Indoor lemon in winter. Indoor lemon - subtleties of growing at home

Lemon is a tree of a subtropical climate that can be perfectly grown at home. How to plant a lemon correctly and will it bear fruit at home?

How to plant a lemon tree correctly

Seeds or cuttings can be used as planting material. To get a seed for planting, you need to choose the ripest, blemish-free fruit in the store.

As for cuttings, you can ask a cutting from someone you know or buy it for money in a store or market.

It is worth understanding that it is easier to grow a lemon tree from a seed than from a seedling. But at the same time, the genetic material is unlikely to be completely transmitted when planted by seeds, but the seedling will retain all its parental characteristics.

A tree grown from a cutting will bear fruit in 4-5 years, but if a lemon grows from a seed, then this period is doubled.

In order to grow a lemon tree from a seed, you need to get seeds from several fruits. The seeds must be ripe and of the correct shape.

The land for planting should contain one part peat and one part flower soil. And of course there must be a drainage layer.

The seeds should be placed at a depth of 1 cm. After planting, the soil should be kept moist.

After two weeks, the small plants will hatch, and the most viable ones must be selected. Then cover these sprouts with jars. The jars must be removed daily to allow air and watering.

After the lemon produces its second pair of leaves, you can transplant it into a separate pot. Next transfer should be done when the plant reaches a height of 20 cm.

If the tree is grown from cuttings, then first of all you need to choose the right seedling. The branch must be at least 10 cm long and about 0.5 cm thick. If you prepare the cutting yourself, then you need to choose a branch with three buds and at least a couple of leaves.

For roots to appear, you need to place the shoot in water for three days. Then you can plant the cuttings in soil consisting of sand and humus to a depth of 3 cm. It is necessary to spray the leaves with water daily and keep the soil moist. After a month, the rooted tree can be transplanted into a pot.

How to care for homemade lemon

The soil in which the lemon tree grows must be very fertile and rich in humus. For this purpose, a special flower mixture is sold in stores. There must be drainage at the bottom of the pot so that the roots of the plant do not begin to rot from excess moisture.

You need to water the lemon twice every seven days. If the soil remains wet after three days, then it needs to be changed, otherwise the plant will die due to overwatering. To prevent this from happening, it is better to use clay pots for planting.

At home, it is better to determine a permanent and fairly bright place for the lemon and not to move it under any circumstances. Lemon does not tolerate being moved from one place to another very well.

For correct formation The crown of the tree needs to be turned a little towards the sunny side every day.

Every year, the lemon needs to be transplanted into a pot a couple of centimeters larger in diameter. At the same time, the basal earthen lump very carefully transferred to a new container, and the rest of the space is filled with fresh soil.

When the pot becomes very large, about 10 liters, instead of replanting, you can only change upper layer. This needs to be done once every six months. It is also necessary to feed the plant with fertilizers.

The lemon tree does not tolerate drafts. It loves to be sprayed. During heating season You need to spray the lemon every day.

To form beautiful crown In spring, at a height of 20 cm, the young shoot must be pruned so that the tree produces lateral branches. On next year You also need to shorten the lower branches on the sides.

After the permanent branches reach the sixth level, the crown will acquire a beautiful and well-groomed appearance. Subsequently, young shoots will need to be pinched or trimmed.

If the lemon blooms in the first year, then all the flowers should be cut off, since the plant is still quite weak and may die, having spent all its energy on ripening the fruits.

At normal development the lemon tree should bloom in a few years, when there will be 10-15 leaves per ovary. If too many ovaries form, some of them need to be removed.

Some varieties of homemade lemons bear fruit regularly, for example, Pavlovsky.

A pair of such domestic trees will provide seven citrus fruits all year round.

There are few pests of the lemon tree. One of them is spider mite. The first symptom of its appearance will be the appearance of dry leaves. In this case, the lemon should have enough light and there should be no stagnant water in the soil.

But the problem of ticks can easily be solved by an ultraviolet lamp. Under its rays, ticks die in a couple of minutes.

Also, acclimatization and lack of important microelements can be the reasons for wood drying.

A lemon tree requires a lot of attention and effort when growing, but if you care for it properly and follow the recommendations, it will not only create comfort in home environment, but will also delight you with fruits rich in vitamins.

