not like to be moved. To ensure that the crown develops evenly, you can gently turn the lemon towards the light. This process must be done slowly and gradually.

For harmonious growth and development, the plant at home must be replanted annually. Each time the container should be larger; during replanting, the roots and soil are carefully moved into new pot, the missing amount of earth is added to the required volume. The soil for indoor lemon should be similar in composition to the previous soil.

When the plant reaches a certain size and the pot holds 10 liters, replanting can be stopped. Now you only have to periodically update the top layer of soil (twice a year), feed the plant with fertilizers (“Vermisol”, “Humisol”, “Biohumus” - for citrus crops).

Caring for a young tree at home at first does not include fertilizing, but with the onset of summer, you can add a little fertilizer to the water for irrigation. The plant is very capricious; it requires a delicate approach regarding ambient temperature and hydration. There should be no sudden changes - if something goes wrong, the plant will react by losing leaves.

How to prune a lemon tree? Pruning shapes the crown and prevents it from growing to large sizes, which is very important if you have small apartment. Crown care should begin at a young age, when the plant reaches 20-30 cm in height. Thus, the top of the tree is cut off, the side shoots are cut off at the level of the 5th leaf, the lower branches (those located close to the soil) are also removed - this makes it possible for the trunk to fully develop.

If you see too much crown splendor on one side, then carefully trim off the excess and give the tree the desired shape. Branch pruning is always done just above the leaf. The lower branches should be longer than the upper ones. Pruning should be carried out only when it is really required (stimulating the growth of new branches, rejuvenating an old tree). Frequent cutting of branches can weaken the plant.

Should I prune my lemon tree according to the time of year? There are several approaches to this process: the best time for pruning is spring. March is best. Often pruning is done when the lemon is flowering and buds are setting. Also used winter pruning: if the plant is already bearing fruit, then it should be produced after harvesting.

Lemon blooms very profusely and spreads a truly magical aroma. Indoor plant The lemon tree has bisexual flowers, so fruit set occurs spontaneously. If you want to increase productivity, you can use artificial pollination techniques. To do this, the flowers must be ripe; use a soft brush to collect pollen from the stamens and carefully transfer it to the pistil (sticky top). This is a rather monotonous process, but very effective. Additionally, you can insure yourself with fruit formation stimulants and plant growth regulators - Ovary and Bud fertilizers (spraying).

The ideal temperature for the growth of foliage and branches is +16..18ºC, for the harmonious development of fruits – 22..23ºC. Sudden changes in temperature, very high, as well as too low, have an extremely negative impact on general condition lemon tree.

The soil temperature at home should be approximately the same as the air temperature. Sometimes the lemon is taken out to “ventilate”, for example, on the balcony, and then brought into the room - this is not advisable. Such changes are stressful for the lemon. It reacts by dropping leaves. Because the earth is cold and warm room air form an unfavorable temperature difference.

How to water a lemon tree at home?

The most vigilant care for lemon extends from autumn to spring (October-March). In winter, batteries and heating devices work actively at home, drying the air. For this reason, the plant should be placed away from sources of active heat, the batteries should sometimes be covered with a damp cloth, and the crown should be irrigated daily with water. Such care also requires adherence to measures, because excessive moisture of the lemon threatens the development of fungus. You can also place containers of water next to the pots - the evaporation of moisture has a beneficial effect on the plant. With the onset of summer heat, it is recommended to wipe lemon leaves with a damp cloth.

How often to water lemon at home? Here you need to adhere to the golden mean - do not allow the soil to dry out and do not overfill it. Suitable for watering boiled water room temperature, twice a week will be enough. If it happens that you overdo it with watering (the soil begins to rot), then you need to change the soil in the pot as quickly as possible. Clay pots are ideal containers for growing lemons at home; they evaporate excess moisture well and allow the soil to “breathe.”

If the lemon dries out

Sometimes on gardening forums you can see requests for help: “the lemon tree is drying up, what should I do?!” - often this situation arises again from a lack of moisture and dry air in the room. Improper care: lack of lighting, stagnation of water in the soil are secondary reasons for lemon drying out. Sometimes such unfavorable changes can occur due to a pest attack - spider mite.

If we know how to cope with a lack of moisture, then more radical measures are needed to combat mites. Treating a lemon tree with insecticides will put an end to harvesting, since after it it will be impossible to eat the fruits. But there is a way out - ultraviolet light (UV lamp) kills spider mites in 2-3 minutes and such a short “irradiation” of the plant at home will be enough.

The cause of drying out may also be seasonal acclimatization of the plant. You will have to trim off the dried branches. And in the spring, new shoots will appear in their place. The lack of micro- and macroelements is also expressed in the form of drying, introduction necessary fertilizing and balanced fertilizers solve this problem. Nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium additives or the Root Feeder fertilizer (KP-5) will help the tree come to life and receive all the missing nutrients.

Pavlova lemon

As we can see, lemon requires careful care and compliance with the rules of cultivation, but the result of such efforts cannot but rejoice. Beautiful plant with vitamin fruits is a worthy gift that the lemon tree gives us. it's not that complicated if you know all the nuances.