Lemon flower at home. Growing conditions for indoor lemon

Lemon grows well and develops at an air temperature in the room of 18 ... 20 ° C.

At a temperature of 15 ... 17 ° С the best way buds develop and the percentage of fruit set increases, and at 19 ... 25 ° C, fruits grow and ripen better. At rest, i.e. in the autumn-winter period (from November to February), it is desirable that the air temperature be reduced by 4 ... 5 ° C. It would be even better if the temperature could be maintained at about 8 ° C.

The optimum air humidity for a lemon is 60-70%. Practically in a room with an air temperature of 18 ... 20 ° C, it is maintained at this level.

Watering

Lemon is best watered with rain or snow water. If this is not possible, it is watered tap water, which is preliminarily defended for at least a day in a dish with a wide neck. You can not water the lemon with boiled water.

In summer, plants are watered more often and more abundantly than in winter. It is better to do it in the evening. So overnight, the plant will better make up for the water deficit formed during the day. Water is served in small portions, waiting for the absorption of each of them. Watering is continued until the first drops appear at the bottom of the pan, otherwise the entire the water will go away into the pan, washing out the nutrients from the soil, which are so necessary for the normal growth of the lemon. The soil is periodically allowed to dry out, as with excessive watering the plant can get sick. During budding and flowering, you should especially carefully and plentifully water the lemon.

There are signs that indicate the need for a firm watering of the plant. They are:

• folding young leaves "into a boat";
• drooping of non-lignified shoots;
• changing the dark color of the soil to gray;
• the earth does not absorb water at all, lags behind the walls of the pot, and when watering, the water, running along the walls, instantly ends up in the pan.

So that the earth does not lag behind the walls of the container, three hours after watering, the soil is loosened (near the walls to a depth of 1.5 cm) wooden stick, and before the next watering, it is compacted along the walls of the pot and the trunk of the plant is spudded. These measures contribute to a more uniform moistening of the earth clod and protect the plant from the aggressive action of fertilizer solutions. Loosening also facilitates the access of air to the roots of the plant, which contributes to their better development and general condition.

Often after watering, especially with tap water, the top layer of the earth is covered with mold or a whitish coating. Therefore, it is advisable to replace a layer of soil 1-1.5 cm thick with fresh earth once a month. Its composition is the same as when landing. Such a change will provide additional plant nutrition.

Lemon reacts positively to washing the leaves. It is advisable to repeat this procedure at least twice a month. On the upper side, the leaves are washed with a soft cloth or cotton swab, and on the lower side they are sprayed. It is also advisable to take out the lemon in the rain. Only 8-10-year-old plants with a large blood and a large volume of soil cannot stand it.

It has a good effect on the growth and development of the plant washing the walls of a ceramic pot once a month warm water(40 ... 45 ° C), which helps to cleanse the pores of the pot and free access of air to the roots.

At the end of spring, the plants are set aside from the window by 50-100 cm, and after the danger of damage to the lemon by late spring frosts has passed, they take it out to the balcony or to the street. In the first case, the pots are installed in oblong wooden boxes, fill the free space between the pots with sand and cover it with moss or peat; in the second, they drop it on a “warm pillow” in the shade of trees. On the street, it is desirable to protect the lemon from snails, larvae and worms with the help of a nylon stocking, which is pulled from below onto the vessel, and it is often sprayed with various preparations from pests (aphids, mites, etc.).

1-2 weeks before the early autumn frosts, plants begin to accustom to room conditions. Within 5-7 days they are sprayed and brought into the room at night, and taken out again during the day.

In winter, the lemon is placed in a cool place. It overwinters without any harm to itself even with strong shading at an air temperature of 3 ... 5 ° C. In diffused lighting optimum temperature for wintering lemon 8 ° C. It should be remembered that during cold wintering, the plant blooms in spring and ends flowering only in autumn.

Lemon can also be grown on the balcony, if it is specially equipped. To do this, install bindings with double glazing and two transoms, then carefully close up all the holes (the lemon is afraid of drafts). To insulate the balcony, they lay it on the floor, and on the walls (with the exception of the wall separating the room and the balcony) and on the ceiling, foam plastic 10-15 cm thick is glued. Additionally, linoleum is laid on the floor, and the walls are glued very light wallpaper. In the immediate vicinity of the crown, the plants are attached fluorescent lamps equipped with a time relay. After sunset, lamps should be connected to illuminate for 2-4 hours. Late autumn, an oil radiator with a thermostat is installed on the balcony, connecting the heater at an ambient temperature of 5 ° C.

However, in most cases, the lemon hibernates on the windowsills, where the air is always cool and fresh (the air temperature is 3 ... 5 ° C lower than in the room). It should be borne in mind that the lemon is afraid of both drafts from under the frames and excessively dry air rising from hot battery. To protect against unwanted effects in the fall, it is necessary to isolate the plant plastic wrap both from the draft and from the overheated air of the battery and isolate the window with a white curtain from the room, which will increase the illumination of the crown, protect it from direct contact with the dry air of the room.

In addition to this, periodically (every two days) the plants are sprayed with warm water (25 ... 28 ° C) and the room is ventilated every evening, opening the window for 2-3 hours.

In winter, plants are sprayed 1-2 times a week. The water temperature should be 2 ... 3 ° C higher than the air temperature in the room. Water the plants every two or three days and so that the earthen ball does not dry out.

At the end of February, the plant is often sprayed with warm water to prevent leaf fall.

Experienced citrus growers, in order to accelerate the start of growth and flowering of lemon, after wintering, in March, warm the ground with the plant. To do this, pour boiling water into the basin with a layer of 5-6 cm and put a pot of lemon in it for 20-30 minutes. Hot water, as it were, steams the earth along with the roots. A few days after the procedure, the buds swell, that is, the plant wakes up and starts to grow.