Evergreen perennial 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;
• bears fruit homemade citrus from one to four times a year, depending on the variety, the development period of the fruit is 200-230 days;
• the fruit has 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. For self-cooking you need to make a mixture of meadow turf, leaf soil, coarse sand, 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 from humus, coarse sand and flower earth in equal shares. 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 acquires beautiful view in the presence of trunks up to 5-6 branching levels;
• 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. Complex compounds are used for fertilizer mineral compounds V 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 organics lemon tree prefers a hood wood ash, birch infusion (half a jar of leaves is poured with water and kept for 2-3 days), diluted 5-6 times fresh manure. 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 spraying with warm 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 Not proper care leads to the disease of indoor lemons, the leaves of the plant turn yellow. There are several reasons:

1. Flaw 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 temperature changes, drafts, proximity heating devices can also cause 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 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;
• avoid overcooling of the roots, water the bush only warm water;
• if the pot is cramped, the bush must be transplanted into a container bigger size(by 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 be damaged and 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 tbsp. 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.

Some indoor plant lovers have adapted to growing them on the windowsill. citrus trees. 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 grower is to provide similar micro climatic conditions in a house or apartment.

Why are lemons grown at home?

There are several advantages to growing lemon crops at home. The main one is fragrant useful fruits which the plant produces annually. In addition, placing a lemon on the windowsill can become an interior decoration.

You can grow lemon at home in a pot or tub. The pot is more suitable for dwarf varieties plants, the tub will come in handy if grown a big tree 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 lemons is that they are beautiful. appearance tree. It has a dense and evergreen crown. During the flowering period, the plant throws out 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 decorative 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

Lemon – 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:

1. Choose south or east side. The plant should receive plenty of sunlight.
2. On sunny days the tree is placed in the shade, and on cloudy days it is illuminated with fluorescent lamps.
3. In summer, take the plant to the balcony or loggia. There it gets large quantity 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 individual system nutrition. They get water not through ordinary hairs on the roots, but through fungi in the soil. Connection house plant with fungal mycelium, sensitive to external factors. It is easily disrupted by a lack of oxygen, improper watering and sudden temperature changes.

Before growing a lemon tree, you should take care suitable soil. Plant lemons in loose soil types with a neutral pH. It is best to plant citrus in ready soil, purchased at a specialty store. If indoor lemon is placed in a self-made substrate, it is important to take into account the proportions of humus, turf soil and sand. Soil with meadow turf, leaf soil, humus and sand is also popular.

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

Lemon prefers sunny side premises

Planting a lemon

For small plants a clay pot is suitable; for larger ones it is better to use a wooden tub, which is considered the best option for placing citrus fruits. Natural material better allows oxygen to reach the lemon roots. Before placing planting material into the 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. To a young plant you need 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 fruit requires greenhouse conditions, so the pot with the bone is covered with trimmed plastic bottle or tight plastic film. Inside such a cap the humidity is many times greater than in the open space, and the transparency of the bottle allows for ascending sprouts to grow 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 stalk has emerged, it is accustomed to room conditions, removing the greenhouse hood for 1–2 hours a day.
4. Transfer to big pot occurs only when 4 leaves appear on the sprout.

Growing lemon in a greenhouse is also suitable for mature seedlings. At proper organization climatic conditions can be done without it. There is also no need to rush into feeding.

Bye root system citrus fruit is not 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 from planting.

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

Watering lemon

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

1. Provide moderate watering settled water once a day. You can water it once every two days (you need to monitor the condition of the soil).
2. Water the lemon 2 times a week in winter.
3. Drain accumulated water in the pan immediately after watering. The roots of the plant can rot from excess moisture.
4. 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 type of lemon 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.

The dust from lemon leaves should be washed off regularly.

Lemon fertilizer

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:

1. Choose only mineral compounds for fertilizer.
2. 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.
3. Combine fertilizing with watering in the summer.
4. In spring and autumn, feed the plant only after watering. Fertilizer is applied no less than 2 hours after moistening the soil.
5. In winter, fertilize once.

