If you live in an area that experiences at least 8 hours of sunlight daily year-round and that never drops below 41 to 44 °F (5 to 7 °C), you can plant your lemon tree outdoors in the ground.
Dwarf lemon trees are a great variety to grow if you’ll be bringing your tree indoors. They produce a lot of fruit, but they won’t get so big that it would be impossible to move them. At the most, they’ll grow to be 5 to 7 feet (1. 5 to 2. 1 m) tall, but you can keep them trimmed back to a smaller size if you want.
For especially dry climates, use a humidifier when your tree is indoors to keep the climate at the right level, around 50% humidity. If you live in a climate where your tree can grow outdoors, there’s no need to worry about the humidity level.
If you live in a climate that experiences a lot of cloudy, dark weather, invest in a grow light. You can buy one online or from your local nursery.
If possible, keep the tree in a room with a ceiling fan or put a standing fan in the room. Circulating air will help keep the tree healthy. Keep the fan on for as many hours a day as you can.
A pot bigger than 15 US gal (57 L) will be really hard to move around.
Lemon trees are pretty hardy and can grow in many different types of soil, though the loamy soil is the preferred type. If you want to test the pH level, aim for a reading between 5. 5 and 6. 5 for optimal growth. If the soil is too acidic, you could add a base like compost or manure to the soil. If the soil isn’t acidic enough, add a compound made of powdered limestone.
Spring and summer are the active-growing months; fall and winter are the dormant months.
Don’t water the tree until at least the top 2 in (5. 1 cm) of the soil is dry. [12] X Expert Source Mark LeahyPlant Specialist Expert Interview. 11 December 2020.
If your area is experiencing really heavy rains, you may want to bring your lemon tree indoors or put it under an awning until the rain passes.
The lemons may still be green when they reach the correct size, and this is okay. The size is actually more important than the shade of the fruit. A squishy lemon has been left on the branch too long.
Avoid pulling the lemon off, as this could damage the branch or even detach it completely from the tree.
Pruning is essential to keeping the tree healthy and promoting new growth.
Also take time to pluck away dead leaves from the branches and remove fallen ones from the soil whenever you notice them.
Red mites: small, red insects that eat leaves and twigs on citrus plants Spider mites: small, white insects that are more common in cooler climates Citrus mealybugs: Small, flat, oval, and wingless, these creatures are covered with a wax-like substance that looks puffy Citrus whiteflies: small, white, winged insects that appear on the underside of citrus leaves