Light mode

In winter, it is useful to illuminate lemons, bringing the daylight hours to 10 hours. For additional lighting, lamps are used (preferably fluorescent white glow). Lemon feels good at 5000 lux illumination (light intensity is measured in lux). It can be measured with a photo exposure meter. Thus, crown illumination of 7 thousand lux is achieved when the plant is placed at a distance of 7 cm from the fluorescent tubes, 6 thousand lux at 15 cm and 3 thousand lux at 50 cm. To increase the illumination, it is desirable to have a reflector (reflector - tin, covered with special lighting enamel, which is attached between or near the fluorescent tubes).

With a lack of light, a lemon needs enhanced nutrition. It is fertilized with mineral solutions once a month, alternating the application of nitrogen, potash (possibly their joint application) and phosphorus fertilizers.

Transshipment and transfer

Transshipment- this is the transfer of a plant with an undisturbed clod of earth from a pot that has become cramped for normal root growth, to another - a larger one.

At transplant the plant is moved to another container with a bare root system. Transplantation is an undesirable procedure for a lemon, since its root system does not have root hairs. But it is carried out with poor (heavy) soil or when rejuvenating an old plant when it is at rest.

The diameter of the container for transshipment or transplantation of lemon, depending on its age

plant age	Pot diameter, cm
Up to 3 months	6-10
3 to 6 months	10-14
1-1.5 years	13-17
1.5-2 months	16-20
2-3 months	19-23

The time of transshipment is determined by the state of the plant: the appearance of roots on the surface of the soil or from a drainage hole and the depressed state of the plant are clear signs of the need for urgent transshipment.

To form a strong tree with a well-developed crown, young plants are transshipped up to 2-3 times a year. Adult plants (older than five years) are transshipped every 3-4 years, but in this case the transshipment is replaced by an annual change of the topsoil.

For transshipment, a container is selected in advance. Its size is increased gradually. The diameter of each new pot should be 2-4 cm larger than the previous one, and the tubs should be 6-8 cm larger. Moreover, the height of the container should be 3-5 cm larger than its width. Under such conditions, the plant develops better and can stay longer without a transplant.

A shard is placed in the vessel, then drainage, tea with iron filings on it, and a well-boiled and cooled soil mixture on a piece of paper next to it.

Before extracting the plant from the vessel, the top layer of soil is removed, the clod of earth is well watered and the vessel is tapped from all sides with a wooden hammer or stick. Then, passing the stem of a lemon between the index and middle fingers, turn the pot over on the palm of your hand and, tapping the edge of the vessel on the edge of the table, carefully remove the plant. If the pot does not come off, then you need to press a wooden stick through the drainage hole on the shard and try again to remove the plant from the vessel. If this succeeds, then a shard, drainage and a small layer of earth are removed from the clod of earth. Then the root system is carefully examined and, if black or brown (rotten or decaying) roots are found, they are cut with a razor to a milky white color on a cross section.

After that, the plant with a clod of earth is placed in a more spacious vessel and so that it is equidistant from the walls of the pot and is 2 cm below the edge of the pot, and then sprinkle it with soil and compact it with a finger or a wooden stick (depending on the gap between the clod of earth and the walls of the pot and the depth of the vessel), tapping from time to time the bottom of the vessel on the edge of the table (air voids in the soil have an extremely negative effect on the growth and development of a lemon). After transplanting, the plant is thoroughly watered so as to evenly moisten the entire clod of earth. Watering is stopped when the first drops appear on the pallet. Then the pits are filled up and the top layer of soil is removed so that it becomes 0.3-1 cm below the edge of the vessel. The plant is placed in the same place with the same orientation of the leaves to the light.

If a clod of earth fell apart during transplantation, despite all efforts to keep it intact, then, having shaken off the roots from the soil or washed them, the plant is placed in a pre-prepared pot and, spreading the roots well on the mound of soil, fill them soil mixture, diluted with water to a state of thick kefir. After draining the water from the pot, the plant is corrected, the soil is poured into the pot and, after sprinkling the leaves, cover it with a film. The leaves are sprayed daily, while avoiding excessive waterlogging of the soil. After 2 weeks, airing begins.

Transshipment can be carried out throughout the summer, but transplantation, as already mentioned, is only at rest. best term transfers - February-March. It is done like this: in an adult tree more than 2 m high, they tie the trunk at the root neck with a rag, and over this bandage they throw a loop of rope. A strong stick is inserted into this loop and, using it as a lever, the whole plant with the vessel is lifted up. In this position, the end of the lever is fixed. Then the old dishes are removed or disassembled. The plant is rejuvenated by cutting both the roots and branches (this measure will prevent the shedding of leaves), brought under a clod of earth new vessel with drainage poured to the bottom and slowly lower the plant into it. Then pour the soil and compact it around the clod of earth. The tree is well watered, and after soaking up the water, the holes are filled up and a little earth is poured on top.

Old lemons (over 8 years old) also rejuvenate: young shoots are removed, and old ones are cut off (by 1 / 2 -2 / 3 of their length). After that, the plant is removed from the vessel in the manner described above, the roots are shortened and transplanted into a smaller vessel with rich soil.

molding

The plant can be given a variety of shapes. The choice depends on many factors, but above all on the future location of the lemon. So, when placing it on a window, regardless of shape, all branches are fanned along the glass.

The simplest of the forms are bush and standard (the height of the trunk in the first case is 5-15 cm, in the second - 40 or more). The bush is easy to form from a rooted cutting. The advantage of this form is earlier fruiting, and the disadvantage is that the plant needs more space. A lemon with a standard crown shape decorates the room, but fruits from it should be expected 2-4 years later than from a bush one.

