Growing lemon trees in pots is a fantastic way to enjoy your own citrus, even if you don’t have a big garden.
In this article, we will look at the brilliant ways to grow lemon trees in pots! So let’s dive in and learn how to grow your own homegrown lemons!
Choosing Your Lemon Tree
First things first, you need a lemon tree! Head to your local nursery and look for a healthy, grafted lemon plant. These trees will start giving you lemons in the same year, while seed-grown trees might take five years! Pick a plant that’s already showing some fruits and flowers.
The experts at the nursery can point you to the best-grafted lemon trees. Look for one with green leaves, sturdy branches, and no signs of pests or diseases.
Also, consider the space where you’ll plant your lemon tree. If you’re tight on space, search for varieties that thrive in containers. An example is the Meyer lemon tree. These types are perfect for patios or balconies. Just make sure the pot is big enough and has holes at the bottom for water to drain through.
Lastly, think about the climate you live in. Lemon trees love the sun and hate the cold. If you live in a cooler area, look for a hardy variety that can withstand chillier temperatures, or plan to bring your potted tree indoors during the fall and winter months.
Finding the Perfect Planter
The first step is to find it a cozy home, which means choosing the right pot. A 14-inch pot is the ideal size for a young lemon tree. This pot size gives the roots enough room to grow and helps the tree stay stable as it gets bigger.
When it comes to materials, plastic pots are a fantastic option. They’re lightweight, making them easy to move around, and they retain heat well. Lemons thrive in warmth.
Terracotta pots are another great choice to grow a lemon tree. They have a classic look and are super breathable, which helps prevent water from getting trapped in the soil. Make sure the pot has proper drainage holes at the bottom. Too much water can lead to root rot.
The Soil Mix
If you’re planning to grow lemon trees in pots, the soil you choose is super important. Lemon trees need a well-draining soil mix that’s airy and slightly acidic. This allows their roots to get enough air and spread out without any trouble.
Start with some garden soil. Garden soil is the base of our mix and provides structure for the roots. Then, add in cocopeat. Cocopeat is made from coconut husks and is fantastic for keeping the soil moist but not too wet.
Next, we mix in some compost. Compost is full of nutrients that help the tree grow strong and healthy. Plus, it keeps the soil alive with all the good microorganisms that help the roots absorb nutrients.
Finally, a sprinkle of sand makes the magic complete. Sand helps the soil mix to drain water quickly, so the roots don’t get waterlogged and cause rot.
Planting Your Lemon Tree
When planting a lemon tree, begin with a layer of lightweight styrofoam bits at the bottom of your pot. It keeps the pot easy to move and makes sure the roots have room to breathe.
Once you have your styrofoam layer, it’s time to add some nutrient-rich compost. Just pour it right on top of the styrofoam, but don’t pack it down too hard. You want to leave some space for air and water to move through.
Now, transplant your lemon tree and place it gently in the center of the pot. Next, surround the tree with your potting mix. This mix should have good stuff in it, like peat moss, perlite, and organic matter.
Tap the mix carefully to ensure there are no air pockets. Add enough soil to fill the planter above the rootstock.
Finally, give your lemon tree a good drink of water. Pour slowly and watch as the water soaks in. Keep going until you see water running out from the holes in the bottom of the pot. It means you’ve given it just the right amount of water and the soil is nicely moist.
Keeping Weeds Away with Mulch
Weeds can invade your plants and affect their growth. Mulch can help protect your plants, like lemon trees, from these invaders.
Mulch is a layer of material that you spread over the surface of the soil around your plants. It can be made from many different materials, including shredded bark, straw, or even stones. It’s spread around your plants to cover the soil. By doing this, it blocks sunlight from reaching the soil.
Since weeds need sunlight to grow, just like your plants do, covering the soil with mulch helps prevent weeds from sprouting up.
Aside from fighting off weeds, mulch has a bunch of other cool benefits.
It helps the soil hold onto moisture, so you don’t have to water your plants as often.
It also keeps the soil cooler on hot days, which the roots of your tree will love.
As some types of mulch break down over time, they add nutrients back into the soil.
Applying mulch is easy. Start by grabbing a shovel or your hands, and spread a 2 inch to 4 inch layer of mulch around the base of your lemon tree, but make sure not to pile it up against the trunk. This helps ensure the tree trunk doesn’t get too wet, which could cause it to rot.
Organic mulches like bark chips are great because they improve the soil as they decompose. But if you’re looking for something that lasts longer, you might go for stones or rubber mulch.
Where to Place Your Lemon Tree
When growing a lemon tree indoors, it is important to consider where to place it.
