All about homemade lemon. Lemon at home: growing from a seed. This problem is especially acute during the winter months.

I haven’t bought lemons at the store for seven years now. This is because I managed to grow several citrus trees at home in pots. There's really nothing complicated about this. In this article I will tell you how to care for lemon at home.

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

They can bear fruit in the third year after planting. The fruits ripen for several months. They taste virtually no different from lemons grown in tropical countries.

Beneficial features

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

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

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

Which varieties are suitable for home cultivation?

The following varieties of lemons grow well at home:

• Genoa is a low-growing variety that has high yields and produces tasty, aromatic fruits.
• Lisbon is a tall variety that tolerates high temperatures well.
• Pavlovsk lemon is a low variety that delights its owners with thin-skinned fruits.
• Meyer lemon is one of the most popular low-growing indoor varieties. Gives sour fruits.

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

Growing lemons yourself

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

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

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

The seeds of any ripe lemon purchased at the store are suitable for this purpose. The process of germinating seeds is quite simple:

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

After transplantation, the young lemon will quickly grow and gain strength. To prevent the plant from dying at this stage, it needs to be properly cared for.

How to care for lemon at home

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

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

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

If you want to pamper yourself with homemade lemons, in the third year of the indoor tree’s life, remove half of its flowers and leave 4 fruit ovaries. Next year their number can be increased to 6, and a year later - to 8.

With proper tree care, homemade lemons turn out juicy and fragrant. In terms of taste, they are in no way comparable to their store-bought counterparts.

Plant care in winter

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

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

conclusions

Overall, growing homemade lemons is not as difficult as it might seem. To succeed in this matter, it is enough to choose the right cuttings or seed, as well as follow all the recommendations for caring for a home tree in a pot. Then, already in the third year, lemon can delight you with its fragrant fruits.

The evergreen perennial plant indoor lemon belongs to the rutaceae family, a genus of citrus fruits. India, at the foot of the Himalayas, is considered its homeland. Growing it on the windowsill at home is not difficult and very exciting. With proper care, the bush will be able to bear fruit; its fruits are as tasty as those grown under the southern sun.

Types of indoor lemons

Domesticated citrus attracts with its shiny emerald leaves and bright yellow fruits. Indoor lemon - description:

• the plant is considered low-growing, the oldest specimens can reach a height of 1.5 m;
• the bush has thorny branches;
• leaves are leathery, elongated, oval, toothed, contain essential oil;
• several times a year the plant forms small white rosettes (4-5 cm in diameter) with many stamens and a delicate aroma that cleanses the room of unpleasant odors;
• the bud develops 5 weeks, blooms 50 days;
• domestic citrus fruits from one to four times a year, depending on the variety, the development period of the fruit is 200-230 days;
• the fruit has a light yellow color and a noticeable lemon smell, the pulp is juicy and sour;
• With normal development, the crop bears fruit all year round - ovaries, buds, flowers and fruits can simultaneously develop on the bush.

Indoor lemons - varieties:

Growing indoor lemon

It is easier to grow indoor lemons from seeds. To place the bush, it is better to choose southern or eastern window sills with good lighting. Lemon is a heat-loving indoor plant, the optimal temperature for it is +15-22°C. Planting is carried out at a depth of 1-2 cm with a distance of 5 cm in small pots with drainage made of expanded clay or charcoal. Keep the seed in a bright place, it germinates after 2 weeks. After the sprouts appear, choose a strong one and cover it with a jar. After a pair of true leaves have sprouted, the specimen is planted in a 10-centimeter pot.

Soil for indoor lemon

Fertile soil for indoor lemons should be slightly acidic or neutral (6-7 pH), aerated. To prepare it yourself, you need to make a mixture of meadow turf, leaf soil, coarse sand, and humus in the ratio (2:2:1:1). You can use citrus soil from the store, mixing it in equal parts with peat. Then the composition will be light and breathable.

Reproduction of indoor lemons

For indoor lemons, cuttings are a popular propagation method. For sprouts in spring, shoots 10 cm in size with 3-4 buds and 2-3 leaves are taken. The twig is treated with a stimulator for root development and placed in water for 3 days. Soil made of humus, coarse sand and flower soil in equal proportions is suitable for cultivation. The cuttings are dropped to a depth of 3 cm, the leaves are moistened daily, the substrate should not have stagnant water. Rooting occurs after 30-45 days, then the cutting can be planted in another pot.

Indoor lemon - care at home

Caring for indoor lemons is a troublesome task. He loves good lighting, temperature and watering conditions. For leaf growth, it needs a minimum of +17°C; during fruit development, the temperature must be increased to +22°C. Caring for indoor lemons involves arranging good lighting. Direct sunlight should hit the bush for 2 hours a day. To prevent the tree from developing one-sided, every 10 days it must be rotated 10° around its axis. In winter, with short daylight hours, organize lighting using lamps.

Trimming indoor lemons

• in the first year of life the plant produces a shoot of 30 cm;
• in the second season in the spring, you need to trim it with pruning shears, leaving a height of 20 cm, and the tree will begin to produce lateral buds;
• the lower shoots must be cut off, leaving the 3 upper ones - they will form the skeleton of the crop;
• the next year they do the same with the side branches - they are shortened to stimulate the development of daughter shoots, then a few upper shoots are left;
• indoor lemon takes on a beautiful appearance if there are trunks up to the 5-6th level of branching;
• In the future, pinching fast-growing shoots or removing them is enough.

How to feed indoor lemon?

Citrus at home needs feeding. They begin to feed the trees when they reach 2-3 years of age. For fertilizer, complex mineral compositions are used in the spring-summer period twice a month. From mid-autumn, feeding is carried out once every 6 weeks. Two hours before fertilizing, it is important to water the substrate in the pot with clean water.

