The citrus x lemon, usually called a lemon tree, is a fruit tree that we all know to a greater or lesser extent. Its popularity is due to its fruit, which is none other than the lemon, much appreciated in our kitchen for its acidic flavor and its fresh and intense aroma.
Although the lemon tree is a perennial tree that can reach up to 4 meters in height, it is possible to plant it in a pot to enjoy its fruits in a much smaller space. Do you dare to plant your own lemon tree in a pot? Join us in this EcologíaVerde article to learn everything you need to know about the potted lemon tree: how to plant it, care and diseases.
How to plant a lemon tree in a pot step by step
before learning how to plant a lemon tree in a pot large or small, depending on the size of the tree, with this guide, we indicate that you need to gather some material and know some data. The first thing you need is, obviously, a pot large enough to house one of these trees. It is advisable to use one that is at least 80 cm deep, although in one that is about 50 cm deep you can grow miniature lemon trees. In addition, from EcologíaVerde we remind you that it is important that the pot has drainage holes at the base.
- Once you have the right pot, you will have to choose the specific variety of lemon tree you want. Since you are going to plant it in a pot, the Meyer lemon tree is the most suitable for indoors, although the striped lemon with pink flesh can also be a good choice.
- It is possible to plant the lemon tree from seed, but very young trees of this type can have serious difficulties in developing properly indoors. For this reason, we advise you to get a lemon tree about 2 or 3 years old old.
- When you have made the necessary decisions, prepare the pot with a drainage bottom made up of small stones or gravel and place it on a wider saucer so that it can maintain some humidity.
- Next, fill the pot with substrate. This tree needs a slightly acid mixture, such as those that contain a good percentage of peat. If you have substrate for cacti or succulent plants at home, you can also use it for citrus.
- Take the lemon tree out of its original pot very carefully and remove the excess soil from the roots, separating them with your fingers without breaking them. This will help the roots spread better throughout your new pot.
- Place it in the pot, upright, on a base of about 15 or 20 cm of mixture and then fill the pot to the top. Make sure the roots aren’t exposed, but don’t leave a large part of the trunk covered in soil either.
- After planting, water the lemon tree to moisten the soil (without flooding) and place it in a sunny area where it receives at least 8 hours of direct light per day.
Potted Lemon Tree Care
Now that you know how to plant a lemon tree, we are going to see the care that you must take into account so that your plant grows in the best conditions. This is one basic guide to the care of the lemon tree in a potbut we recommend you consult any doubt with the professional of the gardening store where you buy the tree and the materials for its care.
How to water a lemon tree
Make sure to provide the plant with frequent but not excessive watering. It is about maintaining an adequate level of humidity in the soil, so that it never becomes too dry or waterlogged. If your lemon tree begins to lose its leaves, it could mean that you are watering it too much. To make sure this doesn’t happen, here’s a trick that will help: stick a stick into the ground, then carefully pull it out. If you take it out dry and without stuck soil, it is time to water your lemon tree.
sunlight and temperature
As we have already said, the lemon tree requires many hours of direct natural light. From EcologíaVerde we recommend that you leave this plant in the sun for at least 8 hours. However, if you live in a place where the sun is extraordinarily intense, you can put the lemon tree in partial shade.
In winter, make sure that the tree is not in an excessively warm area. Try to keep it in a room below 15ºC.
Fertilizer for the lemon tree
Regarding the subscriber and the nutrients, the lemon tree is a very demanding tree, so do not be afraid to fertilize it whenever you think it is necessary. Enrich the mix right after planting, and do so again every 3-4 weeks in warm months and every 6-8 weeks in cool months. As with many other plants, worm castings is a very safe bet.
Lemon tree pruning
Pruning is also very important in this tree, especially to control its growth. If you want to have the pot of your tree indoors, it is best that you pay special attention to this step. Training pruning is carried out in spring, after harvest. If you want more information about this step, don’t miss this article on Pruning a lemon tree: how and when to do it.
pollinate the lemon tree
Finally, we inform you that if you want your lemon tree to bear fruit and you have it indoors, it is likely that, due to the lack of insects, you will have to manually pollinate it yourself with a brush. Carrying out this task is not as complicated as it seems, but you do need to know the basic parts of the plant to be able to carry out pollination manually.
lemon tree diseases
As for the diseases of the lemon tree in a pot, you should know that this type of tree is prone to the same threats as outdoor lemon trees.
The lemon tree pests that are most common are:
- the cochineal
- the aphid
- The red spider.
If you find them on your lemon tree, carry out a specific treatment to eliminate pests on your tree as soon as possible. If you want to learn how to have a lemon tree without pests, take a look at this other EcologíaVerde article. In addition, below you can see a video on the complete care of the lemon tree in a pot.
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