And although they themselves have long become familiar citrus fruits for our area, climatic conditions do not allow growing trees in open ground.
However, this fact will not stop an enthusiastic gardener, because you can cultivate a small fragrant tree in your own apartment.
And not just a highlighting element of decor, but a real fruit-bearing tree.
And this will require less effort than, say, to germinate capricious.
We find out how to grow a lemon from a seed at home with fruits step by step without grafting and with grafting.
A homemade lemon can reach up to three meters in height and, with proper care, produce up to 200 fruits per year.
To out decorative tree became functional and pleased with citrus fruits, be sure to follow a number of rules in planting and care. Let's talk about them.
How to grow a lemon from a seed at home - basic rules
Let's start, of course, with the main thing - germination. To do this, you will need the seeds of a ripe fruit: the bones that have already dried out will not be able to germinate.
To ensure that the tree sprouts, use several at once - this will significantly increase the chances of success. One in ten seeds will definitely survive.
Method number 1
Initially remove from the citrus pit and rinse gently running water room temperature, after which, without drying, immediately transfer to a pre-prepared substrate.
Between processing the seeds and planting, it is important not to allow them to dry out.
Method number 1 Method number 2
From wet bones with sharp knife remove the hard shells that prevent the early germination of the seed, and transfer to the substrate.
Your movements must be as careful as possible, as there is a high chance of damaging the cotyledons.
Method number 2 Tip: before planting, the extracted lemon seeds can be placed in a growth stimulator for several hours. This will greatly enhance their activity.
How to grow a lemon from a seed at home step by step - prepare the right soil and plant
The easiest way to buy soil is from a gardening store.
If you prepare the land yourself, it should consist of equal parts of river sand, earth and humus.
Next, we proceed as follows:
- We lay out the prepared soil in small cups or pots for expanded clay drainage.
- The seeds are planted to a depth of about 30 mm.
- Cover each cup with cling film. Thus, we get a kind of mini-greenhouses.
For planting a lemon you need correct soil The appearance of the first shoots will take from two to four weeks. In the event that two seeds sprout from one bone at once, the weaker one must be removed.
In a large container, seeds can be planted several at a time.
It is necessary to seat them when 3-4 leaves are formed on each.
In order for a lemon to hatch as quickly as possible, it needs comfortable conditions - the temperature is not lower than +18 degrees, not higher than +25.
Watering the soil during germination does not make sense.
To maintain sufficient moisture, it is better to spray it from time to time.
When the plant gets stronger, it needs to be transplanted How to grow a lemon from a stone at home in a pot - care for seedlings
Citrus fruits grown from seeds perfectly adapt to the home climate.
When the first shoots have hatched, the film is removed from the plants for some time during the day.
When the leaves become 3-4, they are completely removed, and over time, the plants are transferred to larger pots.Subsequently lemon Tree relocated annually.
After stabilization of growth, once every 2-3 years is enough.
In the first year, it is also imperative to pinch the top of the tree to form a lush crown.
In the first year of life, the plant must be pinched Tip: the new pot should be 5 cm higher and wider than the previous one.
Further tree care consists in timely watering, fertilizing and creating comfortable living conditions.
If a lemon blooms unexpectedly in the first year, remove the flowers without regret.
Otherwise, he will spend all his strength on them and die.
The desired flowering occurs at a time when there are at least 15 leaves per bloom.
Watch for the "correct flowering" of the tree How to grow a lemon from a stone at home - a step-by-step care guide + photos of trees
In order for the plant to be not only fragrant, but also fruitful, it will need specific care:
Lighting
Position the pot on the sunny side of the apartment, but keep in mind that the lemon needs a fair amount of indirect sunlight to avoid scorching the leaves.
During short daylight hours, provide additional lighting - fluorescent lamps should be turned on for 3-4 hours a day.
Humidity
Like everything else, the lemon tree simply loves moisture.
Spray the lemon more often, give it showers, wash the leaves, place open containers of water nearby.
It is better to grow a lemon in a clay pot Fertilize
The plant develops especially actively from February to September. So, at this time, regular feeding is important to him.
Use only liquid mineral and biofertilizers. Once every two weeks is enough - apply the simple rule "less is more".
Watering
In hot weather, lemons like frequent watering. How to grow a lemon from a stone at home so that there are fruits - 2 ways of grafting
Many novice gardeners are wondering how to grow a lemon from a seed at home with fruits without grafting.
Unfortunately, this is quite difficult to do, if not impossible - you can wait for the fruits for 3-5, or even all 7 years, and even from such a tree they will be small.
And if the stalk for planting a lemon was taken from a non-bearing plant, it is completely useless to hope for the appearance of homemade lemons.
Therefore, it is impossible to do without grafting, especially since it is not difficult to do it yourself.
You need to graft a tree in summer or late spring.
In order for the tree to bear fruit faster, it needs to be pinched You can do this in two ways:
cleft grafting
You will need a cutting of a cultivated fruit-bearing lemon. On the seedling, you need to cut the branch, split the remaining stem.
Sharpen the wedges on the handle of a fruiting lemon and insert it into a split in the stem of your lemon, then wrap the graft with electrical tape.
Leave 2-4 buds on the handle of a fruiting lemon, cut off the rest. Cover the injection site with a plastic bag. After fusion, remove the package.
Grafting a lemon into a split Grafting by budding
At the seedling, cut off the shoots and leave a stump no more than 10 cm high.
Take a sprig of fruit-bearing lemon. Under each of its leaves, find all the so-called "sleeping buds".
Make a cut under each of them - remove the leaf plate without affecting the petiole.
