28.09.2016 31 936

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

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

What conditions do indoor lemons need?

Flaw nutrients leads to wilting, yellowing of the leaf apparatus, poor flowering, dropping of buds, small fruiting or its complete absence. When to fertilize lemon? Firstly, during the period of budding and fruit set, and secondly, with visible deficiencies of nutrients in the plant.

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

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

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

Diseases and pests of lemon, combating them

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

spider mite - pictured

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

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

in the photo - homemade lemon harvest

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

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

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

What could it be better than vegetables and fruits that do not contain nitrates and other impurities. And how much better if it is done by your own hands. Just imagine, you wanted to drink tea with lemon, you reached out your hand and picked a ripe fruit that grew in your home.

At home, it is a perennial low-growing evergreen with thorny strong branches. Leaves contain essential oil. Leaves generally live for 2-3 years. The buds generally begin to bloom after 5 weeks, and the opened flower after 7-9 weeks. The aroma is very pleasant. But fruit ripening can last 9 months.

From this article you can learn about growing and caring for lemons at home. After we reveal some secrets to you, you will definitely want to place it in your home.

How to care

Photo of homemade lemons

Eat a large number of varieties of this plant. Sometimes it can reach a height of 1.5 meters. But to form a neat crown and provoke early flowering, it is recommended to pinch, removing the apical bud, leaving 3-4 leaves.

Lighting

This plant is light-loving and therefore the light should be bright. Young trees must be protected from direct sunlight, but overgrown trees tolerate it normally.

Temperature

It must be remembered that this is a subtropical plant. Moderate warmth will be comfortable for him.

• In winter, the temperature should be between 10-14 degrees plus
• In summer – 10-22 °C. Also, a pot with a plant can be placed on a loggia or outside under a canopy.

Humidity

In addition to watering, it is necessary to constantly spray the plant with boiled water. room temperature. For him, moist air around the crown is more important than a large amount of moisture in the soil.

How to water

Lemon tree at home photo

How to water a lemon at home - it’s simple, this plant loves moisture and the soil should be moist. How older plant, the more frequent and abundant watering. The amount and volume of watering depends on the temperature in environment. To do this, it is better to use settled, thawed or rainwater. It should be at room temperature or a couple of degrees higher.

Watering in summer

In spring and summer, watering should be abundant and frequent. If the humidity in the room is high and cool, then less often, and if it is dry and warm, then more often. In spring it is recommended to water in the morning, and in summer and autumn - in the evening.

Watering in winter

In winter, water as needed, when the top layer of soil dries out. The soil should not dry out more than 1 cm deep, otherwise the plant will dry out. To prevent the soil from drying out, mulch it. Excessive watering can lead to rotting of the plant roots and disease.

Soil and fertilizers

They require fertile, water- and breathable, loose soil. Basically, it is prepared from equal parts of sand, peat, humus, rotted deciduous soil and 2 parts of turf. Soil acidity should be between pH 5.8-6.5. It is also recommended to place 2 cm of drainage at the bottom of the pot, which will not allow the water to stagnate.

How to replant a lemon? Young lemons should not be planted immediately in a large pot. . The soil that is free from roots will turn sour from excess moisture. When replanting, it is recommended to take a pot that is 5-6 cm larger than the previous one. But remember about the root collar, it should not be covered with soil.

Top dressing

For normal development It is necessary to periodically apply organic and mineral fertilizers.

• From March to early October, fertilizers need to be applied once every 3 weeks. It is better to underfeed than to overfeed. It is advisable to alternate mineral and organic fertilizers.
• In winter, you don’t need to fertilize the plant in a cool room.

The main requirement is to water the plant with clean water 2 hours before applying fertilizer in order to avoid burning the roots.