From organic matter, the lemon tree prefers wood ash extract, birch infusion (half a jar of leaves is poured with water and left for 2-3 days), fresh manure diluted 5-6 times. Organic fertilizer for indoor lemon is applied at the same frequency as mineral nutrition. If there is intensive growth of green mass to the detriment of fruits, nitrogen must be removed from the fertilizing and a phosphorus component must be added;

Watering indoor lemon

Before caring for lemon indoors, it is important to learn the rules for moisturizing it. From May to September, homemade citrus needs moderate watering every other day; in winter it is reduced to once a week. The tree is moistened with cold water, standing for 5 hours. Pour it over the entire surface of the pot. The plant loves to be sprayed with heated boiled water, especially in winter if there are heating systems around. For citrus, “wet” air around the crown is more important than excess moisture in the soil.

Diseases of lemons indoors

Why do indoor lemon leaves turn yellow?

Often, improper care leads to illness in indoor lemons; the leaves of the plant turn yellow. There are several reasons:

1. Lack of nutrients. Calcium is responsible for the root system, phosphorus helps in the formation of tasty fruits, nitrogen affects the healthy color of foliage, and potassium contributes to its normal absorption. Timely application of fertilizers with such elements will help prevent yellowing of the foliage.
2. Lack of lighting. An indoor lemon needs a 12-hour day; if it is shorter, lighting with a fluorescent lamp will help.
3. Excess light and direct sunlight cause burns on the leaves. The tree must be moved to a shaded place.
4. Lack of moisture causes the tips of the leaves to turn yellow. It is necessary to spray the plant daily using a spray bottle. It is useful to keep water in a flat bowl next to the pot for evaporation. In summer, it is recommended to wash the plant in the shower once a week.
5. Sudden changes in temperature, drafts, and proximity to heating devices can also lead to yellowing of foliage. Then you need to get rid of such unfavorable factors.

Why do indoor lemon leaves fall off?

Unfavorable conditions for keeping the bush lead to the fact that it begins to shed its leaves. This often happens in the autumn-winter period. The more healthy leaves a tree has, the better it grows and bears fruit; the condition of the bush is judged by their number. In some cases, the plant recovers on its own, but it is important to eliminate the cause of the unpleasant phenomenon. If an indoor lemon has dropped its leaves, what should you do:

• if there is a lack of moisture, you should spray the plant more often and do not allow the soil to dry out;
• if the plant does not have enough light, use additional lamps;
• prevent hypothermia of the roots, water the bush only with warm water;
• if the pot is too small, the bush should be transplanted into a larger container (2-4 cm);
• control that there is no excess moisture in the soil, leading to rotting of the roots;
• inspect the tree for pests; if any are found, carry out treatment.

Diseases of indoor lemon - sticky leaves

In some cases, the foliage on the shoots becomes sticky - as if it had been sprayed with syrup, and crystals may even form. The disease is caused by a scale insect that has settled on a tree. If treatment is untimely, a sooty fungus develops in the sticky liquid, which appears as dark spots on branches, trunks and leaves; without treatment, the plant dies.

To remove plaque, wipe the foliage with a solution of transformer oil (6 ml per 1 liter of water). After 5-7 days, the treatment is repeated. The solution removes sticky plaque and kills young scale insects. You can use another method of treating lemon - care for indoor plants in the form of spraying with carbofox or tobacco solution also helps well. Treatment is carried out 2-3 times with an interval of 7 days.

Pests of indoor lemon

Citrus fruits can also be damaged by typical pests. To grow indoor lemon, you need to know how to fight it:

1. If they are present, the leaves fall off, the branches dry out, and the plant dies. Pests are cleaned with a brush, the leaves are washed with soap emulsion (2 tablespoons of liquid product per 1 liter of water), garlic water (7-8 crushed heads are infused in a bucket of water for a day).
2. It is located at the bottom of the leaf and gradually envelops the entire crop. If damaged, spray the tree with Aktelika solution and repeat 3 times with an interval of 10 days.
3. It feeds on greenery, causing leaves to dry out and fruits to crack. The plant must be inspected and its larvae removed manually.
4. Aphid. Eats the tops of shoots. The plant must be sprayed three times (every 10 days) with Aktelik solution. You can place a pot of geraniums nearby. Spraying with garlic water will also help.
5. Thrips. They look like small black dots, can fly, and spread viruses. To destroy the bush, wash it in the shower and treat it with soap emulsion.
6. Whiteflies. The larvae are located at the bottom of the leaves. The bush is sprayed at least 5 times every three days.

Plant lemon (lat. Citrus limon)- a species of the Citrus genus of the Rutaceae family. The homeland of lemon is China, India and the tropical Pacific islands. Most likely, the lemon tree is a hybrid plant that occurred accidentally in nature, which developed as a separate species of the Citrus genus and was introduced into cultivation in India and Pakistan in the 12th century, and then spread throughout North Africa, the Middle East and Southern Europe. Today, lemon is widely cultivated in countries with subtropical climates - the annual harvest of its fruit is approximately 14 million tons. Among the leaders in lemon cultivation are countries such as India, Mexico, Italy and the USA.

The plant is also of interest for indoor floriculture - homemade lemon has been popular in many countries around the world for more than three hundred years. Lemon is grown indoors not only because of its decorative value: the fruits of some varieties of homemade lemon are as tasty as the fruits of lemons ripening under the southern sun.