On a stump, similarly make a cut and insert the petiole into it with the cut down. Wrap the vaccination site with electrical tape.
If after 2-3 days the petiole falls off, the grafting was successful.
If it dries out, the procedure will have to be repeated.
Budding of a lemon You will learn more about how to grow a lemon from a seed at home and plant it correctly so that the tree begins to bear fruit, you will learn from the video at the end of the article.
How to grow a lemon from a stone at home with fruits - what causes indoor trees
The main enemies of indoor lemons- worms, aphids, scale insects, spider mites.
They suck the juice from plants, which, in turn, is fraught with curvature of the shoots, leaf fall and death of the lemon.
If the leaves appeared yellow spots , this may indicate that the tree lacks iron,if the ends dry- phosphorus, leaves shrivel- potassium and magnesium.
Lemon trees are susceptible to a number of diseases. What to do:
- Clean off intruders with a soft toothbrush or cotton swab dipped in a solution of abaza sulfate.
- A day after treatment, wash off the solution from the leaves.
- Repeat the procedure after a week.
- If the defeat is large, use special chemicals- “Aktellik” or “Fitoverm”. Infusions of onion, garlic, tobacco and celandine have a good effect.
In addition, homemade lemon is prone tosoot fungus and gomosa.
At the first, the leaves are covered with a gray coating. In the second, the bark suffers, from which the branches gradually dry out.
If problems are found, treat the tree immediately What to do:
- Treat the bark or site of the disease with copper sulphate.
- Coat with RanNet.
- Clean leaves with fungus with a wet cloth.
- In order for the plant to gain strength to fight the disease, fertilize.
To protect the plant from pests, you need to follow preventive measures:
- Bathe lemon regularly hot water- the tree will not suffer, and the insects will die.
- Do not forget to spray the leaves not only from the top, but also from the bottom.
- Wipe once every ten days with a solution of laundry soap.
Subject to these simple rules, the mini-tree will delight with its lush color and juicy fruits.
Tip: in winter, lemon can be sent to glazed balcony or a loggia, provided that the temperature there does not fall below +10 degrees.
Many interesting tips on how to care for roses in pots, lovers indoor plants found in the article.
Many lovers of indoor floriculture would like to grow a lemon in an apartment, but the task seems difficult to them, doubts arise whether the fruits will grow and whether they can be eaten.
Having learned all the subtleties of how a young lemon from a seed at home growing is gradually formed into a full-fledged fruit tree with a wonderful aroma and healthy, tasty fruits, some flower growers may well decide to grow citrus.
Also, other overseas fruits sprout from the stone.
Preparation for the process of growing and sowing lemon seeds
You need to try to have all the necessary supplies at the time of landing:
- It is best if the bones are placed in small ceramic pots bought at the store. Environmentally friendly, breathable material will allow the bones, and in the future, young sprouts to feel comfortable. Other suitable containers may be used.
- It should be purchased in the gardening departments or make up soil for planting on your own, prepare material for the drainage layer.
- Now you can search the market or ask friends who grow lemon trees for large and healthy fruit specimens.
- For the planned landing, the most suitable time is the end of winter. The gradually increasing length of the day will favorably affect the development of trees.
Lemons are cut so that the bones are not damaged, they are taken out and several of the largest are selected, correct form. Without waiting for them to dry, they are placed in moistened soil at a shallow depth, sprayed with warm water from a spray bottle. Spraying rather than watering will help prevent seed rot.
From above, pots or bowls are covered with glass or film, put in a bright place with a temperature of 22-24 degrees.
If the room where the planted lemons are located is below 18 0 C, the seeds will freeze, become moldy and will not sprout. Under favorable conditions, the first shoots will appear in 2-3 weeks.
Home Care for Lemon Seed Sprouts
Growing a lemon at home in a pot does not require much trouble:
Before picking, periodically moisten the ground with warm, settled water, fertilizers are not used. When 3-4 leaves are formed, the seedlings are prepared for picking.
Picking seedlings and further growth of a lemon in a pot
If possible, it is better to continue growing lemons in clay pots. right size. A few hours before planting, they are soaked in water, then the bottom is covered with a layer of drainage, and nutrient soil of the same composition that was used for planting is poured on top.
They carry out a kind of breeding work to select the best seedlings, paying attention to the following criteria:
Selected specimens are planted in pots, watered a little to compact the soil in the root zone, placed on the eastern or western windowsill.
Until the next transplant in a year, the plants are watered, fertilized with mineral and organic nutrient mixtures, alternating them.
Do not forget to spray the crown daily, the tree needs high humidity.
In the first year of a young tree's life, when it reaches a height of about 20 cm, they begin to form a crown.
Proceed as follows:
The impatience of a gardener who is waiting for the first harvest is understandable, but experienced lemon growers advise cutting off the flowers that have appeared so as not to overload the root system of a young plant. Shoots growing inside the crown are also removed.
How to grow a lemon from a cutting at home?
This method of growing is easier and will allow you to wait for the harvest faster than when planting seeds, moreover, the yield of such trees is higher. Cuttings are best done in the last winter or first spring days.
Cuttings are taken from a domestic fruit-bearing tree, which is at least 7-10 years old. On the branches of the 4th or 5th order, slightly lignified shoots are found, cuttings about 15 cm long, no more, are cut from them under the kidney.
The upper cut of the cutting is made above the bud, the lower leaves are removed, glorifying 2-3 leaves and 3-4 buds, the upper leaf is left intact, the rest are cut to 1/3 of the length.