Trimming

Lemon pruning should be a mandatory maintenance procedure. The crown should be formed depending on the purpose for which it is grown. For ornamental plant They form a small compact crown, and use a completely different method to obtain fruits. A fruit-bearing lemon is characterized by a certain number of base branches, which consist of fruit wood. To form the crown, you can use the clothespin method.

• Zero shoots that have reached 20-25 cm are pinched. Next, the shoot is pinned at a height of 15-20 cm from the previous one. There should be 4 developed buds left on the segment.
• Shoots of the first order are pinched after 20-30 cm. When they ripen, they are pruned 5 cm shorter than the previous one.
• We complete the formation of the crown on shoots of the 4th order.

If this procedure is not carried out, the shoots grow long and the formation of shoots with fruits is delayed. In addition, pruning also has a sanitary function. It allows you to remove weak branches and those that grow inside the crown.

Reproduction

There are several ways to propagate homemade lemons:

1. Lemon from seeds. Growing a lemon from a seed at home is a very long process and you will probably get your first fruits in 12-18 years.
2. Lemon from cuttings. For cuttings, shoots 4 mm thick and 10 cm long are selected. The lower cut is made under the bud, and the upper cut is made above it. The cuttings should have 3-4 formed buds and 2-3 leaves. Treat the cut with a stimulant and lower it half its length into water. After 3 days they are planted in a mixture of flower soil, sand and humus. The immersion depth is 3 cm. Since the cuttings do not yet have roots, they must be sprayed every day with settled water. warm water. The soil should be moist. Temperature for rooting 20-25 degrees. The roots will form in 1-1.5 months.
3. Lemon through grafting. How to plant lemon at home? A good rootstock is important for this procedure. The ideal seedling would be a 2-3 year old seedling with a trunk diameter of no more than 1.5 cm. It is mainly grafted onto other citrus fruits. Take healthy, non-lignified annual shoots. The leaves are cut from the cuttings, leaving only the buds in the axils. How to vaccinate homemade lemon during active growth? It's best to do this in early spring. To do this, make a T-shaped cut in the bark on the trunk of the rootstock and bend its corners. Cut the bud from the scion cutting along with the petiole and shield. The piece of cut bark should be large enough to fit into the cut. Lift up the bark and place the shield there. Then lower the bark, do not touch the cut with your fingers. Wrap the rootstock trunk with tape or plaster. Engraftment takes about 3 weeks. If the petiole of the grafted bud turns yellow and falls off, this indicates a positive result. Then you need to cut the scion trunk 10 cm above the graft and remove the tape. Remove shoots on the trunk below the graft.

Diseases and pests

Pests include: whitefly, scale insects, spider mite, aphids, scale insects.

Among the most common diseases are:

• Leaves and buds fall off. Reason: lack of moisture. Solution: spray more often and do not allow the soil to dry out.
• Lemon leaves are pale or light green. Cause: lack of nutrients in the soil or light. Solution: fertilize, increase lighting.
• Brown leaf tips. Reason: insufficient watering or dry air. Solution: spraying and increasing watering.

Lemon doesn't bloom. Reason: pot too tight. Solution: feed and replant.

Knowing these secrets of growing this plant, you will definitely plant it at home and feast on its fruits. In addition, its fruits can hang and not fall on the tree for up to 2 years. So the pleasure can last for a long time!

If you have a lemon, caring for it at home will require a lot of work. It belongs to the remontant plants, therefore, in certain conditions it is capable of all year round bloom and bear fruit. But not everyone manages not only to taste the fruits of their citrus, but also to simply admire the flowering. What is the reason? Let's figure it out.

Variety selection

First of all, for planting in the house, you should choose varieties specially bred for these purposes. They do not grow to gigantic dimensions, but at the same time they are characterized by high productivity. Pay attention to these varieties of dwarf and semi-dwarf lemons:

• Meyer
• Pavlovsky
• Novogruzinsky
• Maykop
• Eureka
• Genoa

Among the most common varieties in our latitudes is Meyer lemon; caring for it is the least troublesome compared to other types. This variety is sometimes called Chinese Dwarf, and its fruits are not as sour as other varieties. Dwarf lemons are not known for their rich harvest, but they will add coziness to the interior of the apartment.