In a cutting with three or more eyes, at least two buds “wake up”. Depending on the chosen form, one is left for the stem and no more than three multidirectional shoots for the bush, and the rest are immediately pinched. Moreover, if two shoots appear from the kidney, the weak one is also immediately pinched.

Pinching is a positive element of plant crown care. Removing the growing point above the third and fifth leaves accelerates the ripening of both shoots and leaves and contributes to economical use nutrients. After the shoot and leaves ripen, the top leaf with the stem is removed (decapitation is done). This technique causes the awakening of not one so-called continuation shoot, but 2-3 shoots, which contributes to the formation of a compact, well-leafy crown.

So, using the method of I. M. Yakhovsky "5-3-5-3" (leaving five leaves on the shoot, then three on the continuation shoot, etc.), we can expect flowering of a rooted lemon by the end of the second year of life. In our practice, having somewhat modified this method - "6-4-6-4" (leaving six leaves on the shoot, then four) - with the removal of the upper, mature leaf, we found the appearance of buds on a rooted plant at the beginning of the second year of life.

Experience has also shown that the use of garden pitch when smearing the cut after decapitation leads to cracking of the bark. Obviously, this is due to the active influx of plastic substances to the remote growth point, which contributes to the thickening of the stem, and this, in turn, causes cracking of the bark. This does not happen when using wood ash. When covering the same wounds on the stem, the action of the var is effective.

Bookmark a large number generative buds is observed on horizontally located branches of the 4th and higher orders. In order to give the desired location to the shoot, you can use paper clips, elastic bands and clothespins to bend down or pull branches together until woody. Competitively growing shoots, thickening the crown, and "fat" also bend down.

Flowering and fruiting

From the time of the formation of the bud to its blooming, 40-50 days pass. mass flowering lasts 10-12 days.

In order to save nutrients, you should thin out the buds sitting next to you. They leave those that are located closer to the base and in which the ovary is better developed (large buds resembling an egg in shape). If it is still difficult to choose the desired bud, then they are left on the plant until blooming. After that, flowers are removed without a pistil and with a short stigma at the pistil. When single buds appear in winter, from November to February, 1-3 buds are left on the plant for aroma, and the rest are removed.

The lemon is a self-pollinating plant, so it can be hand-pollinated by transferring pollen from flower to flower. To do this, a cotton swab is wound around a match and gently touched with it to the stamens and stigmas of each flower.

The ovaries, up to 1 cm in diameter, are also thinned out, leaving those that are closer to the base and sit on shorter branches (the fruit grows more slowly on a long branch). Ultimately, in the first year of fruiting, 1-3 fruits are left on the plant, in the second - 3-8, in the third - 10-15, in the fourth - 15-25, etc.

The fruit of a lemon is considered ripe when it has juicy flesh and reaches a certain size (appropriate for this variety). However, it may be green. Green lemons, as already noted, contain more vitamin C, and therefore they are preferable. If such fruits are placed in glass jar, add there 2-3 ripe apples and cork it tightly, then after 5-7 days the lemons will turn yellow. Fruits should be removed with a sharp pruner along with the fruit.

Caring for the crown of a fruit-bearing tree

After the entry of the lemon into fruiting, annually in the spring, before the plant begins to grow, pruning is carried out. At the same time, cut into a ring:

• fructified small twigs with drying ends (they are usually leafless);
• diseased, dry, broken shoots and branches thickening the crown;
• "fatty" shoots that cannot be used to shape the crown by trimming and bending down.

All extra shoots that appear on the trunk, uterine branches (branches of the first order) and vegetative shoots of the crown in directions where they will interfere with each other in the future are plucked out.

In addition to pruning, the crown is improved annually. At the same time, strongly growing shoots are pinched, and after

when they ripen, they are cut by 15-20 cm. As a result, a panicle of new shoots is formed on them, from which 2-3 well-developed multidirectional shoots are left, and the rest are plucked. If the plant blooms profusely and bears fruit without forming a vegetative growth, then during budding, every 2-3rd shoot is cut to 2/3 of the length. Short pruning results in new shoots (replacement shoots) that will produce next year's crop.

Falling leaves on a lemon at good conditions life support is observed only after 2 years with physiological aging, but if the leaves begin to fall off earlier than this period, then you need to find out the reason.

It may be related:

• with strongly acidic or alkaline soil (methods for determining its pH and methods for making it slightly acidic are described earlier);
• with any sharp, contrasting changes in external conditions: transferring the plant from the Shadow to the sun and from the room to the street (it is necessary to gradually accustom the plant to new living conditions, while often spraying the leaves);
• with insufficient lighting of the plant in autumn and winter, which is especially detrimental in combination with hot and dry air in the room (they carry out additional illumination, spraying and ventilation, and also isolate it from the room with a white curtain);
• with physiological drought - excessive cooling of the pot on the windowsill with poor pasting of the window and dry hot air flow rising from the battery (carefully paste over the window and isolate the plant);
• with poisoning carbon monoxide(you can not place the plant in the kitchen with a gas stove);
• with overdrying of the soil or its constant waterlogging (in the first case, the top layer of soil is loosened after watering, and before watering it is compacted along the walls of the vessel, which contributes to uniform moistening of the entire clod of earth; in the second, the soil is periodically allowed to dry out).