Planting and caring for lemon

• Bloom: at home - at different times.
• Lighting: short day plant. The best place in the apartment is the southern and eastern window sills with shading from the sun in the afternoon. In order for the lemon to develop symmetrically, it must be rotated around its axis by 10˚ every 10 days. In winter, additional artificial lighting will be needed for 5-6 hours daily.
• Temperature: during the growth period - 17 ˚C, during the budding period - no more than 14-18 ˚C, during fruit growth - 22 ˚C or more. In winter – 12-14 ˚C.
• Watering: from May to September - daily, then no more than 2 times a week.
• Air humidity: It is recommended to periodically spray the leaves with warm boiled water, especially in the summer heat and in winter when heating devices are running.
• Feeding: complex mineral fertilizers. During the period of active growth, young plants are fed once every one and a half months, adults - once every 3-4 weeks. From mid-autumn, feeding is gradually reduced: if a lemon grows in a heated room in winter, it is fed once every month and a half; if the tree has entered a dormant period, it does not need feeding. The fertilizer solution is applied to the pre-moistened substrate.
• Rest period: in winter, but not clearly expressed.
• Transfer: in spring, at the beginning of active growth. Young lemons are replanted once every year or two, mature ones - once every 2-3 years, when the roots appear from the drain holes.
• Reproduction: seeds, cuttings and grafting.
• Pests: spider mites, whiteflies, root and common aphids, mealybugs, scale insects.
• Diseases: chlorosis, tristeza, citrus canker, homoz, scab, anthracnose, leaf viral mosaic, root rot, melseco.

Read more about growing lemons below.

Homemade lemon - description

Indoor lemon is a perennial, evergreen, low-growing plant with strong, thorny branches. The tops of its young shoots are purple-violet. Lemon leaves are leathery, green, oblong-oval, toothed, with a large number of glands containing essential oil. Each leaf lives 2-3 years. The plant's buds take about five weeks to develop. An open lemon flower lives from 7 to 9 weeks, and all this time the lemon blossom is accompanied by a wonderful fragrance.

Fruit ripening from the formation of the ovary to full maturity can last more than nine months. The fruits of indoor lemons are ovoid in shape with a nipple at the top, they are covered with a yellow, pitted or tuberous peel with a strong characteristic odor. The greenish-yellow, juicy and sour pulp of the fruit is divided into 9-14 segments. White, irregularly ovoid-shaped lemon seeds are covered with a dense parchment shell.

We will tell you about how to create conditions for growing lemons in an ordinary apartment, how to grow a lemon from a seed at home, how to water a lemon, why lemon leaves turn yellow, what pests and diseases of homemade lemons are most dangerous, how to plant a lemon at home , what valuable properties lemon fruits have, and you will definitely want to decorate your home with this wonderful and useful plant.

Indoor lemon from seed

How to grow lemon at home

The easiest way to grow homemade lemon is from a seed. Seeds for germination can be taken from fruits purchased in the store. The fruits must be ripe, uniformly yellow in color, and the seeds in them must be mature and formed. A lemon from a seed needs a substrate of a certain composition: mix peat and flower soil from the store in equal parts to make the composition light and permeable. The soil pH should be within pH 6.6-7.0.

How to plant a lemon

Place a layer of drainage material and substrate in a suitable container and plant lemon seeds in it to a depth of 1-2 cm immediately after removing them from the fruit. Keep the crops in a bright place at a temperature of 18-22 ºC, keeping the soil slightly moist, and the seeds will germinate in about two weeks.

How to care for lemon seedlings

At home, lemons from seeds are watered with water at room temperature, the soil in the pots is carefully loosened, and when the sprouts develop a pair of true leaves, the strongest seedlings are transplanted into separate pots with a diameter of 10 cm and covered with a glass jar to create the desired microclimate. Once a day, the jar is removed briefly to ventilate the seedlings. The lemons can be kept in this container until they reach a height of 15-20 cm, after which they are transplanted into larger pots. Lemon planting is carried out by transshipment.

Before replanting a lemon, remember that each subsequent pot for an adult lemon should be 5-6 cm larger in diameter than the previous one, since in a container that is too spacious, the soil not occupied by roots begins to sour from moisture. Be sure to lay a thick layer of drainage at the bottom of the pot - expanded clay, broken polystyrene foam, charcoal or pebbles. A flower mixture from a store or garden soil fertilized with humus is quite suitable as soil. When replanting, do not bury the root collar into the ground - this may cause it to rot.

Caring for a lemon in a pot

Conditions for growing indoor lemon

How to grow homemade lemon? Growing homemade lemons is not easy, but rewarding. First of all, it is necessary to create optimal conditions for it. Since lemon is a short-day plant, it tolerates a lack of lighting. Long daylight hours stimulate the rapid growth of lemons, but delay the onset of fruiting. The best place for plants in an apartment is southern and eastern window sills, but in the afternoon the windows need to be shaded. To prevent the tree from growing one-sided, turn it every 10 days around its axis by 10º.

In winter, if the lemon does not rest, it is advisable to organize artificial lighting for it every day for 5-6 hours.

Temperature for lemon

For lemon leaves to grow, 17 ºC is enough. The most comfortable temperature for a lemon during the period of bud formation is 14-18 ºC; in hotter conditions, the lemon sheds ovaries and buds. And during fruit growth, it is advisable to increase the temperature to 22 or more ºC. When warm days arrive, the lemon can be taken out into the garden, onto the balcony or onto the terrace, but make sure that the plant is not damaged by sudden temperature changes - wrap it up or cover it at night.

In winter, lemon is comfortable in a room with a temperature of 12-14 ºC, away from heating devices, where the plant will remain dormant in order to gain strength for the next fruiting.

Watering the lemon

Lemon in indoor conditions needs daily watering from May to September, the rest of the time the frequency of moistening is approximately twice a week. Saturate the substrate with moisture, but let it dry before the next watering. It is advisable to use filtered water or at least let it sit for 24 hours. The temperature of the water for irrigation should be the same as the room temperature. If for any reason the lemon is exposed to waterlogging for a long time, you will have to completely replace the substrate in which it grows.

Growing lemon at home requires spraying the leaves plants with warm boiled water, especially in winter, when the heating appliances in the room are working at full strength. However, moderation must be observed in this matter, otherwise problems caused by fungal diseases may arise. If the lemon rests in a cool place in winter, the leaves do not need to be sprayed.

Lemon fertilizer

Lemon at home needs regular feeding. Complex mineral compositions can be used as fertilizers. Young plants are fertilized once every one and a half months, adults more often: the frequency of fertilizing in the spring-summer period is once every two to three weeks. From mid-autumn, fertilizing is reduced: if your tree grows without rest all year round, in winter, fertilize an adult lemon once every month and a half, and if it rests in winter, it does not need fertilizing at all. Two hours before adding fertilizer, be sure to water the substrate in the pot with clean water.