The lower cut cuttings are lowered into clean water or a solution of a root stimulator and incubated for 3 days. Then they are placed in flowerpots with a nutrient mixture consisting of flower soil, humus, coarse sand, to a depth of 3 cm. Cover with a film, creating the effect of a greenhouse.
Growing a lemon from a cutting at home consists in spraying it with warm water several times a day. The cuttings do not have a root system, they need to provide moisture by spraying and maintaining soil moisture.
The temperature must be maintained at the optimum level for planting from 23 to 25 degrees. Direct rays of the sun can damage future trees; southern window sills are not suitable for them.
Picking rooted cuttings of lemon
If it was carried out proper care, after a month and a half, the cuttings will develop a root system, they can be transplanted into separate pots.
Some experienced flower growers prefer to prepare the soil for planting a lemon on their own, mixing:
The composition is mixed, moistened, poured into pots. The mixture is tamped a little, a hole is made, and a cutting is placed in it.
Water with warm water to compact the earth, trying not to overflow. Every 10 days, the plant is rotated, exposing the sun to different sides, so that development is uniform.
Lemon care at home
Lemons are plants long day, in early spring when the days are still short, they need artificial lighting.
Young seedlings are transplanted 1-2 times a year, the older the plant, the less often there should be transplants so that the roots are not damaged and the symbiosis of the roots with mycorrhiza, a fungal substance necessary for citrus trees, is not disturbed. With the death of mycorrhiza, the blackening of the young branches of the plant begins.
To ensure that growing lemons on the windowsill does not bring disappointment, you need to carefully monitor the watering schedule and the quality of the water used. Do not over-moisten the soil and allow it to dry out.
With mandatory top dressing, which begin in the spring, there is main principle- it is better to underfeed, lemons react heavily to. It is recommended to use special fertilizer mixtures: "Citrus", "Lemon", etc.
From the attention of the gardener should not escape the changing color of the leaves, indicating a lack of one of the nutrients. Having discovered the problem in time, they take measures by feeding the tree with the missing substance.
Visual instructions for growing lemon at home
This video will tell you in detail about the features of planting and caring for lemon trees at home:
Tea for a Russian person is not only a way to quench their thirst, but also a good occasion to gather the whole family at the table and discuss family problems or plans, remember pleasant moments from vacation or travel. Tea with lemon inspires a person and whole families to make new life discoveries and brings kindred souls together. You can sprout the seed of that very lemon and grow a whole lemon tree on your windowsill, especially since it is not difficult at all.
Can you grow at home?
The lemon tree is not only possible, but also necessary to grow indoors. This is not only a large houseplant with rich green glossy leaves, but also a fruit-bearing plant that will give its owner useful and fragrant fruits.
Such a plant looks very presentable in the house, it can decorate the interior, made in any style and color. Growing a lemon in an apartment is not only a decorative issue, but also an ecological one. The lemon tree has high absorbent properties, so it can rid the room of excess moisture and foreign odors. This plant perfectly processes carbon dioxide and turns it into fresh air, which can partly replace ventilation. A large amount of essential oils contained in lemon leaves will be an excellent repeller of pests such as mosquitoes, flies, centipedes, bedbugs and even cockroaches.
Growing a lemon at home is quite simple.
There are three known ways to grow lemons in a pot.
- cuttings. This method is distinguished by the fastest start of flowering and fruiting of a lemon tree.
- Grafting. This method is mainly used by gardeners for further planting plants in a greenhouse. This method is the most time-consuming, because you need to be able to choose the right grafted process and correctly carry out the grafting procedure. In addition, this is a huge stress for trees, so efforts will be required to carry out proper rehabilitation.
- Seeds. Planting a lemon with seeds is a very simple way to propagate a lemon, suitable even for people who are ignorant of the art of gardening. A tree grown from a stone does not need special care, but it begins to bear fruit quite late.
Despite the chosen method of planting a lemon, it grows approximately the same, requires minimal care, and the pleasure of the process will exceed all expectations.
Suitable varieties
Despite the fact that the lemon is a deciduous plant, in nature it grows as an evergreen. At home, the lemon tree will also delight the owner with a riot of greenery throughout the year. However, you should not forget that this plant is wild, because wild plants are not able to survive in cramped apartment conditions. Thanks to centuries of breeding experience, today there are a number of unpretentious varieties that can not only take root in growing conditions in a pot, but also give an excellent fragrant harvest. In order to grow a beautiful, high-quality lemon tree, you should choose one of the following varieties.
- "Chinese dwarf". In the circles of experienced gardeners, this variety is known under the name "Mayer". It is bred by breeders by crossing the seed of an orange and a lemon. This plant is ideal for growing in cramped conditions in apartments with small rooms and low ceilings, because its size does not exceed 70 centimeters. Plants of this variety bear fruit once or twice a year. Up to 20 lemons can be harvested per harvest. The fruits of this variety are more rounded, their color is slightly darker than ordinary lemons, closer to an orange tint. Fruit size is slightly smaller size regular lemons. The pulp of citruses is slightly sweeter than usual, the crust is thin with small pores. The aroma of lemons is bright, traditional. The fruits of such a tree are considered to be dessert. However, it is worth remembering that this plant is a little more whimsical than its relatives, so in the autumn-winter period it is important to organize additional ultraviolet lighting and top dressing with highly active vitamin complexes for citrus.
- "Buddha's Hand" This variety is often referred to as "Corsican", since this particular island is considered to be its homeland. A tree of this variety reaches a height of 1.5 meters, and sometimes more. At home, such a plant bears fruit all year round, but it is possible to collect no more than 10 lemons from it per year. The fruits of the "Buddha Hand" variety grow very large, bright yellow with a thick rind and a thick white layer. The pulp is coarse-grained, juicy, the membranes are hard. The taste and aroma of lemons of this variety are mild, most often such fruits are used for the preparation of candied fruits, sauces, as a seasoning for other dishes. This variety is excellent for making fresh juices and lemonades, as it is very juicy and not too acidic.