At first, your lemon tree needs to be placed in a shaded space. This helps it to adjust without the stress of a lot of sunlight. A place with indirect light, perhaps shaded by a sheer curtain, will do the trick.
New growth means your tree is ready for more sunlight. This is when you transition your tree to a brighter location, like a terrace. The goal is for it to bask in the sunshine for at least 8 to 12 hours of sunlight daily.
A south-facing window or garden spot is ideal. Here, it can enjoy the warm rays of the full sun all day long. Trees can get sunburned too, so a gradual move from shade to a sunny spot is the way to go.
In the winter, take your citrus tree inside after a couple of hours of direct sunlight. While some Citrus plants can grow in temperatures of 32 degrees Fahrenheit, it is best to avoid exposure to lower temperatures. Use a grow light to complement the sunlight while growing indoors.
Watering Your Lemon Tree Just Right
At first, water the tree every other day to help it settle in. This frequent watering gives the roots the moisture they need to start spreading out and getting used to their new environment.
After a while, your lemon tree will begin to get acclimated. This is when you can start to cut back on the watering. Gradually move to watering it twice a week, and then, as it grows stronger, once a week should be sufficient.
How do you know when it’s time to water? Simply check the top inch of the soil with your finger. If the soil is dry, it’s time to mist your lemon tree with water.
It’s important to note that potted lemon trees have different needs than those planted directly in the ground. Because pots can limit root growth and dry out faster, your potted lemon tree will require a bit more attention when it comes to watering.
Make sure you’re checking the soil moisture regularly. You can also place a humidifier near the tree to ensure it is getting an adequate amount of humidity. You can also add decorative pebbles to the pots to reduce evaporation.
Feeding
Lemon trees have quite an appetite. They thrive when they get a steady diet of nutrients.
A generous helping of compost every two months will keep your lemon tree happy. This organic material breaks down over time, slowly releasing vital nutrients that help your tree flourish.
Sometimes, your lemon tree might show signs that it’s craving something extra. Yellowing leaves can be a signal that your tree needs more potassium or magnesium. These nutrients are what your tree needs to grow.
Potassium helps with fruit quality and resistance to fungal diseases, while magnesium is key for photosynthesis, the process that lets the tree turn sunlight into food.
Fertilizing A Lemon Tree
When it comes to fertilizing a lemon tree, it is essential to choose the right type of fertilizer that will help promote growth and bloom production. Lemon trees are considered evergreen plants, meaning they retain their leaves all year round and therefore are consistent feeders.
It is recommended to fertilize your lemon tree three times a year – in early spring, late spring, and early fall. Make sure to choose a fertilizer with a balanced ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to ensure your lemon tree gets all the necessary nutrients for healthy growth.
Be sure to follow the instructions on the fertilizer package for proper application and dosage to avoid over-fertilization, which can harm the tree.
Pruning
Pruning is important, especially for indoor plants. It helps plants grow well by encouraging new growth.
Pruning means to remove dead, diseased and broken branches, so that the plant gets more space and resources to grow.
For potted lemon trees, this also means carefully taking the plant out of the pot and cutting around an inch of the exterior of the root ball, to allow for more growth.
Pruning should be done during the dormancy period (i.e., seasons of slow/no growth).
Harvesting
Since your lemon tree will not have insects to spread pollen around, you will need to pollinate the plant manually for it to produce fruit.
Use a paintbrush and rub it against the plant’s stamen and anthers. These are the pollen-covered buds. Transfer the pollen to the pistil.
Repeat this process once a day to ensure pollination. Most lemon trees take 6-9 months to harvest after being successfully pollinated. Your lemon tree may start fruiting even if you don’t pollinate it, but the fruit will get larger if it is pollinated.
Once the lemons are ripe and ready to harvest, you can carefully remove them. They can be used in salad dressings, lemonades, lemon tarts, and much more. They bring a lot of taste to food, and it is best if they are used fresh.
They also have many other uses, including as cleaners, stain removers, and fragrances.
Uncut lemons can survive for around two weeks on your kitchen counter (at room temperature). They can survive for up to a month or so in the fridge. Cut lemons can survive for about a week. It is best to store your lemons in a plastic bag or an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Ready, Set, Grow!
You’re all set to grow your own lemon tree in a pot, whether it be in a garden or indoors.
Make sure you provide the plant with the adequate temperature, water, and sunlight. Ensure that the soil mix is perfect and that you prune the plants as needed. Fertilize the citrus plant to ensure proper growth, and get ready for the harvest!
Follow the above tips and enjoy the fruits of your labor!