Among organic fertilizers, lemon prefers an ash extract, an infusion of quinoa or birch leaves (half a jar of crushed leaves is filled with water and left for 2-3 days), an infusion of fresh manure diluted 5-6 times. The frequency of applying organic matter is the same as for mineral fertilizers.

If you notice that there is intensive growth of green mass, but fruiting does not occur, remove the nitrogen component from the fertilizing and increase the phosphorus component.

Lemon trimming

Lemon care includes regular pruning. The crown of a lemon is shaped depending on what it is grown for. If you need it as an ornamental plant, then the crown is formed compact and small in size, but if you need lemon fruits, then the crown is formed differently.

A fruiting lemon must have a certain number of main branches and the required mass of growing shoots, and most of these shoots must consist of fruit wood. The crown is formed by pinching: as soon as the first zero shoot stretches to 20-25 cm, it is pinched, the next pinching of the shoot is done at a height of 15-20 cm from the previous pinching, leaving 4 developed buds in the segment between two pinches, which subsequently form 3-4 main escapes directed in different directions. Shoots of the first order are pinched after 20-30 cm, and when they ripen, they are cut about 5 cm below the pinching point. Each subsequent shoot should be approximately 5 cm shorter than the previous one.

The formation of the crown on the shoots of the fourth order is completed. If you do not prune a lemon, its branches grow too long, and the formation of shoots of the third and fourth order, on which the fruits form, is delayed.

Pruning, in addition to its formative function, also has a sanitary function: as necessary, weak shoots and those branches that grow inside the crown should be removed.

Pests and diseases of lemon

Lemon turns yellow

Amateur flower growers often ask us why lemons turn yellow. There are several reasons for this phenomenon. Lemon turns yellow:

• if the air in the room is dry;
• if the plant lacks nutrition;
• if in winter it is in a too warm room;
• when affected by spider mites.

All reasons, except the last one, are easily removable, and as for spider mites, drugs such as Actellik, Akarin, Kleschevit and Fitoverm will help to cope with them. Do not violate the rules for caring for your homemade lemon, keep it cool in winter, do not forget to humidify the air in the room where the lemon grows, apply the necessary fertilizers on time, and your tree will be healthy and green.

Lemon falls

To the question of why lemons fall, which our readers often ask, the answer is also ambiguous. We are, of course, not talking about lemon fruits, which can hang on the tree after ripening for up to two years. The phrase “lemons are falling” in letters from readers refers to the loss of leaves by a plant. Lemon leaves fall off, eaten by spider mites, which feed on the plant's cell sap. We described how to combat these pests using insecticides in the previous section. But you can, without resorting to pesticides, treat lemon with a two-day infusion of a teaspoon of grated onion in a glass of water.

Leaves and sometimes lemon buds fall off due to lack of moisture in the soil and in the air around the plant. Don't forget to water and spray the tree regularly, especially during the hot season.

Lemon dries

It happens that the tips of lemon leaves dry out and turn brown. The reason for this is lack of moisture or dry air. And if the leaves dry out and curl, this is evidence that you are not caring for it correctly. Review the rules for caring for the plant again: lemon needs bright lighting with shading during the midday hours, humid air, frequent but moderate watering, regular feeding and proper winter rest.

Lemon pests

In addition to spider mites, lemons can be harmed by whiteflies, aphids, mealybugs and scale insects. As a folk remedy for getting rid of pests, many use an infusion of 150-170 g of chopped garlic in a liter of water. Infuse the garlic in a tightly closed container for five days, after which 6 g of the strained infusion is diluted in 1 liter of water and the lemon is processed. The product is effective only if there are few insects. If the lemon is infested with a large number of pests, you will have to resort to insecticide treatment.

Indoor lemon - reproduction

Lemon from cuttings

In addition to the seed method of propagating lemons, cuttings and grafting are also used in indoor floriculture. For cuttings, take shoots at least 4 mm thick and 10 cm long. The lower cut should pass directly under the bud, and the upper cut should pass above the bud. Each cutting should have 2-3 leaves and 3-4 formed buds. Treat the cuttings with a root formation stimulator and lower them with the lower cut half their length into water.

After 3 days, the cuttings are planted to a depth of 3 cm in pots with a soil mixture consisting of equal parts of coarse sand, humus and flower soil. Since the lack of roots in cuttings does not allow them to receive moisture from the soil, it is necessary to spray their leaves with warm, settled water several times a day. The soil in the pot should be slightly moist. The optimal temperature for rooting cuttings is 20-25 ºC. With proper care, the roots of the cuttings will develop in a month and a half, and then it will be possible to plant them in separate containers.

How to graft a lemon

To graft a lemon, it is important to have a good rootstock. This is a two- to three-year-old seedling grown from a seed with a trunk diameter of no more than 1.5 cm. Lemon is also grafted onto the rootstocks of other citrus fruits. Scion cuttings are taken from mature but not lignified annual shoots of healthy trees. The leaves are cut from the prepared cuttings, leaving only their petioles with buds in the axils. Before grafting, cuttings can be stored wrapped in a damp cloth for 2-3 days in a cool place or for 2-3 weeks in the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator, but it is better to cut them immediately before the procedure.

Grafting is carried out during the active growth of lemon, and the most suitable time for this is spring. The best tool is a budding knife, but if you don’t have one, you can get by with an ordinary sharpened and sterilized knife.

How to plant homemade lemon? Make a T-shaped cut in the bark on the rootstock stem and carefully bend its corners. Cut a bud from the scion cutting along with the petiole and scutellum - part of the bark with a thin layer of wood - so long that it fits into the T-shaped cut. Taking the scion by the petiole and without touching the cut with your hands, place the shield under the folded bark in the T-shaped cut, then press the bark tightly and wrap the rootstock trunk above and below the bud with budding tape or plaster.