- "Pavlovsky". Bred by Russian breeders, taking into account the peculiarities of the local climate. An adult tree reaches a height of 1.5 meters, fruiting lasts all year round. In one year, you can collect up to 15 lemons. The tree begins to bear fruit approximately three years after planting or germination. This is the most unpretentious variety lemon, it perfectly tolerates both excess and insufficient illumination, does not require frequent watering, and easily tolerates the autumn-winter period. For the health of such a tree, it is enough to feed with vitamins once a year and transplant no more than once every two years. The fruits of this variety are not too large, with a thin, finely porous skin of a light yellow color. The pulp of the fruit is very juicy and very fragrant, ideal for making tea and fresh juices.
- Maikopsky. This variety is excellent for sprouting in the southern regions of Russia. This is a particularly heat-loving variety, so a lemon tree of this variety can be safely taken outside in the summer. Sunbathing, fresh air and rain watering have a beneficial effect on the condition of the tree. The plant begins to bear fruit on average three years after planting, however, in the southern regions, where most of the year is sunny, the first harvest can be obtained in a year and a half. The fruits of this variety are not too large, with a loose light yellow skin and a sharp "nose". The flesh is dryish, but quite fragrant.
Will the plant bear fruit?
Everyone who decides to grow a lemon at home, involuntarily thinks about whether a plant grown in an apartment will bear fruit. The answer to this question cannot be unambiguous, but it will be rather positive than negative. Fruiting almost always occurs, but in rare cases this may not happen.
As a rule, plants grown in improperly selected soil are incapable of flowering.
Most often, such a plant stops developing, reaching a height of 40-50 centimeters. Such a plant can live in this state from 2 to 6 years, it will be a pretty houseplant, but nothing more.
V normal conditions fruiting can occur 1-5 years after planting, depending on the variety and method of planting. It is possible to accelerate the appearance of the first harvest. For this, a procedure was invented, known among gardeners under the name "ringing" or "ringing". The essence of the procedure is to redirect the flow of liquids and nutrients inside the tree. To do this, it is necessary to wind a piece of copper wire on the tree trunk above 2-3 lower branches. The wire should encircle the tree in one ring and slightly squeeze its bark, but not too stylishly so as not to damage the external and internal tissues of the plant. This will slightly slow down the flow of tree sap into the branches located above the ring and, accordingly, increase the supply of liquids and nutrients to the branches below the ring. This will lead to the first budding and flowering. After six months, the ring must be removed, as it will begin to interfere with the healthy growth of the tree. The first banding can be carried out as early as a year after planting the tree. You should not abuse this method, because after the first flowering the tree will continue to bloom on its own.
How to plant?
Growing a tree from a lemon seed is quite simple, absolutely anyone can handle it. You just need to remember a simple sequence of actions and a few useful tips.
In order to be able to germinate a lemon seed, you need to choose the right fruit: the lemon must be even, with a uniform color, without ruts and dents. All these signs indicate that the fruit is mature and intact, which means that the planting material is normal. Lemon seeds must be whole and freshly removed from the fruit. It is better to choose several seeds from different lemons in order to select the most robust and strong seedlings.
The selected seeds must be folded into a small container and poured with slightly warm water, left in this state overnight. During this time, a large amount of oils and starch will stand out from the bones, the water may become like mucus. The bones will soften, the top layer will peel off. This thin, transparent cover can be carefully removed - it makes it difficult for the sprout to germinate.
It is important not to damage the integrity of the inside of the seed, so you need to proceed very carefully. Unpeeled lemon seeds can sprout for more than six months, peeled - twice as fast.
To germinate seedlings, you need to use shallow pots, you can give preference to boxes divided into sections. It is important to organize drainage holes in the pot. In addition, it is advisable to purchase a drainage mixture. The soil must be selected marked "for citrus" or "for indoor flowers." You should not buy soil intended for growing seedlings - for citrus plants it is too acidic. Ordinary soil from the garden is also not very suitable for sprouting citrus fruits. The soil can be fertilized with peat, but this is not necessary, because often ready-made mixtures are already fertilized. It is necessary to pour a layer of soil into the prepared trays approximately 1/3 of the height of the pot, then you need to pour the drainage mixture in a layer of 1-2 centimeters, and again a layer of soil on top.
Lemon seeds should not be buried deeper than 1.5 centimeters. The distance between them should be at least 5 centimeters in all directions. The pot with seeds should be wrapped in a plastic bag and left in a warm room until the first sprouts appear. Occasionally, you can spray the soil a little, but you should not water it abundantly - the seeds can rot.
After the first sprouts appear, they need to be covered with jars. Pots with seedlings should be placed in a well-lit place, for example, on a windowsill. During this period, proper care of the seedlings is very important: it must be sprinkled lightly with water, the jars must be removed for 1-2 hours a day so that the cuttings harden, and then cover them again. When the first leaves appear on the sprouts, they need to be transplanted into small, but separate pots. Planting in large pots is acceptable when the trees reach 15-20 centimeters in height.
Care
At first glance, the lemon tree is an unpretentious plant that does not require special care. In fact, it is so, but there are several factors that make this plant a real home tyrant. So, for example, this plant cannot stand even the slightest movement around the room. Any move will lead to inevitable stress, leaf shedding and a long, protracted recovery, so it is critical to choose a lemon habitat in the house once and for all.