Unlike complex mineral fertilizers, Not all organic matter 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 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 gets stronger and produces 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, immature plants may be thrown out in the second year of life. a large number of flowers. 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. To grow a large harvest, you should:

1. In the second year of the lemon’s life, leave 2 flowers on the entire tree or completely remove the inflorescences.
2. During flowering, carefully monitor the health of the tree, protect it from drafts and perform all the features of caring for it.
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.

Don't expect indoor plant high fertility rates. 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 owners get their first good fruits within 4–5 years. Their number rarely exceeds 5–8 pieces. Big harvest you'll have to wait longer. The tree reaches its maturity only by 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 much large capacity 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.

The lemon tree is an evergreen perennial heat-loving plant which does not tolerate well low temperatures. Is hybrid species plants of the genus Citrus, belongs to the Rutaceae family. The lemon tree was originally grown as ornamental plant in China.

Lemon tree - description.

The height of a lemon tree can reach three meters. The leaves of the plant are dark green with a shine. lemon tree flower has white inflorescences, which are located in clusters in the axils of old leaves or on the tips of old and new shoots.

Formation flower bud occurs throughout the year, but more in spring period. After the bud appears, the lemon tree flower develops for another month and only then blooms. Lemon blooms for several days. The aroma of the blossoming buds is subtle and sweet, slightly reminiscent of the smell of acacia or jasmine. When there is a sharp change in air temperature in the room, the lemon tree reacts immediately. It is for this reason that leaves, unopened buds and flowers fall off the lemon tree. Optimal temperature the room in which the plant is located is +16 +18°C, the humidity should be at least 60%.

The color range of lemon pericarp can range from light yellow to red or green. Lemon peel is dense, orange to bright yellow. It contains glands with essential oils, which give it a specific aroma. The weight of the fruit is small, on average 65 grams. The length of the lemon is from 6 to 9 centimeters, the diameter is from 4 to 6 centimeters. Interior in the section it has several nests with seeds. The fruits of the lemon tree can be located either singly or in clusters. They vary in shape depending on the variety or type of hybrid.

Types of lemon trees.

By the presence of stipules, you can determine that a lemon tree in a pot is a hybrid. These varieties include Jubilee lemon, Meyer lemon, and Ponderosa lemon. Also distinguished are Pavlovsky lemon, Novogruzinsky lemon, Genoa, Lisbon, Ural lemon, Kursk lemon, Maikop lemon, Jubilee lemon, Eureka, Lunario and other types.

Some types of homemade lemons have reddish-lilac flowers during flowering. Indoor or decorative types lemon trees are unpretentious, relatively short and bear fruit well (some varieties up to four times a year). They differ only in the taste of the fruit, the size of the plant and the frequency of appearance and ripening of the fruit. Flowering and fruiting begin in their third year of life.

Where does the lemon tree grow?

China, India and the tropical Pacific islands are considered to be the birthplace of lemons. The wild state of lemon is unknown; most likely, it is a hybrid that arose in the process of evolution. Lemon is grown as an agricultural crop in the CIS countries: Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan. The leaders in lemon cultivation are India, Mexico, Italy, and Türkiye.

Lemon tree care.

In order for this plant to please you with its aroma and frequent harvest, you should know the rules of care. lemon tree. Before planting, it is important to learn how to fertilize, how to prune, and how to water your lemon tree.

First of all, watering a lemon tree produced only with settled (at least 24 hours) water. The stream of water must be directed as close to the ground as possible to avoid washing out the roots. The pot is filled with water until it appears at the bottom of the pan.

The soil during planting and during growth should be loose and nutritious. Fertilizer is applied once a week along with watering the lemon. In winter, if the room temperature is not higher than 15°C, the lemon goes into “sleep mode” and does not require strong lighting. The pot with the lemon tree is placed as close to the window as possible, but it is better if the lemon does not receive direct sunlight. If the lemon tree begins to flower prematurely, such buds must be removed, otherwise the plant may die.

The leaves require special care. It is necessary to ensure that pests do not appear on the surface of the leaves; spray them with water at least once a week. If pests are still found, you should prepare soap solution or tobacco tincture, which is used to treat each leaf. You can also purchase special insecticides. The most dangerous and common pests of homemade lemons are scale insects, nematodes and garden slugs.

