Many amateur flower growers would like to know how to properly grow this plant. Caring for this plant is relatively simple. However, in order for the lemon to grow lush and spectacular, you should follow certain recommendations regarding the technology of watering and top dressing. This is especially true for the winter season.
How to care in October - April: general rules
How is it grown in the autumn-winter period at home? Care in winter for him is carried out a little differently than in summer. This plant stays green all year round. However, in October - April, all vegetation processes in him, of course, slow down. In the warm season, lemon is usually fed twice. In winter, this operation is not performed. However, this plant needs watering, including during the cold period. In wild nature lemon Tree grows in humid tropics and subtropics. Therefore, it is very sensitive to drying out of the soil. The only thing is to moisten the soil in a pot in winter should be less frequent. In the warm season, the lemon tree is watered 2-3 times a week, in winter - no more than once.
What should be the air temperature
In urban apartments and houses in winter time usually quite warm. The air temperature can fluctuate within 12-25 gr. In principle, lemon tolerates such a microclimate well. However, although the plant is not deciduous, its crown at such temperatures may thin slightly. Therefore, some amateur flower growers install a lemon in a separate room and periodically open a window there. The fact is that at a temperature of 10-12 gr. the process of photosynthesis is greatly slowed down in the tree. Its roots stop taking in nutrients and it stops growing. But at the same time, not a single leaf falls from the bush. The plant remains as spectacular as in summer.
Where is the best place to put a lemon tree
In terms of lighting, this plant is considered quite whimsical. The lemon tree feels best on a southeast window. Of course, the ability to arrange the plant in this way does not always exist. In principle, a lemon can be placed on both the northern and southern windowsills. However, in the first case, in the cold season (and preferably in spring and summer), the plant will have to be illuminated with an artificial lamp.
On the south window, the leaves and branches of the plant should be slightly shaded, including in winter. Otherwise, they may get burned.
How does a lemon reproduce?
As you can see, in fact, it is not particularly difficult to carry out home care in winter (and summer) for such a houseplant as a lemon tree. Reproducing it is also a fairly simple procedure. You can grow a luxurious healthy citrus from:
Selection of planting material
As for seedlings, they can often be seen in specialized stores. However experienced growers buying such material is not advised. Stores usually sell plants brought from Brazil, Greece or Holland. In these countries, young lemons are grown in greenhouses. This is done so that they are as lush as possible and have a marketable appearance.
Being transferred to city apartment, such seedlings very quickly become unsightly and even stop growing. A change of scenery (especially for the worse) lemon tolerates extremely poorly. In this case, among other things, it will be very difficult to care for a plant such as a lemon tree at home. Diseases, developmental arrest, leaf shedding - these are the problems that a lover of indoor flowers will most likely have to face.
Therefore, in an apartment, it is better to try to grow a lemon from a cutting or a seed. The first is simply cut from an adult plant. If there are no lemons in the home greenhouse yet, you can ask for a stalk from some familiar grower.
It is also undesirable to write out such material by mail. The cutting, most likely, will be of poor quality and unviable. The fact is that in this way sellers usually just get rid of the lemons that go to the plantations for disposal.
A good solution would be to grow a seedling from a seed. This technique is considered even simpler. However, unfortunately, in this case it is impossible to quickly get a fruit-bearing lemon tree. Care at home (a seedling grows extremely slowly from a seed) for a plant in this case for a long time will consist only in fairly frequent watering. But the fruits on such a seedling will begin to grow, most likely, not earlier than in 12 years.
Which variety to choose
Of course, only a wild bird can be grown from a seed. As for cuttings, in this case there is a choice. Many amateur flower growers are interested in which is better to grow, high or low, lemon tree at home. Care for compact and big plants performed approximately the same. However, a tall lemon should still be chosen only if the grower has enough free time. Watering, cutting and feeding such a plant will have to be a little more often than a small one.
Tall ones include, for example, such as:
Novogruzinsky.
Of the undersized, the most popular are:
Meyer (Chinese).
Lemon Genoa.
Planting container and soil
Since the lemon is a rather capricious plant in terms of root rot, the pot for it must be selected as carefully as possible. Clay is best for a seedling. The walls of such containers pass air well, allowing the roots to breathe. Of course, the pot must have holes in the bottom. Clay shards should also be laid on these drainage holes. A layer of coarse sand is poured over them.