To be on the safe side, it is better to vaccinate two or three kidneys at the same time. Engraftment lasts for three weeks. If the petiole of the grafted bud turns yellow and falls off, then the grafting was successful. In this case, cut the scion trunk 10 cm above the grafting site, remove the budding tape and remove the shoots that appear on the stem below the grafting.

In addition to bud grafting, budding methods such as cutting grafting and lateral grafting are used.

Types and varieties of homemade lemon

At home, low-growing and medium-growing varieties of plants are usually grown. Lemon varieties differ, in addition to the size and shape of the crown, the degree of adaptability to growing conditions, as well as the quality, appearance and size of the fruit. We offer you an introduction to the most popular varieties of homemade lemon:

Pavlova lemon

This is a variety of folk selection that was bred more than a century ago in the village of Pavlovo near Nizhny Novgorod. Pavlovsk lemon is the most common variety in indoor cultivation. Trees of this variety reach a height of 1.5-2 m and have a compact rounded crown up to 1 m in diameter. The fruits, the number of which reaches from 20 to 40 pieces per year, are distinguished by high taste qualities, superior to those of lemons grown in open ground.

Often the fruits of Pavlovsk lemon do not have seeds or contain a small number of them, although there are fruits that contain from 10 to 20 seeds. The thickness of the shiny, smooth and only slightly bumpy or rough skin of the fruit is about 5 mm. It can be eaten along with the pulp. The length of the fruit is about 10 cm, the diameter is from 5 to 7 cm, the weight is 120-150 g, but in some cases the weight of the fruit can reach 500 g;

Meyer lemon

Or Chinese dwarf was brought from China first to the USA, and after it gained recognition in America due to its productivity, it became popular in Europe. It is believed to come from the red-orange Cantonese lemon, although another version says it is a natural hybrid between lemon and orange. This is a small plant 1-1.5 m high with a densely leafy spherical crown and a small number of spines. Fruits weighing up to 150 g are covered with thin orange or bright yellow peel. The pulp is slightly acidic, slightly bitter, juicy. The variety is distinguished by its productivity and early ripening;

Novogruzinsky

A young, productive, tall variety - the tree height can reach 2 m or more. The crown is spreading, with numerous thorns. The yellow fruits are round or elliptical in shape, weighing up to 150 g, with a thin shiny skin and have a pleasant taste. Every year, with good care, the tree can produce from 100 to 200 fruits, while the New Georgian lemon is one of the most undemanding varieties of the crop;

Lisbon

This lemon comes from Portugal, and it gained popularity only when it came to Australia. This is a fast-growing tree, reaching a height of 2 m, with a dense crown, strong branches with a large number of thorns. In a year, the tree can produce up to 60 fruits weighing an average of 150 g, although fruits weighing up to half a kilogram can occur. The fruits of this variety have a classic oval shape with a slightly beveled top; their peel is thick, slightly ribbed, and yellow in color. The pulp has a pleasant sour taste. The variety is characterized by good adaptability to growing conditions, which helps the plant to tolerate low air humidity;

Genoa

A productive variety of Italian selection brought to us from America. The height of the tree of this variety reaches only 130 cm. The crown is dense, and there are practically no thorns in it. Small, elongated fruits weighing up to 120 g with a rough, greenish-yellow skin with aromatic, juicy, pleasant-tasting pulp appear on the tree several times a year. In total, the variety produces up to 180 fruits per year;

Lemon Maykop

It reaches a height of 130 cm, is distinguished by its unpretentiousness and high productivity, and has several forms. The weight of the fruit is 150-170 g, the shape is oval-oblong, with a slight thickening in the lower part. The skin of the fruit is thin, ribbed, shiny;

Anniversary

This variety was obtained by Uzbek breeders as a result of crossing the Novogruzinsky and Tashkent varieties. This hybrid is unpretentious, shade-tolerant and early-bearing. The fruits of the Yubileiny variety are large, round in shape, with thick yellow skin. The weight of the fruit reaches 500-600 g;

Ponderosa

A natural hybrid of citron and lemon. This is one of the most unpretentious citrus fruits, resistant to drought and heat. Plants of this variety reach 1.5-1.8 cm in height and have a spreading crown. Ponderosa fruits are oval or round, weighing up to 500 g, with a thick, bright yellow, rough peel. Their pulp is juicy, has a pleasant sour taste, and is light green in color. The variety is distinguished by early fruiting and demanding soil composition;

Lunario

A decorative and high-yielding hybrid of papeda and lemon, bred in the century before last in Sicily. The name of the variety is due to the fact that it blooms on the new moon. Lunario are trees no more than half a meter high with a large number of small thorns. The fruits are ovoid or oblong-elliptical in shape with a smooth and shiny skin of a rich yellow color and contain weakly juicy but aromatic flesh of a greenish-yellow hue with 10-11 seeds;

Villa Franka

A variety of American selection, which is an almost thornless tree up to 130 cm high with a large number of emerald green leaves. Smooth, oblong-oval with a blunt nipple, wedge-shaped fruits with juicy, aromatic, pleasant-tasting light yellow pulp reach a weight of only 100 g. The peel of the fruit is dense, almost smooth to the touch;

Irkutsk large-fruited

A recently bred light-loving Russian variety, which is a medium-height tree with a crown that does not require shaping. The fruits with medium-thick, lumpy skin are very large - weighing up to 700 g, but some can reach one and a half kilograms;

Kursk

Also a Russian variety, obtained through experiments with the Novogruzinsky variety. The Kursky variety is distinguished by early fruiting, drought resistance, shade tolerance, relative cold resistance and high yield. Plants of this variety reach a height of 150-180 cm. The weight of thin-skinned fruits reaches 130 g;

Commune

A very popular Italian variety in its homeland, characterized by increased productivity. This is a medium-sized plant with a dense crown and a small number of small thorns. The fruits are large, oval, almost free of seeds, with juicy, aromatic, tender pulp with a very sour taste. The peel is medium thick, slightly lumpy.