A nematode is a small transparent worm that gnaws through the roots of lemons, settles in them and sucks out the juice. At the same time, the tree begins to lose leaves abundantly. To detect the pest, you need to dig up the roots; there will be small swollen areas or growths on them, and the pest lives in them.

Fun fact: if you move a plant from usual place, on which it was constantly located, and simply unroll the pot of lemon, the plant can slow down its growth and bear fruit poorly.

Evergreen citrus fruits fit harmoniously into the interior of apartments and offices. Lemon cultivation attracts hobbyists indoor flowers its exoticism, combined with the ease of caring for wood. Many people tried to plant a seed extracted from a sour fruit into a pot, but not everyone was able to achieve the desired result. In order for a plant to please your home with luxurious flowering and fruits to ripen on its branches, you will have to try. And the first step here is a careful study of the cultural requirements for conditions of detention.

Lighting and temperature

The subtropical origin of lemon makes it capricious in relation to temperature regime. The plant loves warmth, but does not tolerate extreme heat, especially if the air is dry. At home, he will be most comfortable in a room where the air is heated to +10-+22°C. In summer, it is not easy to provide a moderate temperature to the lemon tree in an apartment. Many gardeners get out of the situation by placing a pot with a plant on the loggia. Owners of a private house will be able to take it outside and leave it under a canopy until the fall. In winter, in the room where indoor lemon grows, the temperature should not exceed +14°C. But it should not be allowed to drop below +10°C.

All citrus fruits love light. But compared to its relatives, the lemon tree tolerates deficiency less painfully. sun rays. You can even grow it at home on north-facing windows, although it is better to choose the south-east side for the pot. An adult lemon is not afraid of direct rays of the sun. It can also be placed on a windowsill that is oriented to the south. If the plant is young, it will require care in the form of shading. The tree's tender leaves can suffer from sunburn.

In winter, when it gets dark early, indoor lemon needs additional lighting. It is organized using special phytolamps. Certain types of crops easily tolerate short daylight hours and are able to do without additional care. These include low-growing variety Panderosa. If for a short time daylight hours add coolness (from +7 to +14°C), the plant will enter a dormant period. A hibernating lemon tree is watered very rarely. There is no need to light it up.

Soil and pot

To plant a plant correctly, you need to take into account the characteristics of its root system. Representatives of the genus Citrus do not have root hairs. Soil fungi help lemons absorb water and nutrients from the soil. They can be seen on its thin roots. They look like threads that form thickenings at their ends. Tree roots and fungi interact closely with each other. In the scientific literature, their symbiosis is called mycorrhiza. She is very sensitive to external conditions and may die in an unfavorable environment:

• prolonged drought;
• lack of air;
• sudden drop in temperature (below -7°C);
• extreme heat (if the thermometer rises above +50°C).

From this follow the basic rules for growing lemons:

• do not allow the substrate in the pot to dry out;
• do not flood the tree.

The plant develops well in loose soil, rich in nutrients. Its reaction should be neutral (with a pH value in the range of 5.8-6.5). The easiest way is to purchase ready-made soil intended for citrus fruits in the store.

To prepare a nutrient substrate at home yourself, mix three components:

• turf soil (3 parts);
• humus soil (1 part);
• sand (1 part).

If you need to plant an adult lemon, the volume of humus soil is doubled.

You can fill the pot with a composition of turf soil, deciduous soil and manure humus.

All components are taken in equal proportions. The resulting substrate will be given looseness river sand, and crushed charcoal will enrich it with minerals.

To plant lemon at home, it is better to use clay pot. If the plant is large, it will develop well in a wooden tub. Natural materials will facilitate the penetration of air to the roots of the tree. A 2 cm layer of drainage is poured onto the bottom of the planting container. You can make it from broken bricks. The drainage layer is covered with sand on top, and then the pot is filled with nutritious substrate.

Reproduction methods

Indoor lemon can be grown from seed, cuttings or layering.

The easiest way to propagate a tree that is already bearing fruit is at home by cutting cuttings from it. Suitable for preparing them are young lemon branches with not yet roughened and flexible wood. They must be one year old or slightly older.