Soil for lemon also needs to be selected correctly. The best composition for this plant is:
leaf humus - 1-2 parts;
soddy soil - 1 part;
coarse sand - 1 part.
How to grow from a cutting
Planting material of this variety should have a length of about 10 cm. Beforehand, the cutting should be soaked in warm water for 2-3 days, immersed in half the length. Then it is buried in the prepared soil by 3 cm. The roots of the lemon cuttings appear after about 60 days. It is better to plant several in a pot at once. Then the chance to get at least one new plant will increase.
Until the lemons take root, they should be sprayed periodically (at least once a day). The soil in the pot should have moderate moisture.
Growing from seeds
It is also a very good way to get a luxurious lemon tree at home. Caring for a seedling in this case will be even easier. An amateur florist will only have to make sure that the earth in a pot with a planted lemon does not dry out.
Seeds should be taken from healthy, large fruits. They must not be allowed to dry out. As soon as they are taken out of the lemon, they should be planted immediately. They are buried in the ground by 2 cm. The seed planted in this way is watered and covered with a jar on top.
Lemon transplant
Periodic transplants - this is what is required without fail for such an inhabitant of a room greenhouse as a lemon tree. Home care for him, even the best, otherwise will not be particularly effective. The fact is that the roots of a lemon, and especially a large one, consume quite a lot of nutrients. Therefore, the soil in the pot under the plant is quickly depleted.
Transplanted lemon in the spring, or autumn (later). Young lemons are transferred to other containers once a year, adults - no more than 1 time in 2 years. Actually, this procedure itself is as follows:
The day before transplanting, the soil in the pot is thoroughly shed.
The plant is carefully removed from the old pot, holding the stem.
The removed lemon is placed in a new pot and the space between the lump and the walls of the pot is filled with pre-prepared soil.
After transplanting, the plant should be watered.
Fertilization
As already mentioned, lemon is not fed in winter. Do this only in spring and summer. Moreover, only adult plants are fertilized. Planted by cuttings or from the stone, lemons do not need to be fed at first. Trees that have reached three or four summer age? fertilize twice a season (50 g per liter of water).
Diseases and pests
Subject to the cultivation technology, in this way, you can get a very beautiful lemon tree at home. Caring for this plant, however, can be not only in the form of watering and top dressing. Like all indoor flowers, lemons sometimes get sick. Most often, trees are affected:
Late blight. Fight this disease or with a weak solution blue vitriol, or through special antifungal drugs.
Sooty fungus. The methods of struggle in this case should be the same as in the case of late blight disease.
Homosis. In this case, a crack appears on the stem of a diseased plant. In order to help the lemon, the wound should be cleaned and lubricated with a solution of vitriol.
Malsecco. This is perhaps the most dangerous disease that an indoor flower lover can face when caring for a plant such as a lemon tree at home. The leaves fell off, the twigs began to dry out - it means that the bush most likely "caught" the malsecco virus. Unfortunately, there is no cure for this disease.
Lemon and insect pests can affect. Most often these are white flies, mites or scale insects. The former are usually fought with karbofos, the latter are destroyed with an infusion of garlic (1 head per half liter of water). Scale insects can be expelled by rubbing the leaves, twigs and trunk with a mixture of soap and kerosene in a ratio of 1: 0.5.
This is how home care is carried out for such a tropical guest as a lemon tree. The photos presented on this page clearly demonstrate how effective it can be in the case of compliance with irrigation technologies, periodic transplants, etc. Pay more attention to your tree, and it will delight you with lush foliage, healthy appearance, and eventually even fruiting .
evergreen perennial indoor lemon belongs to the rue family, a genus of citrus fruits. Its homeland is considered to be India, the foothills of the Himalayas. At home on the windowsill, growing it is not difficult and very exciting. With proper care, the bush will be able to bear fruit, its fruits are as tasty as those grown under the southern sun.
Types of indoor lemons
Domesticated citrus attracts with shiny emerald leaves and bright yellow fruits. Indoor lemon - description:
- the plant is considered undersized, the oldest specimens can reach a height of 1.5 m;
- shrub has thorny branches;
- leaves are leathery, elongated, oval, toothed, contain essential oil;
- several times a year, the plant forms small white rosettes (4-5 cm in diameter) with many stamens and a delicate aroma that cleanses the room of unpleasant odors;
- the bud develops for 5 weeks, blooms for 50 days;
- bears fruit home citrus from one to four times a year, depending on the variety, the fruit development period is 200-230 days;
- the fruit has a light yellow color and a noticeable lemon smell, the pulp is juicy and sour;
- with normal development, the culture bears fruit all year round - ovaries, buds, flowers and fruits can simultaneously develop on the bush.
