Cultivation of citrus plants at home has become very popular among flower growers. Especially for these purposes, breeders have bred mini-varieties of orange, tangerine, grapefruit and lemon, as well as other species. This article will focus on the last of the plants listed above.
Lemon at home. Growing it can create a number of difficulties, as this small tree is quite whimsical. In order for citrus to please you not only with its evergreen, bright leaves, but also begin to bear fruit over time, you must follow some rules for caring for it.
Lighting
The largest number of lemon varieties are photophilous, with the exception of only a few of them (Pavlovsky, Yubileiny). For them, the northern and northwestern windows of the apartment are well suited. The rest of the plant varieties can be placed near the sunny south and southeast windows. However, in this case, it is worth shading the lemon: growing it can be complicated by direct sunlight, as the leaves can get sunburned. Atthe onset of winter, citrus must be placed in the brightest place in the apartment, but you need to remember that this tree hibernates in coolness.
Pots. Substrate
Lemon will grow comfortably enough at home, which is best grown in spacious wooden tubs, this improves air access to the root system. The soil for plants can be purchased at the store, it should be loose, but very nutritious. In order to make the soil at home, you will need to mix humus, soddy soil and sand in proportions of 1: 3: 1.
Water and air humidity
Citrus fruits do not tolerate dry air, so you should not put them near the batteries. If there is no other suitable place for plants, then the battery should be covered with a wet cloth. Like all citrus trees, in the summer it is necessary not only to water abundantly, but also to spray your lemon with water from a spray bottle. Growing such capricious plants at home always requires soft water: it must 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 stagnant water and rotting of the root system (an exception can be made if fruits appear on your trees at this time of the year).
Feeding
It will be good to fertilize with mineralfertilizers. This should be done during the period of active growth of the tree, that is, from spring to late autumn. Top dressing of citrus is necessary not only for its he althy growth, but also for the beginning of fruiting.
Ovary and fruiting
If during flowering it is not possible to take the plant outside, then you can pollinate yourself using an ordinary paint brush. For this, pollen is carefully taken on a brush from one flower and transferred to another. This should be done with all colors. Will a lemon start to bear fruit soon at home? The cultivation took place according to all the rules - which means that you can wait for the harvest in the third - fourth year.
It is worth remembering that only grafted trees bear fruit, only in rare cases does it happen that plants grown from seed form ovaries. And even then, most likely, it will be empty flowers.
Temperature conditions
The optimum temperature for this plant in winter is 12-15 degrees. It is considered high already at 23 degrees, if the air is still dry and hot - the leaves begin to curl up and dry out.
Transplantation. Cropping
A young citrus tree is transplanted two or three times a year, given the growth rate, and older plants are transplanted every few years (usually 2-3). This should be done at the very beginning of spring, while making sure that new shoots do not yet have time to form on the tree, and even more so the ovaries of flowers. When transplanting, you need to take into account the location of the root system of the plant. The citrus root neck should be slightly below the level of the pot.
Likemany other plants that require good drainage require a lemon at home. It is grown, 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 every year, and with its bright green foliage - throughout the entire time you are in your apartment.