Video about indoor lemon

Tall lemons will certainly delight you with delicious and large fruits, but at the same time they require a lot of time for care, since in addition to the usual activities, they need more frequent pruning, gartering and crown formation. If you are interested in such citrus fruits, choose among the following varieties:

• Novogruzinsky
• Kursk

How to care for lemons in an ordinary city apartment, when there is no heating, the windows face north, or the air is too dry for citrus? You will have to provide the tree comfortable conditions growth and development.

The first thing that is important for a lemon is light.

Photo of homemade lemon

To place the pots, it is better to choose south-eastern windows with moderate lighting, if, of course, you are lucky and you have them. But what to do if all your alternative is the north or south side.

On northern windows, the lemon will noticeably lack light, so you will have to use fluorescent lamps, extending the daylight hours for the plant to 12 hours. This is especially true in the winter.

On the south side of the house there is always plenty of light, and even too much for a lemon. Therefore, during the midday hours it is necessary to shade your citrus, saving it from the destructive effects of direct sunlight, which can leave real burns on the leaves.

Lemon is a native of the Pacific tropics, so it is not surprising that the tree is demanding in terms of thermal conditions.

In the spring, during the budding period, the room temperature should be 14 - 16 degrees. A high degree causes the buds to dry out and drop, while a low degree helps to slow down or even stop this process. During the rest period, room temperature up to 26 degrees is sufficient. If possible, move your pet to a glassed-in balcony for the summer. Fresh air will benefit the lemon and the question of how to care for the lemon will not be so pressing. However, you should be wary of both sudden temperature changes and drafts. Like a true southerner, indoor lemon requires meticulous care.

Homemade lemon in the photo

Moisture. This parameter is very important for lemon. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that the soil in the pot is constantly slightly moist. In summer it is reasonable to increase the number of waterings to 3 times per week, and in winter you can reduce it to 1 time, but spray the air around the tree. This is provided that heating devices stand far from the plant. Be sure to water the lemon with non-cold water that has stood for 5 hours. Water should not be poured directly under the root, but evenly over the entire surface of the soil. The air around the tree should also not be dry - at least 60% humidity. Otherwise, you risk seeing curled, browning leaves on the lemon.

Lemon, like other plants in your home, needs support, so it needs to be fed periodically.

Young lemon trees do not need additional stimulation; lemons that have reached 3-4 years of age need to be fertilized.

The photo shows a lemon tree

You can purchase specialized mixtures organic fertilizers, or you can use folk methods:

• For abundant fruiting, sometimes regular watering is replaced with an infusion of eggshells. But you shouldn’t get carried away with this method, so that excess calcium does not reduce the acidity of the soil.
• If the plant develops normally, has a healthy appearance and pleases with flowering, you can refuse to apply fertilizers.
• During the growing season, it is worth feeding the lemon with superphosphate twice (50 grams of fertilizer per 1 liter).
• Ammonium nitrate is highly recommended for improving growth. It is taken in a proportion of 30 grams per liter of water. You can water with this fertilizer monthly.
• Periodically water your lemon with a 7-day infusion of horse manure, diluted ten times.
• Lemon needs microelements for normal development: magnesium, phosphorus, nitrogen and others. To make up for their deficiency, you can use Citrus mixture fertilizer once a quarter. 2-3 grams of this fertilizer are diluted in a liter of water and used instead of the main watering.

Pruning and replanting indoor lemon

Young lemon trees should be replanted at least once a year.

Copies older than 3 years - with a frequency of 2-3 years. However, the need for a transplant may arise “unplanned”, for example, due to illness or deterioration of the lemon’s condition.

