Growing an indoor lemon tree will be among the most rewarding and pleasurable as this gives you the feel of nature inside your home, with its continuance to offer you fresh lemons throughout the year. Here is the complete details about how to grow an indoor lemon tree successfully.
Variety Selection in Lemon Tree
All varieties of lemon trees do not grow well indoors. Some lemon trees are more appropriate to grow inside because of heavier structure and different growth habits. The Meyer lemon tree and the Ponderosa lemon tree are the two most popular that do the best growing inside. Of the two, Meyer lemons appear to be favored because of their smaller size and speed of fruiting, combined with the ability to put up with interior-type growing conditions.
Place for Your Tree
Though lemon trees do require a lot of sunlight, normally 8-12 hours per day, a south-facing window would adjust as the best place to situate your lemon tree. Grow lights should be considered if there’s not enough natural light. Plants will grow healthy with proper fruit bearing due to full-spectrum fluorescent or LED plant lights that duplicate the right light spectrum required during photosynthesis.
Selecting the Right Pot and Soil
Pick a pot with enough drainage holes in the bottom to stop waterlogging, which can kill roots. A young tree is usually fine in a 12 to 15″ diameter pot. It may have to be transplanted further into a bigger container as it grows.
It does require a well-draining, slightly acid potting mix. You can’t go past a commercial citrus potting mix, although you can mix your own using equal parts of peat moss, perlite and sterile compost. A small amount of sand or vermiculite added to this further improves the drainage.
Planting Your Lemon Tree
Base preparation: Put a layer at the bottom for the purpose of drainage. Add a few inches of potting mix on top.
1. Plant:
Remove the lemon tree from its nursery container and loosen the root ball slightly. Place this inside the pot, raising the top of the root ball about an inch below the rim of the pot.
2. Filling:
Fill with soil in the container, tamping on the root ball just as much as possible that most of the air pockets it rids off the soil. Water thoroughly until water leaves from the bottom hole.
Watering and fertilizer
Basically, lemon trees like to be kept consistently moist but shouldn’t be waterlogged. Water your tree when the first top inch has dried up. Watering may be necessary once or twice a week during spring and summer but less often during fall and winter.
Fertilization is very vital for the healthy growth of plants and fruit production. Add a well-balanced, slow-release type of citrus fertilizer following the manufacturer’s instructions. Conduct the fertilization every 6-8 weeks during the growth season. Regular fertilizing should be supplemented with an occasional spraying of micronutrient to avert deficits.
Temperature and Humidity
Temperatures: Lemon trees do best with temperatures of 65-75°F at night. They do not care for temperature extremes, so keep them away from air drafts, heating vents, or cold windows. If interior heating is used during the winter months, the air most likely will become dry. In this case, a humidifier or even just a tray of water near the tree can help maintain the necessary humidity of about 50%.
Pruning and Maintenance
Pruning will help keep the lemon tree in the desired shape and structure and allows for healthy growth. Any dead, diseased, or crossing limbs should be removed. Openings should also be pruned so that air may freely flow and the sun reach through it. This may also, if done regularly, restrain the tree from getting too big to be grown indoors.
Pollination
While outdoor lemon trees may have the availability of natural pollinators, there like indoor possibly may not. This means you will need to hand-pollinate flowers to ensure fruit set. Take a small soft brush or cotton swab and move pollen from the male to the female part of each flower.
Dealing with Pests and Diseases
They are quite susceptible to attack by the following pests: aphids, spider mites, and scale. Keep a close check on your tree for any of these. If you do find them, treat promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil. Fungal diseases can often take away from the healthy glow of the tree, especially when it has been over-watered or where there is bad air circulation around the tree. Also, ensure adequate watering and thin plants out if necessary to allow good air circulation around the tree.
Harvesting
Harvesting lemons does require one to be patient while it grows, sometimes several months. Some lemons even take as long as 6-9 months from flowering to harvest, an example being the Meyers’. The fruit is ready when it has reached its full color and is slightly soft to the touch. When it’s time, cut the fruit off with sharp scissors or pruning shears being careful not to damage the branches.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
- Yellow Leaves: This is caused by a lack of nutrition, overwatering, or poor drainage. Ensure proper fertilization and the right amount of moisture is delivered.
- Leaf Drop: A response to extreme temperature fluctuation, draft, or even underwatering could be the cause. Provide stability in the environment and use consistent watering.
- Insufficient light, insufficient watering, and low or no pollination can never give way to flowers and fruits. This tree hence needs sufficient light, good care, and hand-pollination if necessary.
Conclusion
They do need a great deal of care and attention to their growth, but indoor lemon trees are very rewarding. You can really bring all beauty brought on by the lush lemon tree with the right variety and location, plus maintenance, topped off with the delight of freshly grown lemons straight out of your garden. Happy gardening!