With constant waterlogging (flooding) of the soil, its “souring” is possible. The external manifestation of this phenomenon is a change in the color of the leaves (their edges and tips become brown-brown), and when the earth is removed, browned and even black roots are visible, instead of light yellow and white. The only way to save the plant in this case is to wash the root system and remove the brown roots, up to light yellow ones, with a razor. After that, a vessel of the appropriate size is selected and the plant is planted again, sprayed, covered plastic bag etc. Flooding can also occur if the drainage device is incorrect or if the soil is too heavy in texture (clay) soil. In the first case, water stagnates for a long time on the soil surface. To fix this, you need to lift the crock through the drainage hole with a stick, after which the water quickly runs into the pan. In the second case, the plant is urgently transplanted into another soil and cared for accordingly;

• with a lack or excess of batteries;
• heavily infested with diseases and/or pests;
• with a burn with pesticides (it is necessary to strictly adhere to the recommended doses of the drug, while it is important to first test its effect on 2-3 lemon leaves, and after 2-3 days, if there are no signs of damage, treat the entire plant);
• with an unsuccessful stock (for example, if a distant relative of lemon trifoliate is used in this capacity, which sheds leaves in winter, so you need to be careful when buying grafted plants).

It is better not to wait for the lemon to drop all the leaves, but to take all possible measures to stop this process. But if in the spring-summer period the lemon nevertheless completely shed its foliage and this is not connected with the need to transplant it, then the plant is moved to partial shade and, having sprinkled the leaves with water, covered with polyethylene. Spraying is repeated daily and 2 times a week is poured over with a slightly pink solution of potassium permanganate. At the same time, it is important to prevent excessive waterlogging of the soil.

When dropping foliage in the autumn-winter period, the plant is transferred to a dark room, where the air temperature does not exceed 12 ° C and air humidity is not higher than in a residential area. The soil is kept moist. In February, the vessel is immersed (by 1/3) in a basin with hot water(50 ° C), replacing the cooled water during the day. At night, lemon is brought into the room. The next day, the vessel is heated again. On the third day, it is installed at the window, while arranging the lower heating (20 ... 25 ° C). After 2-3 days, the soil is watered (until completely saturated) with a weak solution of potassium permanganate, and the stem of the plant (at a height of 15-20 cm) is bandaged with a clean rag soaked in warm water. The cloth is kept moist until young leaves appear. After that, the bandage is removed and the heating is stopped.

The lemon fruit can stay on the plant for up to two years. Ripening after 8-12 months and not being plucked, it turns green, and by the end of the second year it turns yellow again. In this case, the lemon increases in volume due to the thickening of the peel.

Falling fruitlets (ovaries) may be related:

• with a lack of nutrients (more often they do top dressing with a solution of slurry, and in addition, they count the number of leaves that “feed” the fruit, and if there are less than 10, then immediately remove the excess ovary. It is impossible to leave more than 2-3 fruits per 1 in the year of transplantation. plant.
• with a high temperature during flowering (more than 16 ... 18 ° C) and during fruit growth (more than 18 ... 22 ° C) (isolate the plant and ventilate the room more often). It is useful once a day with the help of cotton wool to moisten the stalk of the fetus with warm water.
• with a high degree of pest infestation.

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

Lighting and temperature

The subtropical origin of the lemon makes it moody in regards to temperature regime. The plant loves heat, 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 warmed up to + 10- + 22 ° C. In summer, it is not easy to provide a lemon tree with a moderate temperature in an apartment. Many flower growers get out of the situation by placing a pot with a plant on the loggia. Owners of a private house can take it outside and leave it under a canopy until autumn. In winter, in the room where indoor lemon grows, the temperature should not exceed + 14 ° C. But it is also impossible to allow it to fall below + 10 ° C.

All citrus fruits love light. But compared to its relatives, the lemon tree is less painfully endures the lack of sunlight. You can grow it at home even on the northern windows, although it is better to choose the southeast side for the pot. An adult lemon is not afraid of the direct rays of the sun. It can also be placed on the windowsill, which is oriented to the south. If the plant is young, it will need care in the form of shading. The tender leaves of the tree can suffer from sunburn.

In winter, when it gets dark early, indoor lemon needs additional illumination. It is organized with the help of special phytolamps. Separate types cultures easily tolerate short daylight hours and are able to do without additional care. These include the undersized Panderose variety. If you add coolness to a short daylight hours (from +7 to +14 ° C), the plant will plunge into a dormant period. A hibernating lemon tree is watered very rarely. You don't need to light it up.

soil and pot

To properly plant a plant, you need to take into account the features of its root system. Members of the genus Citrus do not have root hairs. Soil fungi help the lemon to 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 unfavorable conditions:

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

From this follow the basic rules for growing lemons:

• do not allow the substrate to dry out in a pot;
• 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 buy in the store ready ground intended for citrus fruits.

To prepare a nutrient substrate at home on your own, mix three components:

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

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

You can fill the pot with a composition of sod land, deciduous land and manure humus.

All components are taken in equal proportions. The friability of the resulting substrate will give river sand, and crushed charcoal will enrich it with minerals.

To plant a lemon at home, it is better to use a clay pot. If the plant is large, it will thrive well in a wooden tub. natural materials facilitate the penetration of air to the roots of the tree. Drainage is poured at the bottom of the landing tank with a layer of 2 cm. You can make it from broken bricks. From above, the drainage layer is covered with sand, and then the pot is filled with a nutrient 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. For their preparation, young lemon branches with not yet hardened and flexible wood are suitable. They must be one year old or slightly older.

The correct stalk has the following features:

• length not less than 10 cm;
• 3-4 developed kidneys;
• 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 recede from the lower kidney. The cut is made at an angle of 45 °. From above, the wound is smeared with garden pitch. It will protect the cutting from infection. On the lower cut, it is desirable to apply shallow grooves with 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, put a cut branch in it. You don't need to push it into the ground.