Here's what you should pay close attention to when choosing a place for a pot.
- Proper lighting. The lemon tree is very whimsical about the right combination of light and shadow: it loves bright rooms However, direct contact with the rays on the leaves should be avoided. With too much light, citrus fruits begin to grow too actively, while all the juices are wasted on building branches. In such conditions, you can get a huge tree that will never begin to bear fruit. Lemons tolerate penumbra well, but this tree does not like darkness. He needs enough light for active photosynthesis. The best place for a lemon tree in the house is a room with large windows facing east or west.
- Ideal temperature. The lemon tree is whimsical and temperature regime. Perfect option for him, it is the same temperature at any time of the year. So, for example, a lemon will feel great if both in summer and in winter time the daytime temperature will be 26 degrees, and the night temperature will be 20 degrees. However, in the conditions of the Russian climate, this is sometimes impossible. To create more comfortable conditions for the tree, you need to choose a place away from radiators, which can cause overheating. It is also worth avoiding places with drafts. It is undesirable to have a lemon near or opposite entrance doors so as not to catch a cold plant.
It is important to remember that moving a lemon during its flowering is unacceptable - this will inevitably lead to the fall of flowers and the death of the crop.
In addition to choosing a location for the pot, it is worth remembering a few more important factors that can affect the well-being of a lemon tree.
Watering
root system lemon does not like watering too much. To create more comfortable conditions, you can fill the pot tray with gravel, place the pot on top and periodically add water to the tray. From the gravel, moisture will seep into the soil through the drainage holes in the pot. This will minimize wetting of the root system of the plant. On hot summer days, two not too plentiful waterings per week are enough for lemon, while in winter, you can limit yourself to one watering per week. At the same time, lemon leaves and branches love moisture, so it is very important to organize frequent spraying of greens from a spray bottle. This procedure should be carried out as often as possible, if possible daily. But do not be too zealous with spraying - streams should not flow from the leaves; rather, it should resemble abundant dew.
Regular transplant
It is very important to replant the lemon tree in a timely manner, as it depletes the soil very much. On the early stages transplantation should be done 1 time per year in the spring. Further, it will be optimal to replant the tree once every two years.
It is worth transplanting a tree only into specialized soil, since it is the most saturated beneficial substances, which will allow the tree to live the period between transplants in comfortable conditions.
In the process of transplanting, it is important to properly care for the root system of the tree. It needs to be pruned so that it can be renewed over the next two years before transplanting. If the root system is not updated in this way, premature aging of the tree will occur, which will lead to its imminent death.
top dressing
A very important role in maintaining the well-being of the lemon tree is played by high-quality and timely feeding. In garden centers, you can easily choose high-quality vitamin preparations for citrus fruits.
The main rule of lemon fertilizer is to feed the tree in a timely manner.
In the summer, the need and effectiveness of complementary foods increases, so it is worth vaccinating with liquid vitamins once a week. In the remaining months, the number of dressings should be reduced to once a month.
There are a number folk remedies, which can be a worthy replacement for store-bought drugs: nettle infusion, egg shell infusion or a weak solution of cow or bird droppings.
Cupping
pruning house tree- this is a very important question, since not every house will fit a full-sized tree with a large spreading crown.
In addition, the following fact has long been generally recognized: the more magnificent the crown of citrus fruits, the less harvest they will give.
In this regard, you should not allow the tree to grow too lush crown. Prune the lemon tree with care, adhering to correct proportions and periodicity - this will not harm the tree, but, on the contrary, improve its condition. The first pinching is carried out when the sprout of the future tree has reached a height of 20 centimeters, each subsequent - every 20 centimeters of plant growth.
To form a crown of the correct shape, you need to pinch the branches. It is necessary to begin to form a crown from the first tier of branches, each subsequent tier should be several centimeters shorter than the previous one.
Diseases and pests
It is not too difficult to germinate a lemon from a stone, but not all trees are able to survive to the first fruits. Indoor lemons are very painful, they have no immunity to almost any known diseases plants. It is very important to follow all the above rules for caring for a lemon tree so as not to create an environment conducive to the development of diseases.
Pest problems are fairly easy to avoid. This will require simple measures: in the hot season, the plant needs to shower once a week. To do this, pollinate the leaves with water at room temperature from a spray bottle. In the cool season, you need to spray the leaves with slightly warm water once a month.
One of the most common problems associated with growing indoor lemons is yellowing and leaf drop. As a rule, this is not a symptom of the disease, but rather a sign of improper plant care.
Most often, the leaves turn yellow for the following reasons:
- too much heat plant content (over 28-32 degrees);
- too strong draft at the location of the pot;
- insufficient or excessive watering;
- watering the plant with too cold water;
- soil depletion, overdue transplant time;
- poor lighting of the plant;
- too high acidity of the soil.
In order to correct the situation, it is enough to identify and eliminate the cause: move the plant to another place, change the irrigation regime or transplant it into a new soil.
There are a number of diseases specific to citrus trees grown at home. Often the success of treatment depends on the detection of the disease in the early stages of its development. Among the most common citrus diseases, there are several incurable ones that can destroy the plant in a few weeks.