Indoor lemons - varieties:
Growing indoor lemon
It is easier to grow a room lemon from a seed. To place the bush, it is better to choose southern or eastern window sills with good lighting. Lemon is a heat-loving houseplant, optimum temperature for him + 15-22 ° С. Planting is carried out in a depth of 1-2 cm with a distance of 5 cm in small pots with drainage from expanded clay or charcoal. Contain sowing in a bright place, it germinates after 2 weeks. After the appearance of sprouts, a strong one is chosen, covered with a jar. After a pair of true leaves sprout, the specimen is planted in a 10-centimeter pot.
Soil for indoor lemon
fertile soil for indoor lemons should be slightly acidic or neutral (6-7 pH), aerated. For self cooking you need to make a mixture of meadow turf, leafy soil, coarse sand, humus in a ratio (2: 2: 1: 1). You can use store-bought citrus soil mixed in equal proportions with peat. Then the composition will be light and breathable.
Propagation of indoor lemons
For indoor lemon, cuttings are a popular propagation method. For sprouts in spring, shoots are taken 10 cm in size with 3-4 buds and 2-3 leaves. The twig is treated with a stimulant for the development of roots and placed in water for 3 days. Suitable soil for cultivation is humus, coarse sand and flower land in equal shares. The cuttings are added dropwise by 3 cm, the leaves are moistened daily, the substrate should not have stagnant water. Rooting occurs after 30-45 days, then the cutting can be planted in another pot.
Indoor lemon - home care
Taking care of indoor lemon is a troublesome business. He loves good lighting, compliance with the temperature and irrigation regime. For leaf growth, it needs a minimum of +17°C, during fruit development the temperature must be increased to +22°C. Care indoor lemon involves the organization of good lighting. Direct sunlight should fall on the bush 2 hours a day. So that the tree does not develop one-sided, every 10 days it must be rotated 10 ° around its axis. In winter, with a short daylight hours, organize lighting with lamps.
Pruning indoor lemons
- in the first year of life, the plant shoots 30 cm;
- for the second season in spring, it is necessary to cut it with secateurs, leaving a height of 20 cm, while the tree will begin to produce lateral buds;
- the lower shoots must be cut off, leaving the top 3 - they will make up the skeleton of the culture;
- the next year, they do the same with the side branches - they are shortened to stimulate the development of daughter shoots, then a few upper shoots are left;
- indoor lemon acquires beautiful view in the presence of trunks up to 5-6 branching levels;
- in the future, it is enough to pinch fast-growing shoots or remove them.
How to feed indoor lemon?
Citrus at home needs to be fed. Feed the trees begin when they reach 2-3 years of age. Complex fertilizers are used mineral compositions in the spring and summer twice a month. From mid-autumn, feeding is carried out once every 6 weeks. Two hours before fertilizing, it is important to pour the substrate in a pot with clean water.
From organics, a lemon tree prefers an extract wood ash, birch infusion (half a can of leaves is poured with water and kept for 2-3 days), fresh manure diluted 5-6 times. Organic fertilizer for indoor lemon is applied at the same frequency as mineral supplement. If there is an intensive growth of green mass to the detriment of the fruits, nitrogen must be removed from top dressing and a phosphorus component added;
Watering indoor lemon
Before taking care of room conditions behind a lemon, it is important to study the rules for moisturizing it. From May to September, homemade citrus needs moderate watering every other day, in winter it is reduced to once a week. The tree is moistened with non-cold water, settled for 5 hours. Pour it over the entire surface of the pot. The plant loves spraying with heated boiled water, especially in winter if heating systems are working around. For citrus, "wet" air around the crown is more important than excess moisture in the soil.
Diseases of lemons at room conditions
Why do indoor lemon leaves turn yellow?
Often, improper care leads to the disease of indoor lemons, the leaves of the plant turn yellow. There are several reasons:
- Nutrient deficiencies. Calcium is responsible for the root system, phosphorus helps in the formation of delicious fruits, nitrogen affects the healthy color of the foliage, and potassium contributes to its normal absorption. Timely application of fertilizers with such elements will help prevent yellowing of the foliage.
- Lack of lighting. An indoor lemon needs a 12-hour day, if it is shorter, backlighting with a fluorescent lamp will help.
- Excess light, direct sunlight causes burns on the leaves. The tree must be moved to a shaded area.
- Lack of moisture causes the tips of the leaves to turn yellow. It is necessary to carry out daily spraying of the plant with a spray bottle. It is useful to keep water in a flat bowl next to the pot for evaporation. In the summer, once a week, the plant is advised to rinse in the shower.
- Sudden changes in temperature, drafts, the proximity of heaters can also lead to yellowing of the foliage. Then you need to get rid of such adverse factors.
Why do indoor lemon leaves fall?
Unfavorable conditions for keeping the bush lead to the fact that it begins to shed its leaves. Often this happens in the autumn-winter period. The more healthy leaves on a tree, the better it grows and bears fruit, by their number they judge the state of the bush. In some cases, the plant recovers on its own, but it is important to eliminate the cause of the unpleasant phenomenon. If a room lemon dropped its leaves, what to do:
- with a lack of moisture, you should spray the plant more often and not allow the soil to dry out;
- if the plant has little light, use additional lamps;
- exclude hypothermia of the roots, water the bush only with warm water;
- if the pot is cramped, the bush must be transplanted into a larger container (2-4 cm);
- make sure that there is no excess moisture in the soil, leading to rotting of the roots;
- inspect the tree for pests, if they are found - treat.
Indoor lemon diseases - sticky leaves
In some cases, the foliage on the shoots becomes sticky - as if it had been sprinkled with syrup, crystals may even form. The disease is caused by a scale insect that has settled on a tree. With untimely treatment, a sooty fungus starts in a sticky liquid, which appears on the branches, trunks and leaves as dark spots, without treatment the plant dies.
To eliminate plaque, the foliage is wiped with a solution of transformer oil (6 ml per 1 liter of water). After 5-7 days, the treatment is repeated. The solution removes the sticky coating and kills the young scale insect. You can use another method of treating lemon - care for a houseplant in the form of spraying with carbofox or a solution of tobacco also helps a lot. Processing is carried out 2-3 times with an interval of 7 days.
Indoor lemon pests
Citrus fruits can also be damaged by typical pests. To grow an indoor lemon, you need to know how to take off the fight:
- In their presence, the leaves fall off, the branches dry, the plant dies. Pests are cleaned with a brush, the leaves are washed with soapy emulsion (2 tbsp. L of liquid agent per 1 liter of water), garlic water(7-8 crushed heads are infused in a bucket of water for a day).
- It is located at the bottom of the sheet, gradually envelops the entire culture. In case of damage, it is necessary to spray the tree with the Aktelik solution, repeat 3 times with an interval of 10 days.
- It feeds on greens, leads to drying of leaves and cracking of fruits. The plant must be inspected and manually disposed of its larvae.
- Aphid. It eats the tops of the shoots. The plant should be sprayed three times (every 10 days) with Aktelik solution. Nearby you can put a pot of geraniums. Sprinkling with garlic water will also help.
- Thrips. They look like small black dots, they can fly, they spread viruses. For destruction, the bush is washed in the shower, treated with a soapy emulsion.
- Whiteflies. The larvae are located at the bottom of the leaves. The bush is sprayed at least 5 times every three days.
In Russia, domestic cultivation of citrus fruits dates back more than three hundred years, because the first ones were imported into the Russian Empire under Tsar Peter I.
lemon blossom
Lemon is basically evergreen which blooms several times a year. Flowers have a very pleasant smell, and the number of petals is limited to 5 pieces. Bright yellow fruits are born mainly on branches that are not lower than the fourth level. Fruits appear on short twigs - fruits.
The ripe fruit can remain on the branches of the plant for two years, first changing color to green, then again to yellow-golden. Indoor lemon trees, unlike ground ones, have a thin skin. Despite the fact that these lemons have less seed, they are much more aromatic. With proper care, indoor lemon trees will bloom and delight you with a harvest just like the trees from your garden.
How to care for lemons at home
Caring for an indoor lemon tree has several differences from caring for a tree from the garden. One of the differences is the flowering time. Most indoor lemon trees bloom and bear fruit throughout the year. This primarily applies to lemon varieties such as Meyer and Lisbon. But if, for example, you grow a lemon of the Eureka variety in a mild seaside climate, then it will also be able to bloom and bear fruit all year round.
Lemon flowers, as a rule, of both sexes, are located alone, in pairs or in small racemes, they are quite large: 4-5 cm in diameter. The bud development period lasts 5-6 weeks, after which the flowering period begins: 7-9 weeks. The period of growth and development of fruits from the ovary (falling petals) to the beginning of ripening in room conditions during the spring flowering period can last up to 230 days.
In summer better lighting and optimal air temperature, so the period of fruit development can be reduced to 180-200 days. If in the first year of life a young, recently grafted tree "throws out" flowers, they must be plucked before they bloom. This will allow the young plant to save its strength and save them for further proper development.
At the second flowering, the buds are no longer removed. Often, the tree itself decides how many fruits it can "feed" and how much it needs to shed "extra" flowers. It is recommended to allow lemon flowering if it has at least 20 full-fledged healthy leaves.
Every time, during the flowering period of a lemon tree, serious attention must be paid to watering. Lack of water can cause flowers to drop. A potted lemon tree needs watering when the top layers of the soil dry out at a level of 3-5 centimeters. It is necessary that the soil in the pot is constantly well moistened.
For seven years I have not bought lemons in the store. All because I managed to grow a few citrus trees houses in pots. There is really nothing complicated about this. In this article I will tell you how to care for a lemon at home.
Lemon is an evergreen perennial plant. It has strong spiny branches with purple tips, large leathery leaves and ovoid fruits. Homemade lemons bloom for 7-9 weeks, all this time delighting their owner with a pleasant aroma.
They can bear fruit in the third year after planting. The fruits ripen for several months. To taste, they practically do not differ from lemons grown in tropical countries.
Beneficial features
Lemon is not just ornamental plant is your reliable home assistant. It has many useful properties:
- Phytoncides, which are secreted by citrus leaves, purify the air of microbes.
- The aroma of lemon helps to increase tone, helps a person fight stress.
- Citrus fruits contain a lot of vitamin C, which is necessary for a person to quickly recover from colds and flu.
Lemon essential oil, which can be obtained from its leaves, has a beneficial effect on humans. It improves mood, relieves cold symptoms, relieves anxiety.
What varieties are suitable for home growing
At home, lemons of the following varieties grow well:
- Genoa - low-growing variety, has high yield, gives delicious fragrant fruits.
- Lisbon is a tall growing variety that tolerates high temperatures well.
- Pavlovsky lemon is a low variety that delights its owners with fruits with a thin peel.
- Meyer lemon is one of the most popular low-growing homemade varieties. Gives sour fruits.
Any of these varieties grows well in apartment conditions and does not require complex care. You need to choose the lemon that you like the most in terms of taste and appearance, and you can safely proceed to its landing.
Growing your own lemon
At home, lemons can be grown from cuttings or seeds. The first option is easier. To grow a lemon from a cutting, you need to do this:
- Purchase a cutting of the variety of your choice. It is better to buy it from trusted people, as inexperienced gardeners often cut the cuttings incorrectly, which is why young plants die before they have time to take root in the soil.
- The stalk must be placed in water or in a mixture of sand and earth. It is deepened by 2 centimeters and covered plastic wrap to provide the required level of humidity.
- After 2-3 weeks, the plant that has taken root is transplanted into the ground. Deepen it into the ground by 2-3 centimeters. In order for a young lemon to grow well, it is placed in a room with a temperature of 20-25 degrees Celsius.
Since it is rather difficult to buy quality cuttings, growing a homemade lemon from seeds is more reliable, in my opinion.
For this purpose, the bones of any ripe lemon bought in the store are suitable. The process of germinating seeds is quite simple:
- From a ripe citrus, you need to pull out the bone, rinse it thoroughly under warm water. After that, lower it into warm water so that it is only half deep. The container with the bone must be removed in a place that is hard to reach for children and pets.
- Next, you need to monitor the condition of the bone, periodically changing the water in the container. As soon as it cracks and a small sprout appears on the surface, the future lemon will need to be transplanted into a small pot. At this stage, you can use the usual plant to grow the plant. universal primer, then it will need to be replaced with a special mixture, which includes two parts of dry clay and leafy soil, as well as part of the sand and part of the manure. The bone itself should be half-immersed in the ground, otherwise it will not grow.
After transplantation, a young lemon will grow rapidly and gain strength. In order for the plant not to die at this stage, it needs to be properly cared for.
How to care for lemon at home
Room lemon is pretty unpretentious plant. In order for it to grow well and quickly, it needs to provide:
- Regular watering at least 2 times a week. For this purpose, it is recommended to use settled filtered water.
- Top dressing. It should be carried out once every 3-4 weeks in the summer months and once every one and a half months in the winter. For this purpose it is necessary to use mineral and organic fertilizers. In order for the plant to form correctly, it is recommended to alternate such dressings. They need to be planted in moist soil.
- Pruning. It is carried out in April, while the lemon tree has not entered the phase active growth. Its trunk is shortened to 5 true leaves. After that, the tree is pruned once a year at the beginning of spring.
- Frequent spraying. It allows you to make lemon leaves juicy and fleshy, and the fruits more fragrant.
Flowering in indoor lemon usually begins in the 2nd year after planting. Its fruits are formed on the branches of the second, third, fourth order.
If you want to treat yourself to homemade lemons, in the third year of a houseplant's life, remove half of the flowers from it and leave 4 fruit ovaries. The next year, their number can be increased to 6, and a year later - up to 8.
At proper care Behind the tree, homemade lemons are juicy and fragrant. To taste, they do not step on their store counterparts.
Plant care in winter
Lemon does not tolerate cold. The plant needs to provide a temperature of +15 to +18 degrees in winter. If possible, he should be provided with additional lighting due to a UV lamp. To make the lemon feel better, it is recommended to slightly warm up the water for watering it in the cold season.
You also need to ensure that the air in the room with citrus does not dry out. If central heating if it dries out too much, spray lemon leaves or use an automatic humidifier.
conclusions
In general, grow homemade lemon not as difficult as it might seem. To succeed in this business, it is enough to choose the right cutting or seed, as well as follow all the recommendations for caring for a house tree in a pot. Then, already in the third year, lemon can please you with its fragrant fruits.
If desired, everyone can grow a lemon tree at home. Home care is not particularly difficult, but there are certain points, of course. If everything is done correctly, then in the 5th or 7th year you can wait for the fruits from your own grown plant. The leaves of the evergreen lemon tree emit phytoncides, freshen the air of the room, exude a delicate, unobtrusive aroma.
Fragrant, tasty, healthy citrus is familiar to everyone, we see its bright yellow fruits on store shelves all year round. Lemon is good as a fruit, applicable as a prophylactic drug, tasty as candied candied fruits, but simply beautiful, like an exotic indoor tree. However, even dark green leathery lemon leaves look beautiful, and at the same time have a beneficial effect on the human body.
Lemon tree, photo: 
Depending on the variety, the lemon tree can be different sizes. If the goal is precisely the fruits, and not just a decorative function, then there are two ways to get the result. Citrus grown from cuttings will begin to bear fruit earlier (with proper care), but the plant from the seed will be healthier and more actively developing.
If you do not want to bother with the process of germination / cultivation, then you can purchase ready-made lemon seedlings in specialized departments and stores. You can buy a lemon tree in an online store that belongs to a botanical garden, for example, or from amateur breeders. If you are not looking for easy ways, you are interested in the process of plant birth itself, then you will find information on how to do it in another article. The planting method itself is not very different from the technology for growing other citrus crops. 
Lemon tree care?
An important step in care proper lighting at home. The permanent location of the lemon should be well lit, but direct sun rays still worth avoiding. How to care for a lemon tree? Try to decide ahead of time permanent place residence of the plant, as it does not like to be moved. In order for the crown to develop evenly, it is allowed to gently turn the lemon towards the light. This process must be done slowly and gradually.
For harmonious growth and development, the plant at home must be transplanted annually. Each time, the container should be larger, during transplanting, the roots and soil are carefully moved into a new pot, the missing amount of earth is filled up to the required volume. The soil for indoor lemon should be similar in composition to the previous soil.
When the plant reaches a certain size, and the pot will hold 10 liters, then transplants can be stopped. Now you only have to periodically renew the top layer of soil (twice a year), feed the plant with fertilizers (Vermisol, Humisol, Biohumus - for citrus crops).
Caring for a young tree at home at first does not include top dressing, but with the onset of summer time, you can add a little fertilizer to the water for irrigation. The plant is very capricious, it needs a delicate approach regarding ambient temperature and moisture. There should be no sudden drops - a little something is wrong - the plant will react with the loss of leaves.
How to prune a lemon tree? Pruning forms a crown, prevents it from growing to large sizes, which is very important if you have small apartment. Crown care should be started from a young age, when the plant reaches 20-30 cm in height. Thus, the top of the tree is cut off, side shoots are cut off at the level of the 5th leaf, the lower branches (those that are close to the soil) are also removed - this makes it possible to fully develop the trunk.
If you see a “bust” of crown splendor on one of the sides, then carefully cut off the excess, give the tree the desired shape. Branch pruning is always done just above the leaf. The lower branches should be longer than the upper ones. Pruning should be carried out only when it is really required (stimulation of the growth of new branches, rejuvenation of the old tree). Frequent pruning of branches can weaken the plant.
Should a lemon tree be pruned according to the time of year? There are several approaches to this process: best time for pruning is spring. March is the best. Often, pruning is done during lemon flowering, budding. Winter pruning is also used: if the plant is already bearing fruit, then it must be produced after harvesting.
Lemon blooms very profusely and spreads a truly magical aroma. Indoor plant the lemon tree has bisexual flowers, so fruit set occurs naturally. If you want to increase the yield, then you can apply the technique of artificial pollination. To do this, the flowers must be ripe, using a soft brush, collect pollen from the stamens and carefully transfer it to the pistil (on the sticky top). This is a rather monotonous process, but very effective. Additionally, you can insure yourself with fruit formation stimulants and plant growth regulators - fertilizers Ovary and Bud (spraying).
The ideal temperature for the growth of foliage and branches is +16..18ºC, for the harmonious development of fruits - 22..23ºC. Sudden temperature fluctuations, very high, as well as too low, have an extremely negative effect on general condition lemon tree. 
The soil temperature at home should be about the same as the air temperature. Sometimes a lemon is taken out to "ventilate", for example, on a balcony, and then brought into a room - this is undesirable. Such changes are stressful for the lemon. It reacts by dropping leaves. Because the cold earth and warm room air form an unfavorable temperature difference.
How to water a lemon tree at home?
The most vigilant lemon care extends from autumn to spring (October-March). In winter, batteries and heating devices are actively working at home, which dry the air. For this reason, the plant should be placed away from sources of active heat, the batteries should sometimes be covered with a damp cloth and the crown should be irrigated daily with water. Such care also requires compliance with the measure, because excessive moisture of the lemon threatens the development of the fungus. You can also place water containers next to the pots - the evaporation of moisture has a beneficial effect on the plant. With the onset of summer heat, lemon leaves are recommended to be wiped with a damp cloth.
How often to water a lemon at home? Here you need to adhere to the golden mean - do not allow the soil to dry out and do not flood it beyond measure. Boiled water is suitable for irrigation room temperature, twice a week will be enough. If it so happened that you overdid it with watering (the soil began to rot), then you need to change the soil in the pot as soon as possible. Clay pots are ideal containers for growing lemons at home, they evaporate excess moisture well and allow the soil to "breathe".
If the lemon dries
Sometimes on gardening forums you can see requests for help: “the lemon tree dries, what should I do ?!” - often this situation arises again from a lack of moisture and dryness of the air in the room. Wrong care: lack of lighting, stagnation of water in the ground - secondary reasons for the drying of a lemon. Sometimes such unfavorable changes can occur due to the attack of a pest - spider mite.
If we know how to cope with the lack of moisture, then more drastic measures are needed to combat the tick. The treatment of the lemon tree with insecticides will put an end to the harvest, since after it it will not be possible to eat the fruits. But there is a way out - ultraviolet (UV lamp) kills spider mites in 2-3 minutes, and such a short "irradiation" of the plant at home will be enough.
The cause of drying out can also be the seasonal acclimatization of the plant. We'll have to cut off the dried branches. And in the spring, new shoots will appear in their place. The lack of micro and macro elements is also expressed in the form of drying, the introduction of the necessary top dressings and balanced fertilizers solves this problem. Nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium additives or Root Feeder (KP-5) fertilizer will help the tree come to life and get all the missing nutrients.
pavlovsky lemon As we can see, a lemon requires careful care and compliance with the rules of cultivation, but the result of such efforts cannot but rejoice. beautiful plant with vitamin fruits - a worthy gift that the lemon tree gives us. behind it is not so complicated, if you know all the nuances.