Before boarding lower part 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 with scissors by ⅔. So they will evaporate less moisture. The planted stalk is covered with a jar. Lemon roots form slowly. In heat (at a temperature of + 25 ° C) and with a constant humidity of the substrate, they will have to wait 2-3 months for their appearance.

Caring for cuttings is easy. They need to provide a lot of light, but the 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 air of the room begins. The jar is lifted and a chip or other support is placed under it so that a small gap forms. The size of the hole is gradually increased. You can do it differently - air the future tree daily. First, the jar is removed from the handle 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 airing. Then the shelter can not be returned to its place.

Professionals almost never use the generative method of lemon propagation. It is not difficult to plant a bone in a pot, but the plant obtained from it is unlikely to bear fruit, even if it is provided with competent care. There is only one way out - to plant a tree. It will take 2-3 years, and it will be possible to pick fruit from its branches. For grafting, cuttings from a fruiting plant are most often used. A good result is given by budding with an eye.

Watering

Lemon prefers moderate watering. The soil in the pot is moistened with water room temperature, which is preliminarily defended. You can add a little vinegar to it (2-3 drops per 1 liter). The liquid accumulated in the pan is drained, preventing it from remaining in it for more than 2-3 minutes. In the summer, 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 lump is dry, it's time to moisten it.

Lemon responds well to care in the form of sprays. They are held daily, regardless of the time of year. Spraying is especially important for a tree 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 can be hit. fungal diseases. Spray the leaves with warm water, occasionally you can do this with a weak solution of potassium permanganate to strengthen the health of the plant. With the onset of cold weather, watering is reduced, but not much - up to 2 times a week.

Problems when growing citrus fruits at home most often arise due to irregular or too abundant moisture. When underfilling, the leaves on the tree turn yellow, wither, and the mycorrhiza dies. Excessive moisture will cause the soil in the pot to acidify 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 washing out.

At home, the lemon is periodically "bathed". Such care is carried out once a month. The soil is reliably protected with a film, and the leaves of the tree are satisfied warm shower, thoroughly washing them from 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.

top dressing

In order for the lemon at home to grow quickly and not lose its decorative effect, it will need regular feeding. You can't 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 reaction of the soil will change. It will become too acidic 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 the lemon in March. Until October, they feed it once every 2-3 weeks with either organic or mineral compounds. If the plant is young, fertilize it less often - once every 1.5 months. In summer, top dressing is combined with watering. In spring and autumn, fertilizers are applied to already moistened soil. From the moment of watering, at least 2 hours should pass. From an excess of nutrients in the soil, the lemon suffers even more than from their lack. Therefore, you cannot overfeed it.

From mid-autumn, fertilizers begin to be applied less frequently. A hibernating plant no longer needs to be fed. If it hibernates in warmth and in good light, they are carried out every 1.5 months. Lemon is suitable for complex mineral compositions. From organic fertilizers it responds well to only a few species:

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

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

pruning

You can’t do without crown formation when caring for a lemon at home. Regular pruning performs decorative and sanitary functions. Its scheme is determined by the purpose of growing a tree. Decorative lemons do not need a large crown, they give it 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, a tree skeleton is created, 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 germinate, forming side branches. When they develop well, they are pinched, leaving 3-4 leaves on the shoot. Such care is necessary for a lemon, 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 be greatly weakened and may even die.

Old branches that interfere with the development of the lemon and sooner or later wither should be cut off so that they do not draw strength from the tree. They also remove weak crowns growing inward or interfering with neighboring shoots. Usually pruning is carried out in March, but it can be done after harvest. For a fruiting lemon, 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. For each fruit, there should be at least 10 of them, otherwise the depleted lemon will not please the next harvest soon.

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

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

Transfer

Beginner growers often make a mistake that nullifies all their efforts to grow a lemon tree at home. It consists in trying to plant a young citrus immediately in a large pot. As a result, the growth of the tree is greatly slowed down, its roots rot, and the lemon dies. Planting capacity should be commensurate with 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. On top of it they put it extracted from the old pot, along with earthy clod lemon. The voids on the sides are filled with fresh substrate, prepared at home on their own or bought in a store. The plant is watered abundantly. After moistening, the soil will settle, then more earth is added. Lemon roots need to "breathe". If the pot is sitting tightly on a pallet, it is advisable to put 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 sensitively reacts even to minor turns, responding to them with stress and loss of decorative effect. The leaves of the tree follow the sun. So that its crown does not turn out to be one-sided, you need to slightly rotate the pot around its axis. They do this once every 10 days, very carefully, deviating from the previous position by a maximum of 10 °.

Lemon will take pride of place among the plants on the windowsill. But in order 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 easy. His agricultural technology consists of procedures familiar to all lovers of indoor flowers. Only they must be carried out strictly in accordance with the requirements of the plant, because the lemon will not tolerate neglect. If you provide a tree with comfortable conditions, it will all year round to please the eye with its glossy leaves, then with an abundance of unusual flowers, or with bright shades of ripening fruits.

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

At home, this is a perennial undersized evergreen with thorny strong branches. Leaves contain essential oil. Leaves generally live for 2-3 years. The buds generally begin to bloom in 5 weeks, and the opened flower in 7-9 weeks. The aroma is very pleasant. But the ripening of fruits 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 settle it in your home.

How to care

Photo of homemade lemons

There are many 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 photophilous and therefore the light should be bright. Young trees must be protected from direct sunlight, and 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 within 10-14 degrees with a plus sign
• In summer - 10-22 ° С. 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 at 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. The older the plant, the more frequent and plentiful watering. The amount and volume of watering depends on the temperature in environment. To do this, it is better to use settled, melted or rain water. It should be at room temperature or a couple of degrees higher.

Watering in the summer

In spring and summer, watering should be plentiful 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, watering is recommended in the morning, and in summer and autumn - in the evening.