Chlorosis
The peculiarity of this disease lies in the fact that the plant almost completely stops the production of chlorophyll, in connection with this, the process of photosynthesis stops. At the initial stages of the development of the disease, the leaves of the plant begin to lighten and gradually lose color, then become thinner and fall off. On dark green glossy lemon leaves, it is difficult not to notice the signs of this disease, they become visible immediately after infection of the plant. Chlorosis can be infectious or hereditary and only affects young plants. In the case of lemon trees, only sprouts that are less than a year old. Timely feeding, monitoring and avoiding pest problems will help to avoid infection with this disease. In case of infection, microfertilizers can be injected into the trunks, branches and roots of a diseased plant, but this method of treatment does not always help - it all depends on the plant's own immunity.
root rot
Most often, root rot develops due to excessive watering of the plant in the cold season. Constantly wet soil leads to the fact that the root of the plant begins to rot. Outwardly, this disease is difficult to detect. Falling leaves can be considered a clear sign of lemon root rot. If the leaves of a lemon fall off for no apparent reason, you need to remove the plant from the pot, carefully shake off the soil from its roots, trying to cause as little damage to it as possible. The affected areas of the rhizome must be cut off, and the plant with a healthy root should be transplanted into a new, dry soil. Next, you should minimize watering, and in order to compensate for the lack of water, you need to regularly wipe the leaves of the plant with a clean, damp washcloth.
late blight
A fungal disease known in Russia. The treatment regimen for citrus late blight is exactly the same as for any garden plant. The areas affected by the disease must be treated with copper sulphate. For complete healing of the plant, antibiotic treatment is necessary. After curing late blight, it is necessary to create unfavorable conditions for the development of fungal infections: rare and not too abundant watering, a dry, well-ventilated room will help to avoid relapse.
Gommoz
This is an infection of the root and trunk of the tree. The first signs of the disease are the appearance of cracks at the base of the tree trunk. After some time, a dark liquid begins to seep through the cracks, then the tree withers, and it becomes impossible to save it. Upon detection of the first signs of the disease, you must immediately dig up the plant, remove all affected roots and cut off the affected bark, treat all exposed areas with copper sulphate or a highly concentrated solution of manganese and transplant the tree into a new pot with fresh soil.
Tristeza
It is an incurable viral infection. On the territory of Russia it is quite rare, so infection with it is almost impossible. However, if for inexplicable reasons a homemade lemon has begun to peel and fall off the bark, it is better to get rid of this plant immediately, because tristeza is a highly contagious disease that quickly spreads to all houseplants.
Leaf mosaic
This is an infection that cannot be cured. However, with timely detection of a problem, you can stop its development, thereby saving the tree from death. The first signs of leaf mosaic disease are the appearance of a characteristic “marble” pattern on the leaves. In the case of further development of the disease, these spots begin to grow along with the tissues of the leaves, the leaves bend and twist. Further, the disease spreads to the branches and trunk. Affected tissues also swell and lead to cracking of the trunk. At this stage, it is impossible to save the plant. When the first symptoms of the disease are detected, it is important to remove all affected leaves. You can even do something radical - remove the entire diseased branch. All sections must be treated with a weak solution of manganese, it is desirable to pollinate the healthy part of the tree with the same solution from the sprayer. It is desirable to isolate the infected plant from healthy flowers for 1-2 months.
Cancer of citrus
This is a bacterial disease that develops when saprophytic microbes enter a healthy plant. Surprisingly, only plants that grow outside their historical homeland are susceptible to this disease. Plants in China and India have never had this disease. Absolutely all parts of the tree are exposed to this disease: from the root to the fruit. Light watery spots appear on the infected surfaces of the tree, which gradually darken and turn into necrotic foci. A favorable environment for the citrus cancer bacterium is too moist soil at a high average daily air temperature.
Cancer-causing bacteria have a remarkable feature - they fluoresce at night. If the plant suddenly began to glow at night, this is the first sign of citrus cancer. Unfortunately, this disease is not treatable, and when faced with it, it is important to save other plants - for this you need to destroy the diseased and treat all tools and surfaces around the source of infection with disinfectants.
How to grow a lemon from seeds, see the following video
No matter how many lemons you buy, you still want such a useful exotic fruit to be picked from the tree whenever your heart desires. Grown on the windowsill, this plant will not only decorate your home, but also provide generous fruiting. The main thing is to create an optimal microclimate for it. How to grow a lemon from a seed at home is what every grower has to figure out. Consider the basic agricultural techniques - and forward, to the "barricades"! Growing a lemon at home or in an apartment is quite realistic.
Growing a lemon from a stone at home will be possible with an experienced grower, who understands that a lot of effort will have to be made. This is a rather whimsical plant that requires constant lighting. Another important point in providing a favorable microclimate - humidity. The lemon tree is the first tropical plant. This indoor flower loves moisture very much, so try your best to provide it.
It is recommended not only to water the tree, but also to spray, wash the stems and leaves. It is important that the microclimate in the room is not dry. In order to grow a lemon from a seed at home, you need to create a kind of mini-tropics in the apartment. Will the plant develop intensively enough in this case? Undoubtedly.
Ground Requirements
Many people think about how to plant a lemon from a seed according to the rules. First, pay attention to the quality of the soil mixture. Some flower growers prefer to buy the necessary substrate for exotic plants. If desired, you can also dig up ordinary land in a summer cottage.
However, all this is not very suitable for planting indoor lemon at home. Ash, humus, manure, and also some sand should be added to the main soil. This composition is optimal for growing a tree. When you have prepared the substrate or purchased it, place the mixture in a flower pot and carefully tamp it down: in the process of planting a homemade lemon, there should not be even the slightest voids in the soil.
Preparing and planting seeds
Many people try to grow a lemon tree from a stone at home. But you can't do without proper preparation in this matter. Besides, it's not the only thing worth your attention. Much more seriously it is worth taking the processing of seeds selected for planting. There are several important points for citrus growers. For example, many advise to free the grain from the husk. Thus, shoots are formed easier and faster.