The correct cutting has the following characteristics:

• length not less than 10 cm;
• 3-4 developed buds;
• at least 3 sheets.

The cut line from above should run at a right angle at a distance of 7 mm from the kidney. 1 cm is removed from the lower bud. The cut is made at an angle of 45°. The top of the wound is lubricated with garden varnish. It will protect the cuttings from infection. It is advisable to apply shallow grooves on the lower cut using a needle. This will improve root formation. You can plant cuttings at home in sand or in a nutrient substrate. Having made a small depression, place the cut branch in it. There is no need to press it into the soil.

Before planting, the lower part of the cutting is dipped into a solution of a drug that stimulates root growth, where it is kept for 1-2 hours.

Cuttings will take root faster if the leaves on them are cut by ⅔ with scissors. This way they will evaporate less moisture. The planted cuttings are covered with a jar. Lemon forms roots slowly. In warm conditions (at a temperature of +25°C) and with constant substrate humidity, you will have to wait 2-3 months for their appearance.

Caring for cuttings is simple. They need to be provided with a lot of light, but direct rays of the sun should not fall on them. With the appearance of the first leaves, the process of adaptation of the cuttings to the indoor air begins. The jar is lifted and a sliver or other support is placed under it so that a small gap is formed. The hole sizes are gradually increased. You can do it differently - ventilate the future tree daily. First, remove the jar from the cutting for a couple of minutes, the next day this time is doubled. In order for the sprout to get used to the climate at home, it will take 2 weeks of ventilation. Then the shelter will not need to be returned to its place.

Professionals almost never use the generative method of lemon propagation. Planting a seed in a pot is not difficult, but the plant obtained from it is unlikely to bear fruit, even if you provide it with proper care. There is only one way out - to graft the tree. 2-3 years will pass, and fruits can be picked from its branches. For grafting, cuttings from a fruiting plant are most often used. Good result gives budding with an eye.

Watering

Lemon prefers moderate watering. The soil in the pot is moistened with water at room temperature, which is preliminarily settled. You can add a little vinegar to it (2-3 drops per 1 liter). The liquid accumulated in the pan is drained, not allowing it to remain in it for more than 2-3 minutes. IN summer time at home, the procedure is carried out every day or every other day. The condition of the soil will help determine when the next watering is needed: if the earthen ball is dry, it’s time to moisten it.

Lemon responds well to care in the form of spraying. They are carried out daily, regardless of the time of year. Spraying is especially important for trees in winter, when the air becomes dry due to the operation of heating devices. But you can’t overdo it with them, otherwise the plant may be damaged. fungal diseases. Spray the leaves with warm water, occasionally you can do this with a weak solution of potassium permanganate to improve the health of the plant. With the onset of cold weather, watering is reduced, but not much - up to 2 times a week.

Problems during cultivation citrus fruits at home most often occur due to irregular or too much moisture. When underwatered, the leaves on the tree turn yellow, wither, and the mycorrhiza dies. Excessive moisture will cause the soil in the pot to sour and the roots of the plant to rot. It is important to carry out the procedure correctly, distributing water over the surface of the substrate. If you pour it in one place, the earthen lump will get wet unevenly, and the roots may suffer from being washed out.

At home, lemons are periodically “bathed.” This type of care is carried out once a month. The soil is reliably protected with film, and the leaves of the tree are treated warm shower, thoroughly washing them on all sides. This is necessary to clean their surface from dust and other contaminants. Accumulating on the leaves, they interfere with photosynthesis, which weakens the plant and can cause problems with its health.

Feeding

In order for a lemon to grow quickly at home and not lose its decorative appearance, it will need regular feeding. You won't be able to get by with just one drug. Fertilizers should be different, and they need to be changed periodically. If you use the same nutrient composition for a long time, the soil reaction will change. It will become too sour for lemon or alkaline. From such soil the plant will not be able to obtain the elements necessary for its development.

At home, they begin to feed lemon in March. Until October, they feed it once every 2-3 weeks, either with organic or mineral compounds. If the plant is young, fertilize it less often - once every 1.5 months. In summer, fertilizing is combined with watering. In spring and autumn, fertilizers are applied to already moist soil. At least 2 hours must pass from the moment of watering. Lemon suffers even more from an excess of nutrients in the soil than from a lack of them. Therefore, you cannot overfeed him.

