Among flower growers, growing citrus plants at home has become very popular. Specially for these purposes, breeders have bred mini-varieties of orange, mandarin, grapefruit and lemon, as well as other species. This article will focus on the last of the above plants.
Lemon at home. Growing it can create a number of difficulties, since this small tree is very whimsical. In order for citrus to please you not only with its evergreen, bright leaves, but also to begin to bear fruit over time, it is necessary to adhere to some rules for caring for it.
Lighting
Most lemons are photophilous, with the exception of only some of them (Pavlovsky, Yubileiny). The north and north-west windows of the apartment are well suited for them. The remaining plant varieties can be placed near sunny southern and southeastern windows. However, in this case, it is worth shading the lemon: growing it can be complicated by direct sunlight, as the leaves can get sunburn. When winter comes, citrus must be put in the brightest place in the apartment, but you need to remember that this tree winters in cool.
Pots. Substrate
Lemon will grow quite comfortably at home, the cultivation of which is best done in spacious wooden tubs, which improves air access to the root system. The soil for plants can be purchased at the store, it must be loose, but it is very nutritious. In order to make the soil at home, you will need to mix humus, turf soil and sand in the proportions of 1: 3: 1.
Watering and humidity
Citrus fruits do not tolerate dry air, so do not put them near batteries. If there is no other place suitable for plants, then the battery should be covered with a wet rag. Like all citrus trees, in the summer you need to not only water abundantly, but also spray your lemon with water from a spray bottle. Growing such capricious plants at home always requires soft water: it needs to be boiled or defended for a day, even better - 2-3 days. Sometimes it is worth rinsing the trees under a warm shower (small specimens) or washing the leaves with water and a cloth (adult and large plants). In the winter season, watering is reduced, as this can lead to stagnation of water and decay of the root system (an exception can be made if fruits have appeared on your trees at this time of year).
Top dressing
It will be good to fertilize with mineral fertilizers. This should be done during the period of active growth of the tree, that is, from spring to late autumn. Feeding citrus is necessary not only for its healthy growth, but also for the beginning of fruiting.
Ovary and fruiting
If during flowering it is not possible to take the plant outside, then pollination can be done independently using an ordinary brush for drawing. To do this, gently take pollen on a brush from one flower and transfer to another. So you need to do with all the colors. Will the lemon begin to bear fruit soon at home? Growing took place according to all the rules - which means that you can wait for the harvest in the third or fourth year.
It is worth remembering that only grafted trees bear fruit , only in rare cases it happens that plants grown from seed form ovaries. And even then, most likely, it will be empty flowers.
Temperature mode
The optimum temperature for this plant in winter is 12-15 gadus. It is considered high already at 23 degrees, if the air is still dry and hot - the leaves begin to curl and dry out.
Transfer. Pruning
Young citrus trees are transplanted two or three times a year, given the growth rate, and older plants are transshipped once every few years (usually 2-3). This should be done at the very beginning of spring, making sure that new shoots, and even more so the ovary of flowers, have not yet had time to form on the tree. When transplanting, you need to take into account the location of the root system of the plant. The root neck of the citrus should be located slightly below the level of the pot.
Like many other plants, lemon at home requires good drainage. Its cultivation is carried out, as already mentioned, in a spacious container, on the bottom of which you can pour coarse sand, put charcoal, small river or sea pebbles are also suitable.
With proper and caring care, this citrus will delight you with its fruits annually, and with its bright green foliage - throughout the entire time spent in your apartment.