But in the process of cleaning the seeds, do everything very carefully so as not to damage them. Another important point is the hydration of the grains. During the day immediately before sowing, it is recommended to soak them in water.
Remember: if you just took out the seeds from the fruit, they can be planted and without pre-treatment in water or a growth stimulator, they will be able to sprout.
When preparations are complete, it's time to start landing. Pour some expanded clay or pebbles into a small pot, then add the soil mixture. Do not deepen the lemon seeds too much, it will be enough to place them in the top layer of soil. Pre-moisten the ground, in the process of planting it should not be dry. At first, lemon seeds must be carefully protected. To do this, cover the pot with foil. Sprout the seeds from time to time removing the cover.
Top dressing and fertilization
How to grow a lemon tree from seed? It is very important to pay special attention. The plant can not do without nitrogen nutrient mixtures. If we neglect the feeding of lemon with nitrogen, it can noticeably, and in general, the aesthetic appearance will be lost. Phosphorus is another important nutrient. They are recommended to saturate the substrate of indoor lemon during the flowering period. With a lack of this substance in the soil, flowers may not form at all on a tree, and if they do, then in a small amount. Mix superphosphate with manure, and the plant will bloom and actively form fruits.
Watering rules
Knowing how to grow a homemade lemon from a seed, and how to care for it, you can one day pick your own exotic fruits. But first you need to work hard. Watering is an important component for indoor lemon. To irrigate the substrate, try to use settled rainwater at room temperature. Since the plant is tropical, in the summer it needs a lot of moisture, so it will have to be watered many times (once or twice daily). Remember: at home, growing a fruitful lemon will not be possible without regular watering. That is why specify not only how to grow a homemade lemon from a stone, but also how to ensure proper care for it.
Diseases and pests
Growing a lemon from a stone is rarely complete without fighting parasites or various ailments. Having germinated a lemon from seeds, you need to carefully protect the sprout that could sprout from such misfortunes. Inspect your houseplant from time to time for insects. If parasites have been found, use high-quality insecticides for treatment. The sooner you detect an impending threat, the greater the chance that the tree will fully recover.
Lemon grown in a pot on the windowsill will saturate the air in the house with phytoncides and essential oils, protecting from infectious diseases and bacteria. And so that a miniature tree regularly pleases not only appearance, but also fruits, it needs to be grafted. You can buy seedlings in specialized stores, but it is more interesting and cheaper to plant a seed in the ground and wait until it turns into a young sprout.
Choosing planting material
Where can I get lemon seeds? Go to the supermarket or the market, choose the largest fruit of a rich yellow hue and get a bone out of it. The main thing is that there are no spots or other damage on the citrus peel. In planting material taken from a dented or rotted sample, an infection or disease may lurk that will destroy fragile sprouts that have hatched from the ground.
The purchased lemon is carefully cut, trying not to touch the shell of the seeds with the blade, and the seeds are removed. Planting material is immediately sorted: large specimens are left, small ones are thrown away, because they rarely sprout.
It is advisable to plant the seeds in pots immediately, while they are still wet. But if there are a few dry lemon seeds left in the closet, which are a little more than a month or two, the workpiece is soaked in warm water for several hours, and then buried in the ground.
Lemons are also grown from cuttings, which you can get hold of from friends or neighbors. Cut off a young twig from a fruiting tree, put it in water, add heteroauxin and wait a day. There must be at least 3 buds on the handle, and the mother lemon must necessarily produce at least 6-10 citrus fruits per year.
Soil and pots
Some home trees grow up to 8–10 m in height, others stop at around 3–4 m. Beginners who deal with lemons for the first time try to plant a seed or cutting immediately in a huge pot or wooden box. The plant needs space, but when there is too much of it, the root system does not develop properly. Therefore, at the first stage, a small clay pot or a disposable plastic cup will suffice.
You can create a container for growing lemon from a bottle:
- Cut in half or a third. Throw away the top with the lid, leaving the bottom of the bottle.
- Make many small holes in the bottom to allow air to circulate.
- Put the homemade pot on a plastic plate or tray so that excess water flows onto the stand, and not onto the windowsill.
- Fill the bottle with earth and plant a lemon seed in it.
You can grow citrus seedlings in flower pot, several pieces at once, but there should be a distance between them. It is recommended to mentally draw an equilateral triangle on the surface of the earth and stick 1-2 grains in each vertex of the geometric figure.
Use for growing lemons and wooden rectangular boxes. Between the seeds, 15–20 cm recede so that the root system has space for development. Regardless of the chosen container, a drainage layer 1–1.5 cm high is laid on the bottom of the pot or box. If it is absent, moisture begins to accumulate, air circulates poorly and a fungus appears in the soil. The root system of the lemon rots, and the plant disappears.
As a drainage use:
- small pebbles or pebbles;
- small pieces of earthenware;
- grated foam;
- coarse sand;
- expanded clay or crushed wine cork.
Tip: To provide the plant with a nutrient medium, it is recommended to put a layer of peat, dried cow or horse manure, or a little moss on top of the drainage. The height of top dressing is 1.5–2 cm, then comes the soil.
Ideal soil
lemon count unpretentious plant that can take root in any land. The main thing is to be warm and have enough moisture. Often seeds are planted in a mixture of soddy soil, river sand and humus. More experienced gardeners add wood ash to the soil, which will nourish weak sprouts.
Suitable for growing a citrus tree and land intended for indoor plants. You can buy soil in flower shops, it is advisable to add a little peat to the soil. If lemon cuttings are planted in pots, then a layer of sand is poured over the ground. This helps the citrus take root faster and take root in a new place.