Watering in winter

In winter, water as needed, when the topsoil dries. The soil should not dry out more than 1 cm deep, otherwise the plant will dry out. So that the soil does not dry out less, it is mulched. Excessive watering can lead to plant root rot and disease.

Soil and fertilizer

They need fertile, water- and breathable, loose soil. It is mainly made from equal parts sand, peat, humus, rotted deciduous soil and 2 parts of turf. The acidity of the soil should be in the range of pH 5.8-6.5. It is also recommended to lay 2 cm of drainage at the bottom of the pot, which will not allow water to stagnate.

How to transplant a lemon? A young lemon should not be planted immediately in a large pot. . The soil that is free from roots will sour from excess moisture. When transplanting, it is recommended to take a pot that is 5-6 cm larger than the previous one. But remember the root neck, it should not be covered with earth.

top dressing

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

• From March to the beginning of October, fertilizers should be applied 1 time in 3 weeks. Better to underfeed than overfeed. It is advisable to alternate mineral and organic fertilizers.
• In winter, you can not fertilize the plant in a cool room.

The main requirement is watering the plant clean water 2 hours before fertilizing, in order to avoid burning the roots.

pruning

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

• Zero shoots that have reached 20-25 cm are pinched. Next, the clothespin of the escape is made at a height of 15-20 cm from the previous one. 4 developed kidneys should remain on the segment.
• The 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 the shoots of the 4th order.

If such a procedure is not carried out, then 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. Seed lemon. Growing a lemon from a stone at home is a very long process and you will probably get the 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 kidney, and the upper cut is above it. On the handle should be 3-4 formed buds and 2-3 leaves. Treat the cut with a stimulator and lower it halfway into the water. After 3 days, they are planted in a mixture of flower soil, sand and humus. Immersion depth - 3 cm. Since the cuttings do not yet have roots, they must be sprayed every day with settled warm water. The soil must be moist. The temperature for rooting is 20-25 degrees. Roots will form in 1-1.5 months.
3. Lemon through vaccination. How to plant a lemon at home? For such a procedure, a good stock is important. A seedling from a 2-3-year-old stone with a trunk diameter of no more than 1.5 cm would be ideal. They are mainly grafted onto other citrus fruits. Take healthy, not lignified annual shoots. Leaves are cut from the cuttings, leaving only the buds in the axils. How to instill homemade lemon during active growth? It's best to do it in early spring. To do this, make a T-shaped incision in the bark on the rootstock trunk and bend its corners. Cut off the bud from the graft cutting, along with the petiole and scutellum. The piece of cut bark should be large enough to fit into the incision. Lift the bark and place the shield there. Then lower the bark, do not touch the cut with your fingers. Wrap the trunk of the rootstock with tape or plaster. Engraftment takes about 3 weeks. If the petiole of the grafted kidney turns yellow and falls off, then this indicates a positive result of the case. Then it is necessary to cut the stem of the graft 10 cm above the graft and remove the tape. Remove the shoots on the trunk below the graft.

Diseases and pests

Pests include: whitefly, scale insect, spider mite, aphid, worm.

Among the most common diseases are:

• Leaves and buds fall off. Reason: lack of moisture. Solution: spray more often and prevent the soil from drying out.
• Lemon leaves are pale or light green. Reason: lack of nutrients in the soil or light. Solution: fertilizing, increasing lighting.
• Brown leaf tips. Reason: insufficient watering or dry air. Solution: spraying and increasing watering.

The lemon doesn't bloom. Reason: too tight pot. Solution: feed and transplant.

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

cultivation indoor plants a pleasant activity that sometimes brings good fruit. One of these fruits can be indoor lemon, which can be grown simply on the windowsill.

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

Varieties of homemade lemons

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

• Lemon Ural- an unpretentious plant that grows well both in hot weather and at low temperatures. With proper care, it yields up to 12 kg of crop per year.
• pavlovsky lemon- This is a variety of lemon, which was one of the first to be grown in room conditions. The plant grows best in dark places, but despite this, it blooms all year round. The harvest from this type of lemon varies from 10 to 40 kg per year.
• Lemons without a single thorn are called Maikopsky and Genoa. The first grade of lemon has very thin branches and a dark lush crown. Harvest per year reaches 30 kg. The second one is marked as undersized plant and gives a harvest only from the fourth year of life. The amount of harvest initially does not exceed 8 kg in the first years and up to 40 kg in the subsequent period
• lemon ponderosa a variety of citrus fruits, the fruits of which reach 1 kg in weight. But due to the fact that the fruits are large, the harvest does not exceed 5 pieces per year.
• Also large fruits boasts a type of citrus like Anniversary– they can reach 600 grams in weight
• A hybrid variety is a type of lemon, such as Chinese It's a mixture of lemon and orange. Enough capricious plant that needs careful care. The yield is low - up to 3 kg annually

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

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

Lemon can be obtained by vaccination, and grow from the bone. Step-by-step instruction for growing lemon from seed listed below:

• Take a small pot, poke holes in the bottom and cover with drainage. Buy citrus soil or make your own. To do this, pour in equal amounts into a pot humus and sod land
• Buy a ripe large lemon, cut and select 2-3 bones, plant in the ground to a depth of 1.5 cm
• Set the temperature in the house not lower than +18C, and spray the soil every three days. You can’t water before germination, an exception can be made if you see that the earth is very dry
• When the first sprouts appear, it will be about 21 days later after planting - move the pot to a lighted, but not very hot place. Watering the plant should be no more than 1 time in 2 weeks
• Need to transplant a lemon no more than 2 times a year. If you live in the private sector, you can plant a plant in the ground for the summer and return it to the room in the fall. For residents of apartments, a transplant should only be done if there is not enough space for a lemon in the current pot. Do not buy too large a pot for transplanting, it should be no more than 5 cm in diameter from the size of the previous
• In order for a lemon to bear fruit, it is worth pinch or bud the plant late spring or summer

Growing lemon from seeds

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

Video: How to grow a fruiting lemon?