The indoor lemon varieties New Zealand, Tashkent, Moscow, Mezen, Ural indoor and others are also successfully grown in cultivation.

Properties of lemon - harm and benefit

Beneficial properties of lemon

The beneficial properties of lemon have been described repeatedly in popular literature. But since it is always pleasant to write about good things, we are ready to once again cover in detail the topic “The harm and benefits of lemon.” So, what are the benefits of lemon? Its fruits contain:

• citric and malic acid;
• trace elements iron, potassium, copper, manganese and iodine;
• Sahara;
• pectins;
• flavonoids and phytoncides;
• fiber;
• vitamins A, B, P, D, C and group B – B2, B1, B9.

Due to the presence of these components in lemon fruits, it has:

• tonic;
• refreshing;
• antipyretic;
• bactericidal;
• strengthening effect.

In addition, lemon juice is a source of citrine, which, in combination with vitamin C, has a beneficial effect on redox processes, metabolism and strengthens the walls of blood vessels.

Having a strong bactericidal effect, lemon helps the body cope with the flu, but for this it must be consumed with tea made from mint, plantain, horsetail and sage.

By restoring digestive processes, lemon helps remove toxins and waste from the intestines, helps cope with infections of the respiratory tract and oral cavity, relieves or alleviates migraine pain, eliminates rashes and boils on the skin. In addition to the listed advantages, it must be said that lemon is a good diuretic.

Despite its sour taste, lemon can reduce the acidity of gastric juice. Lemon juice and its peel are excellent antiseptics, and the leaves of the plant are successfully used to lower the temperature. Due to its high vitamin C content, lemon has a strengthening effect on the immune system.

Lemon is included in many medicinal preparations that relieve inflammation, kill germs and helminths, heal wounds, strengthen the body and reduce the manifestation of sclerosis. Eating lemons is indicated for atherosclerosis, lung diseases, poisoning, vitamin deficiency and hypovitaminosis. It is useful even for pregnant women.

Baths with lemon juice relieve sweating and tired feet; rinsing your mouth with lemon juice strengthens your gums and tooth enamel. If you regularly eat lemons, diseases such as colds, tonsillitis, sore throat, vitamin deficiency, urolithiasis and cholelithiasis, gout, atherosclerosis and diabetes will not pose a danger to you. And this is not a complete list of health problems that the yellow sour fruit will save you from. Isn't this a good enough reason to grow indoor lemons at home?

Lemon - contraindications

But what can be the harm of lemon, and for whom can it be harmful? Lemon is contraindicated for hepatitis, hyperacidity of the stomach, gastritis, inflammatory diseases of the kidneys, gall bladder and intestines. Moderation in the consumption of lemon fruits should be observed by hypertensive patients and patients with pancreatitis. In rare cases, eating lemons can cause an allergic reaction, since supplying companies treat the fruits with chemicals that extend their shelf life. For some, lemon can cause heartburn, and for people with a sore throat or nasal mucosa, lemon juice will almost certainly cause irritation.

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

Lemon cultivation can be done at home

Schisandra plants are native to southern countries with a warm and humid climate. Therefore, the main task of the plant grower is to ensure similar microclimatic conditions in the house or apartment.

Why are lemons grown at home?

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

You can grow lemon at home in a pot or tub. A pot is more suitable for dwarf varieties of plants; a tub is useful if a large tree is grown from a seed.

With sufficient heat, moisture and light, an indoor lemon can reach one and a half meters in height and produce up to 150 fruits per season. It is very difficult to achieve such results, but taking into account all the care features, it can still be done.

Another advantage of growing lemon is the beautiful appearance of the tree. It has a dense and evergreen crown. During the flowering period, the plant produces beautiful flowers. They are often covered with powerful green leaves. The only exception is the Ponderosa lemon, whose branches are thin and resemble a spreading bush. Despite the external weakness, the branches can bear up to 50 fruits. This ornamental tree can be grown on a windowsill because it does not take up much space.

A lemon bush can produce up to 50 fruits

General features of growing lemon at home

1. Lemon is a heat-loving tree. Lack of heat causes the plant to grow poorly, get sick or die. If you decide to place the pot on the window, then you need to:
2. Choose south or east side. The plant should receive plenty of sunlight.
3. On sunny days the tree is placed in the shade, and on cloudy days it is illuminated with fluorescent lamps.

In summer, take the plant to the balcony or loggia. There it receives more oxygen and solar energy. And only in the fall it is brought back to its original place. In winter, you should monitor the temperature, which should not fall below 10 degrees.

The quality of the soil and the pot deserve special attention. The fact is that lemons have an individual nutrition system. They get water not through ordinary hairs on the roots, but through fungi in the soil. The connection between a houseplant and fungal mycelium is sensitive to external factors. It is easily disrupted by a lack of oxygen, improper watering and sudden temperature changes.

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

Lemon prefers the sunny side of the room

Planting a lemon

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

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

The planted tree is left on the windowsill. A young plant needs a lot of light and warmth. On hot days, it is better to create partial shade, which will save you from burns. There is no need to change the place for the pot; lemon does not like moving. Occasionally, you can turn the tree with darkened leaves towards the sun to evenly receive heat.

Lemon seedlings are sprayed with water after planting.

Growing lemon from seed

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

1. The sprout emerges from the soil 2 weeks after planting. Sometimes it takes longer (up to one month).
2. Citrus fruits require greenhouse conditions, so the pot with the seed is covered with a cut-off plastic bottle or covered with plastic wrap. Inside such a cap, the humidity is several times higher than in the open space, and the transparency of the bottle allows the ascending sprouts to receive sunlight. In a homemade greenhouse, you should not overuse watering. The soil already gives off moisture to the allotted space of the greenhouse, so it should only be sprayed.
3. When a small stem has emerged, it is accustomed to room conditions by removing the greenhouse hood for 1–2 hours a day.
4. Transplantation into a large pot occurs only when 4 leaves appear on the sprout.