Disembarkation process
Make a small depression in the soil, about 1.5–2 cm, slightly moisten the soil and stick a few seeds into it. It is recommended to take 2–3 grains per hole, because part of the planting material may turn out to be empty and unviable. If several sprouts have hatched from the hole at once, the strongest and healthiest specimen is left, the rest are carefully pulled out or cut off to the very root.
How it all happens:
- Put the seeds in moistened soil, sprinkle them with earth and lightly tamp the soil.
- Spray the ground with warm distilled or melted water using a spray bottle.
- Cover the pot with a plastic bag, which will create the effect of a greenhouse.
- Put lemons in a room where the temperature does not fall below +18. Before the first sprouts appear, the seeds do not need light, so citrus fruits can be kept in any room.
- Periodically open the film and ventilate the earth in pots, regularly moisten the soil with a spray bottle, but make sure that the earth is not too wet and damp.
With cuttings they do a little differently:
- A branch that has stood for several days in a special solution is planted in the ground after the appearance of thin roots.
- The plant is buried so deep that only two buds remain on the surface, the rest should hide underground.
- The stalk at first needs abundant watering, because the lemon does not have strong roots that can draw moisture from the soil.
- The plant feels comfortable at a temperature of + 18-20 degrees.
- It will take about 1.5–2 months for a citrus cutting to finally take root in a pot and begin to grow actively.
Tip: If you overdid it with watering, and the earth cannot dry out in any way, you should not wait for mold to appear. The pot is freed from moist soil and filled with new dry soil, into which the lemon is transplanted.
little trick
You can cover the hatched lemon shoots not only with a bag, but also with an ordinary glass jar. Place the container upside down to create a greenhouse effect. Lemons draw faster in humid conditions reminiscent of tropical climates. If citruses were planted in a pot in winter or early spring, the plant is placed next to a battery or heater, and watered 3 times a week.
Water is used rain or melt, heated to room temperature. Irrigation liquid should settle for several days to harmful impurities precipitated.
Fertilizer and transplant
Seedlings are fertilized every two weeks. Citrus fruits are suitable for dressings such as "Ideal" or "Healthy". You can buy special fertilizers created for lemons and other exotic plants, but they must contain:
- manganese;
- zinc.
Citrus leaves are regularly wiped with a damp cloth, cleaning from dust. A pot with seedlings should stand in a well-lit window so that the plant receives a lot of ultraviolet light. But in order for the sprouts to stretch evenly and not shed their leaves, the lemon should be rotated around its axis by 1.5–2 cm every month. You can’t twist the seedlings sharply, otherwise such unexpected changes may result in “baldness” of the young tree.
In early spring, the grown citrus is transferred to another, more spacious pot. In the first year, the lemon should "move" 4 times. An adult tree can live in its pot for several years, the main thing is to renew the topsoil from time to time.
How to understand what a lemon needs new house? If its roots reach the drainage layer and try to get out of the pot, the tree has become cramped. Move the lemon from one container to another carefully so as not to damage the base. A little earth is left on the root system so that the plant adapts to new conditions faster.
Tree formation
So that the seedling does not turn into a shaggy bush of an incomprehensible shape, you need to take care of it. When the central shoot becomes strong and begins to stretch upward, acquiring branches and additional leaves, it is cut off. A stump 20 cm high should remain. Further, branches of the second order are formed on the central trunk, which are pinched when they reach 18–19 cm. Repeat the procedure again until shoots of the fourth “generation” appear. It is on them that buds, flowers and fruits are formed.
If you do not cut off the extra sprouts and branches, the crown of the lemon will become thick, and the tree will spend too much energy on feeding the leaves and unnecessary shoots.
When the trunk of the seedling becomes as thick as a pencil, the lemon should be grafted. It is necessary to ask friends or order a two-year-old stalk cut from a fruiting citrus in a specialized store. You will also need:
- well-sharpened knife;
- a roll of electrical tape;
- plastic bag;
- garden var.
First, a lemon branch is cut off, extending from the central trunk, leaving a stump 5–10 cm high. It must be carefully split into two equal parts. Sharpen the bottom of the handle in the shape of a blade and insert into the stump. Coat the open "wounds" with garden pitch, tightly tighten with electrical tape so that it covers the stump.
The top of the scion is also cut off, leaving 2 to 4 buds. Treat the cut with garden pitch, cover the pinned lemon with a bag to create a warm, humid microclimate. In such conditions, wounds heal faster, and the stalk takes root better. Remove the cellophane after the first shoots appear. A grafted lemon will begin to bear fruit in 2-3 years.
For the first time, 2 flowers are left to be pollinated with a cotton swab. Collect pollen from one cup and transfer to another. In the future, as many fruits can ripen on a lemon as the ovary appears.
- In late autumn, the temperature in the room where the citrus pot is standing should be gradually reduced to 15 degrees so that the plant adapts to harsh conditions. At the same time, daylight hours are increased, otherwise the tree will begin to shed its leaves.
- In winter, it is recommended to wrap a tub of lemon with heaters or thick blankets to protect the roots from hypothermia.
- The soil is loosened every 5-6 waterings to improve the flow of air into the soil and prevent acidification of the earth.
- In late spring and summer, it is useful to take a mature citrus tree outside, but hide it from direct sunlight.
Lemon, like other plants, needs regular care and attention. The plant loves heat, moisture and sun in moderation, sometimes it needs to be fed and protected from pests. If you do not forget to water the tree, fertilize and keep it away from drafts, it will live long and regularly delight with fruits.
Video: how to grow citrus fruits at home