The photo shows a lemon transplant

1. The soil around the trunk is watered generously to soften it, then the tree is carefully removed. In this case, extreme caution must be exercised so as not to disturb the earthen lump and not touch root system.
2. If you find damaged roots, cut them with a sharp knife or blade.
3. For transplantation, take a container 30-50% larger than the previous one. A pot that is too large, as well as a pot that is too small, will slow growth. Give preference to a cone-shaped container.
4. Place a shard at the bottom of the pot on the drainage hole so that its convex side is on top. Then a layer of drainage (small pebbles, pebbles), a thin layer of dry manure and earthen mixture is laid.
5. Closer to the center of the pot, a tree is installed along with a lump of earth. Slowly begin to fill the container between the lump and the walls of the pot with soil. You can lightly press the laid soil, but there is no need to compact it tightly.

Lemon pruning is done in order to form a beautiful crown and improve fruiting.

When the height of the tree is 20-25 cm from the ground, pinch the stem, allowing side branches to develop. Please note that the first fruits appear on branches of the 4th-5th order (rows from the bottom) and until they are formed, there is no need to wait for fruits.

Vertically grown branches should be pruned without pity.

To form correct form The flower pot must be carefully rotated relative to the sun every 10 days. Gardeners sometimes improve the crown using copper wire - they secure individual branches with it, giving them the desired direction of growth.

The formation of the crown is also carried out at the moments of picking fruits. A ripe lemon is cut off not only with the stalk, but also with a section of the branch itself with 1-2 internodes. This way the growth of the branch is stimulated.

Lemon is very sensitive to the environment and reacts instantly to the slightest fluctuations in temperature or humidity. Measures should be taken to save the plant.

Dried citrus needs watering. By appearance foliage - it becomes yellowish-brownish and sparse - it is easy to guess the cause of the disease. But don’t rush to irrigate the soil abundantly; you can damage the root system. It’s better to pour a little settled water under the root and spray around the crown. You can wrap the trunk with gauze, folded in several layers and soaked in water. Let the tree stand in this “dress” for several hours, but do not leave it overnight.

Excess watering will quickly make itself felt with sudden leaf fall. Healthy-looking leaves suddenly fly off en masse. As soon as a symptom is identified, perform a transplant immediately. Carefully remove the tree from the pot and place it together with the soil ball on newspaper or cardboard to allow the roots to dry. You need to plant it in soil that is slightly moistened and continue to water it moderately.

In the photo there is a homemade lemon with fallen leaves

It is very difficult to save a frozen lemon. In conditions of sudden cold weather, the vital activity of the plant may cease. In addition to the falling of leaves, the trunk darkens when it freezes. You can try to carry out "resuscitation". To do this, move the lemon to a higher warm room, extend daylight hours with the help of artificial lighting. It makes sense to transplant into another pot. When removing, be sure to inspect the rhizome and remove dead and rotten parts. Remove dried branches.

Overheating is no less dangerous for citrus. Appeared brown spots on the leaves clearly indicate overheating. Therefore, on hot summer days, move the container with the plant deeper into the room. Make sure that air from the air conditioner does not hit the crown. Additional watering or no cooling required.

Important! You can’t change your place and habitat often; it takes a long time and doesn’t adapt well to new circumstances. Therefore, it slows down growth and fruiting, and may even show signs of disease. Both drafts and unventilated rooms are equally destructive for it.

Photo of lemon tree

Pests and diseases of lemon

The appearance of white flies may indicate stagnation. Their larvae feed on roots and cause significant damage to the plant. Insecticides are used to combat them various types- watering solutions and aerosol forms to kill insects that have managed to hatch. Karbofos and Aktelik are quite effective in combating these insects.