Growing lemon in a greenhouse is also suitable for mature seedlings. With proper organization of climatic conditions, you can do without it. There is also no need to rush into feeding.

Until the root system of the citrus tree is fully formed, any external additives will be perceived by the tree as poison.

It is best to fertilize in spring or summer, but not earlier than three months after planting.

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

Watering lemon

1. Growing lemons at home is not an easy task; often the lemon does not survive even several months. And one of the reasons for this is improper watering. Proper care at home is necessary for the plant to grow healthy and strong. How to water correctly
2. Provide moderate watering with settled water once a day. You can water it once every two days (you need to monitor the condition of the soil).
3. Water the lemon 2 times a week in winter.
4. Drain accumulated water in the pan immediately after watering. The roots of the plant can rot from excess moisture.

Spray lemon leaves with warm water daily. It is especially important to do this in winter, when the air becomes dry from the operation of heating systems.

Experienced plant growers advise beginners to find a moisture balance: avoid overwatering and lack of moisture. If there is a lack of it, the leaves of any lemon variety begin to turn yellow. If watering is not carried out in a timely manner, the microseeds and the plant die. If yellowed leaves are detected, the lemon should be sprayed with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

We must not forget about the benefits of a warm shower. Like everything stationary in the home, the lemon is covered with a layer of dust and dirt. It should be washed off, because dust interferes with the process of photosynthesis. Plants are bathed no more than once a month.

Lemon fertilizer

The dust from lemon leaves should be washed off regularly.

1. Recommendations on how to care for lemons also apply to feeding the plant. Citrus fruits are sensitive to fertilizers. The preparations must be constantly changed, because when using one fertilizer, the pH of the soil may change to the acidic or alkaline side. In such soil, the lemon does not ripen, grows for a long time, gets sick and dies. To avoid this, you should:
2. Choose only mineral compounds for fertilizer.
3. Apply fertilizers from March to October at intervals of 2-3 weeks. For young plants, it is enough to carry out the procedure once every month and a half.
4. Combine fertilizing with watering in the summer.
5. In spring and autumn, feed the plant only after watering. Fertilizer is applied no less than 2 hours after moistening the soil.

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

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

Quinoa can be used to make an infusion to fertilize lemons.

The importance of pruning

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

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

Only after the lemon has grown stronger and has produced new branches should they be pinched. 3-4 leaves remain on each branch. This pruning method allows the tree to grow strong, capable of holding and allowing them to mature fully.

It is important to prune old dead branches. Lemon spends his energy on them, but he won’t be able to revive them. Therefore, it is better to relieve the lemon of excess load. Those shoots that grow inside the crown can also be pruned. They most often prevent neighboring branches from developing and receiving sufficient sunlight.

You can enjoy ripe lemon fruit grown on your own balcony or windowsill only if the blossoms are formed correctly. Weak, fragile plants can throw out a large number of flowers already in the second year of life. You can't leave them. The structure of the tree cannot withstand the heavy load, and the lemon will die, giving all its strength to the fruit.

1. To grow a large harvest, you should:
2. In the second year of the lemon’s life, leave 2 flowers on the entire tree or completely remove the inflorescences.
3. Know the rule for forming inflorescences - there should be 10 leaves for 1 fruit. All other ovaries are removed.

The lemon harvest can be expected 4-5 years after planting.

You should not expect high fertility rates from a houseplant. The tree grows and develops very slowly. Any human error can delay the appearance of blooms. You should constantly monitor the condition of the lemon and promptly feed, trim and water it.

Some citrus fruit owners receive the first good fruits after 4–5 years. Their number rarely exceeds 5–8 pieces. We will have to wait longer for a big harvest. The tree reaches its maturity only at 8–10 years, and at home, lemon lives up to 40–45 years.

Features of transplantation

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

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

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

There is a category of flower growers who like exotic plants. They try to either purchase such a pet or raise it themselves. It is most often found in houses on window sills. It is valued for its evergreen nature, its ability to bloom year-round and, as a result, bear fruit. But in order to achieve the ripening of fruits, you need to know how to care for a foreign guest.

To plant a green pet in your home, you need to decide on the type:

• Pavlovsky is not afraid of the shadow, for this he has been valued by gardeners for many years. After planting, it begins to produce flowers only in the 3rd year. Begins to bloom in March-April and October. Within 12 months, the tree can produce up to 15 fruits. They are distinguished by their thin skin, pleasant taste and weight (on average 400 g). The plant can grow up to 2 m in height.
• Ponderosa is a low-growing bush, not exceeding 1 m, does not require special care, but produces a small number of berries - only up to 5 pieces. It is not distinguished by its large size - up to 300 g. It begins to bloom only in the 4th year, but all flowers are removed. Only during subsequent flowering can you leave up to 6 inflorescences. It has a thick skin (1 cm) and a sweet and sour taste, but contains many seeds inside the fruit.
• Meyer is a dwarf variety, reaches 0.5-1 m. The inflorescences are thrown out already 1-2 years after planting. Like the bush itself, the fruits are not bulky - up to 200 g. The taste of the fruit is inconspicuous. During the period it brings up to 12-15 sundrop berries, which ripen quickly (in 9 months). Of the minuses - in winter it requires additional lighting, it often gets sick and is quite capricious in care. The fruits boast a round shape and a thin peel structure.
• Lucario is very common in European countries. The most unpretentious of all varieties. It bears fruit well with small lemons (150-180 g) - up to 16 pieces. Taste qualities are no different.
• Lisbon - characterized by thorns on the branches. It tolerates sunlight well and is tolerant of heat. Produces berries in the 3rd year in the amount of 16 fruits. Valued for its excellent taste.

There are also varieties such as Genoa and Kursky with excellent taste, Maidansky (endowed with high productivity), Novogruzinsky, Eureka and Villafronca. All types have proven themselves only on the positive side, but they very rarely appear on sale.