From mid-autumn, fertilizers are applied less frequently. A plant that has gone into hibernation ceases to need feeding. If it overwinters in the warmth and at good lighting, they are carried out every 1.5 months. Lemon is suitable for complex mineral compositions. From organic fertilizers it responds well only to certain types:

• wood ash extract;
• infusion of birch leaves or quinoa (fill the jar with chopped green mass ½, add water; 2-3 days, and natural fertilizer will be ready);
• weak (diluted 5-6 times) infusion of fresh manure.

If leaves are actively growing on the lemon, and flowering is delayed, it is worth changing the fertilizer. Nitrogen-rich compounds are excluded by feeding citrus with preparations high in phosphorus.

Trimming

You can’t do without crown formation when caring for lemons at home. Regular pruning has decorative and sanitary functions. Its scheme is determined by the purpose of growing the tree. Decorative lemons a large crown is not needed; it is given a compact shape. In a fruiting citrus, the main branches must be balanced by growing shoots. The formation of the crown is carried out by pinching. First, they create the skeleton of the tree, cutting off the side branches so that they do not outweigh each other and do not interfere with the development of neighboring ones.

When the lemon is 1 year old, the main shoot is shortened to 30 cm. Then the buds located on its sides will sprout, forming lateral branches. When they are well developed, they are pinched, leaving 3-4 leaves on the shoot. The lemon needs such care, otherwise its branches will grow very long and bring a meager harvest, which will take a long time to wait. The tree is allowed to bear fruit after its crown is formed. If it blooms earlier, the buds are cut off. Otherwise, the plant will become very weak and may even die.

It is better to cut off old branches that interfere with the development of the lemon and will sooner or later dry out so that they do not drain the strength from the tree. Weak crowns growing inward or interfering with neighboring shoots are also removed. Pruning is usually done in March, but can be done after harvest. For fruit-bearing lemons, care is required in the form of removing excess buds. The plant blooms profusely, but the ovaries are normalized according to the number of leaves. There must be at least 10 of them for each fruit, otherwise it will be a depleted lemon. next harvest will not please you soon.

During fruit ripening, the tree requires increased attention. Handle it very carefully, trying to completely eliminate factors that can lead to shedding of the ovaries:

• lack of nutrients;
• drafts;
• dry air;
• lack of light;
• diseases.

Transfer

Beginning gardeners often make a mistake that ruins all their efforts to grow a lemon tree at home. It consists of trying to plant a young citrus tree immediately in a large pot. As a result, the tree's growth slows down greatly, its roots rot, and the lemon dies. Landing capacity should be proportionate to the root system of the plant. When it develops and fills the entire pot, the lemon is transferred to another container, the volume of which is slightly larger. Doing so better in spring when the tree begins its period of active growth.

The bottom of the container is covered with a drainage layer. A lemon removed from an old pot along with an earthen lump is placed on top of it. The voids on the sides are filled with fresh substrate, prepared at home or purchased in a store. The plant is watered abundantly. After moistening the soil will settle, then add more soil. Lemon roots need to “breathe.” If the pot sits tightly on a tray, it is advisable to place small stones or wood chips between them to improve air circulation.

The transplanted tree is returned strictly to its original place, without changing its orientation. Lemon reacts sensitively to even minor turns, responding to them with stress and loss of decorativeness. The leaves of the tree reach for the sun. To prevent its crown from becoming one-sided, you need to slightly rotate the pot around its axis. This is done once every 10 days, very carefully, deviating from the previous position by a maximum of 10°.

Lemon will take place of honor among the plants on the windowsill. But for it to become a real decoration of the room and a source of pride, you will have to pay attention to it. Caring for a lemon tree is not difficult. His agricultural technology consists of procedures familiar to all lovers of indoor flowers. You just need to carry them out strictly in accordance with the requirements of the plant, because lemon will not tolerate neglect. If you provide the tree comfortable conditions, it will delight the eye all year round, either with its glossy leaves or abundance unusual flowers, That bright colors ripening fruits.