Does a lemon tree need a lot of water?
As subtropical plants, lemons need regular water supplies. Regular watering, daily on sunny days, ensures good growth. However, the plants do not tolerate standing with their roots in water for long. Cover pots and deep saucers should therefore be checked regularly for residual water. The right time for watering has come when the substrate has already dried on the surface.
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Can you plant a lemon tree in the garden?
In central and northern European climates, planting the lemon tree in the garden is not advisable. Lemon can tolerate low temperatures down to minus 4 ° C for a short time, but not in the long term. In addition, the roots are extremely sensitive to frost (unless it is a refinement), and the light conditions in winter are far from sufficient. In short: it's too cold, too windy, too wet and far too uncomfortable for the lemon. In summer, however, she likes to stand in a bucket in the blazing sun.
Is the lemon tree frost hardy?
No. However, lemons refined on bitter lemons or bitter oranges are much less sensitive to adverse weather conditions.
Is a lemon tree suitable as a pure houseplant?
A lemon tree can be kept in the room all year round, but this position is not optimal. Lemons need a lot of light - not only in summer, but also in winter, which is why indoor lemons should be irradiated with an extra plant lamp (€ 28.43 at Amazon *). However, it is best to keep lemons cool over the winter.
When and how should a lemon tree best be repotted?
Young plants are repotted once a year, older trees about every two to three years. At best, the new planter is around a third larger than the root ball. The best time to repot is at the beginning of the growing season.
What kind of fertilizer does a lemon tree need?
Lemons are best supplied with a citrus fertilizer or with a liquid complete fertilizer (containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in a ratio of 3: 1: 2).
When and how should it be fertilized?
In the growing season between March and September, the lemon tree should be fertilized about every two to three weeks. Mix the fertilizer with the irrigation water and then water the tree as usual.
Does a lemon tree need pruning?
In nature, a lemon tree can grow up to six meters high, and the plant grows very quickly. It is therefore advisable to regularly cut the shape before moving it to the winter quarters.
How is a lemon tree overwintered?
Lemon trees should overwinter in a light and cool place, such as an unheated or little heated room. Wintering in a winter garden is ideal. Above all, you should pay attention to sufficient light, ideally you should attach an additional plant lamp. In winter there is little watering and no fertilization at all.
Diseases of the lemon tree and their treatment
If the leaves of the lemon tree turn yellow, pale or even fall off, there is very often a lack of nutrients, light and / or water. But root rot as a result of waterlogging can also be the cause.
How do I know if my lemon tree is infested with pests or fungi?
You can often recognize a pest infestation by discolored or falling leaves and by the fact that the lemon tree is sticky. If the leaves and / or shoots are covered in black, the tree is infested with a sooty fungus. This can simply be washed off. Lemons are very susceptible to spider mite and plant lice infestations, especially in connection with improper winter storage.
What can I do against an infestation with pests or fungi?
Plant lice can be combated with soapy water or a mineral oil spray. If the infestation spreads over a large area, you can put the pot and the substrate in a plastic bag and dip the tree upside down in a bucket with soapy water. The treatment should be carried out several times, with an interval of a few days. Fungi are effectively combated with a fungicide.
My lemon tree has thorns. Is that normal?
Yes, many lemon trees - especially those that you have grown from seeds yourself - have occasional thorns on the leaf axils that can be up to two inches long. The downy hairs of young twigs are also normal.
Tips & Tricks
Usually a fruit develops from each flower. So that the tree is not overwhelmed with the supply of the small lemons, you should thin out the fruits. This allows the remaining ones to grow better and reach maturity.