It is necessary to regularly inspect lemon leaves on which ticks and scale insects can settle. Externally, mites resemble tiny spiders. They are distinguished by their orange or brown color, which stands out noticeably against the green background of the back of the leaves. They cover the damaged areas with a thin cobweb, which makes it easy to recognize pests. Wash the twigs and leaves on both sides several times at intervals of three to four days under a shower head with strong water pressure. Repeated spraying with infusions is effective

• garlic (infuse 1 medium-sized head in 0.5 liters of water),
• onion (1 onion, finely grated, poured with a liter of water),
• bay leaf (2-3 leaves per 0.5- liter jar water)
• strong brew green tea(for 2 glasses boiled water 2 tbsp. dry tea leaves).

Attention! It is not recommended to water the soil with these products.

Scale insects look like small brown turtles, motionless and tightly attached to the leaves. It's difficult to fight them. Three times at weekly intervals, thoroughly wipe the plant, including leaves on both sides, twigs and trunk, with a mixture of soap and kerosene, taken in a ratio of 1/0.5. Cover the ground with cardboard or polyethylene, wrap the trunk at the very bottom with a narrow bandage to prevent liquid from penetrating into the root system.

Lemons often get sick from improper care. Browning leaves on the outside healthy plant, and even during the flowering period - one of the ailments. In this case, reconsider the conditions of keeping the flower; perhaps it makes sense to replant it. But in this case, choose a different soil than the current one. Perhaps it was the acidity of the soil that caused the disease.

Video about pests indoor lemon

As for human body, disease prevention is important for citrus fruits. To prevent diseases, follow the regime, replant, and trim damaged areas. Sometimes a sudden illness can be caused by depletion of the plant itself. In this case, limit flowering to a few buds, and, no matter how sorry it is, remove the rest. Each house has its own separate microclimate, which is not always suitable for lemon. The task of the plant owner is to adapt it to existing conditions gradually.

Sometimes the process of caring for a lemon at home is comparable in terms of troubles to caring for small children - it is difficult at the beginning, but all the work is rewarded when the tree begins to actively grow.

Indoor varieties of citrus fruits are compact; they rarely grow more than two meters in height. How to care for a lemon on the windowsill so that it grows, blooms and bears fruit safely, read the article.

Choosing a variety for home cultivation

Choosing a lemon for home grown, you need to take into account its need for lighting. If the apartment windows face west or north, you can choose Pavlova lemon, it grows well on northern windows. This variety is unpretentious in cultivation, begins to bear fruit at 3–4 years of age, bearing from 20 to 40 tasty medium-sized fruits.

For more experienced plant growers, this variety is suitable Meyer or Chinese lemon. It is demanding on watering, lighting and air temperature. If in winter the room where it grows is more than +12 °C, the fruit may not set.

Is different beautiful flowering variety Anniversary. Flowers collected in inflorescences of 14 pieces, white with purple tint. The fruits are large, can reach 600 g, they begin to set 3–4 years after planting. The variety is undemanding to watering and air humidity.

Variety Maykop attracts high productivity. Mature tree can produce from 100 to 300 fruits per year weighing about 150 g. Lemon prefers to overwinter in a cool room.

Large fruits, weighing more than 500 g, grow on the variety Panderosa. This hybrid was obtained by crossing a citron and a lemon. It tolerates dry, hot air well, loves bright, diffused light, and needs frequent feeding. Blooms with large creamy white flowers.

Miniature delicious lemons, about 4 cm in diameter, are produced by the variety Volcano. This bonsai does not exceed 1.2 m. It is very decorative because it blooms all year round, and you can often see flowers and fruits on it at the same time.

Optimal conditions for growing indoor lemon

It is advisable to choose a well-lit place for indoor lemon, where it will be protected from direct sunlight. To ensure that the crown develops evenly, the plant is turned toward the window a few degrees once every 10 days.

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

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

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

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

♦ WHAT IS IMPORTANT!

Location and lighting.

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

Temperature conditions.

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

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

Air humidity.

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

Watering.

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

Earth mixture and fertilizing.

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

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

Transfer.

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

Trimming.

Reproduction.

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

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