How to plant a lemon?

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

• Cut off the scion just before the moment of grafting. The best time to do this is from April to August.
• Cut scion length 6 cm and remove all leaves except the top ones - leave about 4 sheets
• Make a cut at the top 1 cm length and process the cut with garden pitch
• On the scion, cut off half of each leaf, tie it with a ribbon to the rootstock, and place it under a glass tank or a large plastic bottle.
• Through 2 weeks check how the grafting has taken place - whether the cut leaves are easily separated

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

Usually such lemon grafting methods are successful and one year after the procedure You will see the first, unusually fragrant white flowers, which will eventually grow into a delicious citrus fruit.

What soil is suitable for indoor lemon?

Lemon is a very whimsical plant and will not grow in any soil. In order to plant a citrus tree in a pot, you can use the soil from the store (special bags of soil marked "For citrus"), or make the desired mixture yourself.

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

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

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

How to feed a lemon at home?

If you grow a lemon at home, be prepared for the fact that it will not be as big as its counterpart in the store, but in smell and aroma. home harvest will exceed the purchase at times.

In order for the lemon to bear fruit, its leaves were bright green, and the tree itself looked strong and healthy, it needs fertilize regularly and properly. The main nutritional elements for lemon are nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. The first one has positive results on plant growth, the second one - on the formation of large, tasty fruits, the third one - preserves bright color lemon leaves.

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

Reproduction of lemon at home

You can propagate lemon using seeds or cuttings. Each of these methods has its pros and cons:

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

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

Reproduction by cuttings— more fast way get beautiful tree. Plant in a pot with drainage 5 cuttings from a healthy lemon with slices and cover with a jar. After three weeks, the first shoots will appear. It is worth transplanting such a lemon into a pot 2 months later after the appearance of shoots.

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

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

Do not be too lazy to use at least the first method, because it is not at all difficult to stick lemon pit in a pot. But a beautiful green tree that grows from such a bone will delight the eye every day.

Indoor lemon pests

There are a lot of solutions for saving lemon from pests, here are some of them:

• Solution with soap and engine oil (oil can be replaced with kerosene or copper sulfate) - mix these components in a ratio of 1: 2 and carefully wipe the leaves. Wash them with clean water after a couple of hours. Repeat in a week
• Mustard soap emulsion- in a bucket of water, dissolve 250 g of laundry soap and 10 times less mustard powder, mix well. Pour 250 g into the resulting solution blue vitriol
• Soak a sponge in a weak vinegar solution and wipe the leaves
• Grease the bucket from the inside turpentine and cover the plant. After a few hours, remove the container and wash the leaves with warm water.
• 100 g hot pepper grind in 1 liter of water and cook for about an hour. After that, strain through cheesecloth and leave for two days. Before use, dilute with water in a ratio of 1:10
• 50 g garlic pass through the spadefoot and pour 300 g of hot water, leave for a week in a dark place. Before use, add 350 gr of soap and dilute in a bucket of water

One of the enemies indoor lemon- aphids

Diseases and treatment of homemade lemon

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

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

For the prevention and treatment of manifestations of the disease, it is necessary to use drug "Fitosporin". Use it to spray and water the diseased tree according to the instructions.

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

With fungal diseases on trees, there may be the following visible signs:

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

In order for the lemon not to have such signs and not die from an advanced disease, it is worth regularly inspecting the plant and apply remedial measures to save the tree.

Video: Indoor lemon and its diseases

Why do homemade lemon leaves fall?

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

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

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

In case of excessive moisture the ground becomes denser, which blocks the access of air to the root system. Again, the root dies off and the situation repeats with insufficient watering. Therefore, watch the amount of watering citrus.

If the leaves of a lemon fall, then you are not taking good care of it.

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

In winter, the heated room is similar in climate to the desert. Excessive dryness of the air is stress for the lemon. Therefore, so that he does not start dropping leaves in such conditions, regularly Spray the leaves twice a week and do not place a lemon near a heater or radiator.

Leaves may fall due to excessive watering, as well as due to lack of water.

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

Save the lemon from such stressful situations - take care of the temperature in the room where the lemon tree is stored, and the amount of watering the plant.

How to cut indoor lemon?

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

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

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

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

Is it possible to plant a room lemon on the street?

Very useful plant a lemon outside. Choose a place that is not too open and well lit. The best option would be a place where sun before noon, and after - partial shade. Be prepared for the fact that after a transplant, a lemon may drop flowers. But this is not scary, such a reaction in a plant to stress during transplantation.

If you don't want a lemon without flowers, plant the plant outside in a pot. Thus, the tree will be in the same conditions, but already in the fresh air.

Under good climatic conditions, lemon will grow on the streets all summer season. In October, it is advisable to return it to the room, because there may be night frosts and the plant may freeze slightly.

Anyway do not delay the stay of indoor lemon on the street- as soon as the temperature starts to drop, it must be return to the premises.

Careful care and compliance with the above measures will allow an exotic guest to settle in your house for a long time - a room lemon, which will definitely please you. bright greens and delicious citrus fruits.

Video: How to grow a lemon at home?

lemon photo

A subtropical climate is ideal for a capricious lemon, but we can often see it on the windowsills of cozy houses. There are many different varieties, which bloom and bear fruit year-round, but not every owner manages to achieve this from his own "sunny guest". How to care for lemon at home to achieve good harvest? Let's try to figure this out.