The most necessary thing for a plant is light. A good location is the south-eastern window sills. During the midday hours, it is recommended to shade the bush; it is possible to acquire burns on the leaves. In winter, it is necessary to illuminate with phytolamps to increase the length of the day to 12 hours.

Lemon loves fresh air, but is sensitive to drafts. Therefore they should be avoided. In order for the branches to develop evenly, the bush should be turned towards the light 1-2 times every 4 weeks. If you do not saturate the lemon with light, its leaves will stop growing quickly. Also, a lack of lighting will affect the taste of the fruit - it will become sour. In spring, you need to maintain a certain temperature regime. At this time, the tree is actively growing, developing and producing buds.

The following points should be followed to normalize the temperature:

1. When flowering, the optimal air temperature is +18 C. If you exceed the threshold, then all the inflorescences will dry out and fall off.
2. In spring, you should reduce the heat to +12 C by moving the flowerpot to a loggia, glassed-in balcony or open garden area. Such conditions will have a good effect on crown growth.
3. In winter, temperatures from +15 to +18 C and additional lighting are good.
4. In summer, to ripen the fruits, you need to slightly increase the heat in the room to +21+22 C.

It is imperative to monitor the temperature increase to +25 C and the humidity decrease. In this case, the plant may die. Lemon loves moisture. On dry days, it must be sprayed 2-3 times a day with soft, settled water. You should maintain a humidity of 60-70% and +18 C - the most ideal conditions for growth.

Watering is very important for lemons - under no circumstances should the soil be allowed to dry out. Irrigation requires melt water, but river or rain water is also suitable. In the absence of such nutrient liquid, tap water is usually used. It must be boiled, cooled and slightly acidified. This process will soften it.

It is necessary to water the flowerpot evenly around the entire perimeter, distributing the moisture. It is not recommended to pour water directly under the root!

The watering process should be carried out either early in the morning or when the sun sets below the horizon. This is necessary so that less moisture loss occurs. Abundant watering should begin in March. In the summer months, it is more advisable to water up to 3 times a week, making sure that the soil does not dry out. If you dry out the soil, the plant will respond with yellow leaves and their death. In autumn, water replenishment is gradually reduced. In winter, irrigation is not needed too often - only once a week. Especially if the battery is located far from the flowerpot with the bush, then watering is minimal; if the heat source is close, then as needed.

Lemon responds well to feeding. But only adult plants (after reaching 3-4 years) need a mineral supplement. For young shrubs such stimulation of development is not needed.
It is recommended to feed from March to mid-autumn - once every 21 days. It is imperative to alternate with organic ones. In summer, they feed along with watering, and in winter, you need to allow the moisture to be absorbed - after 2-3 hours.

There are some tricks that can be used when fertilizing:

1. For a large harvest, water is replaced with tincture of egg shells.
2. In case of normal growth and development, you should not resort to any additional feeding.
3. During the growing season, it is recommended to fertilize with superphosphate twice.
4. Ammonium nitrate is used to increase growth.
5. For full development, fertilizing “Citrus mixture” is applied. It successfully combines all the microelements necessary for the growth of a green pet.

It is necessary for the plant to form a beautiful crown, as well as improve the harvest. When a young plant reaches 25 cm in height, its top needs to be pinched (removed). This promotes the formation of lateral branches, which produce fruit.

The transplant is performed annually up to 3 years. It is produced in such a way as not to damage the roots of the plant. But for better growth, transshipment is used, while removing part of the soil layer. Afterwards, the shrub is replanted no more than once every 2-3 years at the beginning of spring, but before flowering and fruit formation.

Features of transplantation:

• You should choose a container for planting that is no more than 15 cm in diameter, approximately 30-50% larger than the previous pot. A conical flowerpot is ideal.
• During the replanting process, the soil around the trunk is well moistened so that it can be carefully pulled out of the flowerpot. After the lump of earth is removed, you need to carefully examine the outer roots. If they are damaged, you need to cut them with sharp scissors or a blade.
• It is recommended to install a broken cutting from a ceramic pot at the very bottom of the flowerpot, on the drainage hole, so that the soil does not clog the hole. Afterwards, drainage is placed, on which a layer of soil is placed on top to the middle of the pot.
• The substrate should be nutritious, airy, loose, neutral acidity. The optimal composition is best mixed from leaves and turf soil (4 parts each), 1 part sand and manure, and also add 1 tbsp. wood ash.
• Having filled the pot with soil, the root system of the lemon is installed in the middle and tightly covered with the remaining soil, so that there are no empty cavities.

Thus, replanting is carried out using the transshipment method, without shaking off the soil from the roots and without injuring the plants.

In order to exclude uninvited guests on the lemon stems, it should be regularly washed with room-settled water. The bush can also be affected by diseases:

• Fungal diseases (late blight, root rot, mold, sooty fungus) - in most cases, the affected area or roots are cut off, disinfected and sprayed with chemical insecticides, for example, copper sulfate, Bordeaux mixture.
• Infectious diseases cannot always be cured. For example, Malchenko - the shoots dry out, affecting all the stems. With Gammosis, cracks are observed in the bark, from which the sap of the bush flows.
• Viral diseases (xylopsorosis, citrus canker, leaf mosaic, triteza) cannot be treated. It is more advisable to remove the flowerpot with the affected pet from healthy specimens and burn it.

The main pests for lemon are: aphids, scale insects, whiteflies, spider mites and thrips. When insects are first discovered, they must be removed immediately. Afterwards you need to wash the stems and leaves with soapy water. It is recommended to carry out cold ablutions of the bush 2 times a week.

If actions do not lead to eliminating the problem, then you need to treat the crown and branches with chemicals aimed at controlling pests.

Thus, in order for the plant to grow healthy and bear fruit abundantly, it is recommended to monitor its condition, not to overwater and shade it during the midday hours. The main thing is to feed in time and notice emerging problems. Then the bush will delight you not only with excellent development, but also with delicious fruits.

More information can be found in the video: