A Simple Guide To Cultivating Lemon Trees Right In Your Home

Lemon trees are small evergreen trees that you can grow inside and outside your home. The most attractive feature of lemon trees is their ability to invoke a summer feeling as they exude a citrusy smell, and the fruits start to mature. Even better, lemons come with many health benefits, so there is no disadvantage to cultivating them.

By Cookist
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Lemon trees are best grown outdoors, but with a great amount of care, they also grow very well indoors. If you want an indoor lemon tree, you want to read on for a step by step guide to do it correctly.

Get the Necessary Materials

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First, you'll need to buy:

  • A lemon tree:

The lemon tree must be 2-3 years old at least, because younger trees may not grow well indoors. The recommended varieties are the Meyer lemon trees, which are known to grow well indoors, and the Pink variegated lemon trees, which also grow well indoors and are best suited to beginners.

  • A pot

To grow a lemon tree inside your home, you'll need a deep plastic pot for your lemon plant. These pots make it easy to transfer the trees around your home at different times of the season. The pot must also have a great depth; this will provide the tree with a stable base as it grows, which determines how large the lemon plant will be.

The minimum required pot size is 15 gallons (57 L); finally, make sure the pot has drainage holes to facilitate easy maintenance.

  • A Saucer

The ideal saucer is large so that it easily fits beneath the container. Before placing the container atop the saucer, pour gravel or a few pebbles on the saucer and add a little water. This provides a slightly humid environment for the tree.

  • A Potting Mix

For lemon trees, the ideal potting mix is slightly acidic. A top recommendation is a peat moss mix, which is mildly acidic and well-draining. You can get the peat moss mix or any other befitting soil mix at a gardening shop or plant nursery.

2. Choose the Perfect Spot for Your Tree

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Lemon trees grow best when they are constantly exposed to sunlight so, the perfect spot must be sunny. This is why it is advised that you place the pot near a window where the tree is sure to get at least 8-12 hours of sunlight every day.

Note: you can use grow lights if there is no part of your home that can provide sunlight for as long as required.

3. Transfer the Lemon Tree

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It's time to plant! Take the lemon tree out of its nursery pot and gently spread its roots while massaging them. This will help the roots spread faster to get more nutrients and water from the soil.

Tip: don't pull too hard to avoid breaking the roots!

4. Fill the Pot

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Pour the soil mix into the pot to make it half full. Smooth the soil over until even; this will promote the robot's growth and help the plant stay upright as you place it in.

5. Place the Lemon Tree in the Pot

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Holding the tree upright, transfer it to the pot. Then pour in the rest of the pot with soil. Smooth and press the soil around the plant's base down to help keep the plant upright. Make sure the tree's trunk isn't covered with soil to prevent fungal infections.

6. Water The Tree

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This makes the soil moist, making it a habitable environment for the plant as it grows. Make sure the tree is not waterlogged.

Having planted the tree, caring for it till full maturation is next. Make sure to do the following to promote the tree's fast growth:

  • Water your lemon tree weekly.
  • Keep the air around your plant circulated. Find ways to remedy extreme temperatures as the seasons change to promote ventilation.
  • Fertilize your plant once every few months.
  • Occasionally prune the tree's leaves.
  • Set up a humidifier near your lemon plant to facilitate quick growth.
  • Keep an eye on the room's temperature; lemon trees do best at an average temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit by day and 55 degrees Fahrenheit at night.

Good luck! 

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