What are the best varieties of lemons for home use?

For growing at home, there are specially bred varieties that do not grow to large sizes, but at the same time, they are able to give an excellent harvest. When choosing your ideal tree, you can pay attention to the varieties. There are many ways to propagate, so if you have chosen which variety you want to grow at home, do not rush to buy seedlings. You can grow a lemon from a seed or a prepared cutting, which is described in detail in a previous article.

Citro Fortunella Volcano

Dwarf lemon with small, but very tender and tasty fruits that can stay on the branches for months. Flowers and fruits on a tree of this variety appear all year round, sometimes at the same time.

Lemon Pavlovsky

This is a fruit with minimal home care, but it blooms almost all year round. The yield of an adult tree is up to 40 large and very tasty fruits per year.

Meyer

One of the easiest lemons to grow, popularly called the Chinese Dwarf. Remarkably tolerates intense heat and gives small fruits with juicy slightly acidic pulp and a pleasant bitterness.

Novogruzinsky

A lemon that grows up to 3 meters tall indoors. With proper care, the tree will give you 150-200 fruits 2-3 times a year. Tender and fragrant pulp - distinguishing feature of this variety.

Anniversary

High-yielding and completely unpretentious lemon. The tree adapts to low humidity and pleases gardeners with large and juicy fruits, even with a lack of moisture in the soil.

Undersized varieties lemon trees do not bring too rich a harvest, but they will certainly create a special atmosphere in a house or apartment and decorate the interior.

Tall trees, on the contrary, give larger and tastier fruits, but caring for them takes much more time and effort, because in addition to the usual activities, they need to cut, shape and tie up the crown.

Optimal growing conditions for lemons

Lemon, like any other culture, is very important comfort. If your home has windows that face southeast, great because during the day they always have a lot of light, which is good for citrus fruits. But what about those who have only the south or north side at their disposal?

On the northern windows, lemons will acutely feel the lack of sunlight, which means that you will have to additionally use fluorescent lamps to ensure a normal daily cycle for them. This is especially true in winter.

There is always plenty of light on the south sides of buildings, which is also not very good for lemons. So, citrus should be shaded, saving it from burns, which can appear quite quickly under the influence of direct sunlight.

Do not be surprised that the lemon is so demanding on lighting and thermal conditions - such whims are forgivable for a native inhabitant of the tropics.

Spring is a special period for indoor lemons. At this time, their buds are tied, and in order to prevent them from drying out or slowing down this process, it is important to maintain the temperature within 14-16 °. At any other time of the year, a temperature of 26 ° will be considered comfortable.

For the summer, it is better to move the tree to a glazed balcony - away from drafts, where at the same time there is required amount fresh air. This will benefit the tree, and make it much easier for you to care for it.

How to water indoor lemon?

Growing lemon trees provides for the presence of moist soil in flowerpots. In the hot period, it is advisable to water it up to 3 times a week, while in winter even one will be enough. At the same time, it is imperative to maintain a good level of humidity (about 60%) by spraying the air, even if your lemon is far from heating appliances.

For irrigation, settled water at room temperature is ideal, which should be poured evenly over the entire soil in a pot. Follow these simple rules, and the tree will certainly thank you for your care with beautiful green leaves and large fruits.

Indoor lemon care at home. Important Points

Lemon trees are very demanding on the environment, and even the slightest temperature fluctuations or changes in normal humidity cause leaves and buds to fall off. If appropriate measures are not taken in time, all of the above can even lead to the death of a lemon.

Insufficient watering and drying out of the soil

If the citrus is dry, its foliage becomes yellow-brown. But, even if you notice such signs, you should not abundantly irrigate the soil in a pot, as this leads to the death of the root system of the plant.

To help the lemon gain strength for further growth, try pouring a small amount of water under the root and abundantly spray the crown of the tree. It is also useful to briefly wrap the barrel with wet gauze.

Excess moisture

If, on the contrary, you overdo it with watering, the falling leaves will let you know about it. As soon as you notice this kind of leaf fall on your windowsill, you will need to immediately dry the roots and transplant the citrus into fresh, barely moistened soil.

How to care for a lemon if it is frozen?

It is very difficult to save a frozen citrus, because it is the sharp cold that is the root cause of the cessation of its vital activity. When freezing, the leaves also fall off the plant, and sometimes even the trunk turns black.

For the so-called "resuscitation" of the tree, try to move it to a more warm room, and with the help of lighting fixtures to extend daylight hours. It also does not hurt to transplant to another flowerpot. Do not forget to inspect the rhizome well and remove dead parts from it.

The next danger is overheating of the plant

When appearing on the leaves of a citrus tree brown spot, remember that it is likely that the high air temperature contributed to this. Experienced gardeners recommend in the hot season to clean the plants away from the windows deep into the room. None additional measures in the form of cooling or watering is not required.

A healthy plant is the best gift for a caring owner

To make your citrus look as excellent as the lemon whose photo is in front of you, you should not forget that you can not change its environment and habitual habitat too often. Such stresses will not benefit the indigenous inhabitant of the tropics. It is very important to pay due attention to disease prevention, timely plant transplantation and cutting off damaged areas. To prevent depletion, during flowering, it is worth removing excess buds, limiting yourself to a small amount.

Each room has its own special microclimate, which, unfortunately, is not always suitable for citrus trees. Therefore, the main task of every gardener and owner is to provide his green friends necessary comfort and gradually adapt it to the existing environment.

Outcome

The very process of caring for lemon trees at home is often compared to caring for young children who constantly require attention and increased responsibility.

Maybe at first everything seems complicated, but soon you will see how beautiful the plants surrounded by care grow, more than rewarding the owner for all the work.