Growing a lemon tree in an apartment is not an easy process, but an exciting one. Proper care and patience will help grow a beautiful perennial tree with fragrant fruits from a seed or cutting. Homemade lemons are in no way inferior to those grown in freedom. They have the same amount of valuable substances, vitamins and minerals, taste and aroma. For those who are wondering how to grow a lemon tree at home, you should know that there are two ways to breed: using seeds and cuttings.
According to flower growers, from the seed of a lemon bought in a store, you can get a full-fledged tree, however, this will take several years. At the same time, the plant looks neat, branchy, but the first flowering and the appearance of fruits will have to wait 6-8 years. Breeding a lemon tree from the stone begins in January. To do this, the seeds are sown in the ground to a depth of 1 cm. The soil must be fertile, it is better to use a special composition for lemon. The soil is moistened and covered with glass, periodically watered and ventilated, pushing back the protection.
Sprouts should appear in about a month. They should all be leftto select the largest and most viable. Next, the grown plants are transplanted into cups. During the first year, seedlings will already grow up, and they will have from 3 true leaves. In order for the bushes to have a neat crown, they are formed by cutting off the shoots of the 4th and 5th branching orders. The main care is regular spraying, fertilizing, pruning and supplementary lighting in the winter.
For the symmetrical development of the crown, the lemon must be turned to the light in different directions. Pay special attention to watering. For those who do not know how to water a lemon tree, you should pay attention to the acidity of the water. Water for irrigation should not be alkaline, so boiled water is often used or acidified with citric, nitric, phosphoric acid preparations. You can also use an infusion of high-moor peat, which is sold at any gardening store. You need to water with warm water, moistening the earthen ball, and not pouring water into the pan.
At any time of the year, not only watering is important for homemade citrus fruits, but also spraying, as well as a warm shower. Dry air is detrimental to the lemon tree. During the heating season, it is worth removing the pot away from the batteries or periodically covering the heating radiators with a damp cloth. It is good if there is an opportunity to install water containers next to the pot. In addition, the wide leaves should be periodically washed or wiped with a wet cloth - this will keep the foliage clean and allow the tree to breathe deeper. Spraying dusty plants is unacceptable, as it is possiblespread of pathogenic bacteria and fungi.
Growing a lemon tree from cuttings will speed up the process a bit. The stalk can be taken from an adult, well-developed plant. For rooting, it is planted in the ground in February-March and covered with a glass jar. You can remove such a mini-shelter after the cutting actively moves into growth.
Moisture, light and heat are the main conditions that will allow you to grow a lemon at home.
