How to Grow an Indoor Lemon Tree?

Gardening is a hobby for a lot of people all across the globe. It is always fun taking care of a tree from a seed to its full size. The reason why so many people have taken up gardening as a hobby is because of the rewarding feeling it gives to people. Most of the people who take up gardening either try to do it in their yards or indoors. For both places, the process differs a bit and the choice of plants is also not the same. Today we will be talking about growing an indoor lemon tree because people all across are struggling to do so.

When you are thinking of growing a lemon tree on a pot indoors you have to keep in mind that the tree will require a lot of extra care because of the controlled environment inside. Lack of sun and unseasonal rains are the main reasons for lemon trees getting damaged. If you are growing the lemon tree indoors you can always grow them in a pot and maintain all the different conditions needed. It is recommended that if you are growing a lemon tree then you should always try a sunny spot in your garden or balcony. 

Selecting a Lemon Plant

One of the main aspects of growing a Lemon Plant is choosing the right type of plant to grow. Before starting the process of planting a lemon tree, users should always keep in mind that it will take almost five years to start fruiting. You must choose a plant that already has a couple of fruits and a few blooms. 

Growing a plant from scratch could be quite a task when it comes to indoor lemon plants. If you are going to a nursery to pick up an indoor lemon tree make sure you ask them for advice and knowledge about the plant. Knowing more about the plant will surely help you in taking care of it in the future.

When you will be picking up your indoor lemon tree from the nursery make sure you pick up a pot to plant the tree. It is recommended that you go for the 14-inch pot because it will give quite some space for the roots to grow properly. It is recommended that you go for plastic pots because they are quite durable and they do not break easily. 

Plastic generally helps to retain heat which is quite good for the lemon tree. If you want to go for terracotta pots then also the lemon tree will grow properly. Make sure to check for holes in the pots so that there is a proper form of drainage for the lemon tree.

Choosing the right soil

Soil is the main reason for the growth and nourishment of the lemon tree. The better the soil the faster the tree will grow. Since lemon trees are quite citrous in nature you should always go for a mixed soil that is light and has a good drainage setup. If the soil is compacted then the growth of the lemon tree will surely be hampered. The feeder roots will not be able to grow at all. We have finally come out with the perfect soil mixture for lemon trees. 

A normal pot has an equal percentage of compost, cocopeat, and garden soil but for lemon trees, it will be a bit different. In lemon trees, instead of one part of garden soil, we need to dilute the garden soil with 50 percent sand so that the drainage system in the soil gets better and faster. 

The ideal combination of soil for a lemon tree is 30 percent compost, 30 percent cocopeat, 20 percent garden soil, and 20 percent sand. Make sure you use some thermocol bits at the bottom of the pot because it will help the roots to stay dry. After putting on the thermocol, put about 3 to 4 handfuls of compost and make sure that there are no air pockets left. 

Make sure to remove the plastic cover from the root before planting the lemon tree. Mix the soil well and start watering the plant until the water starts draining. You can always add some mulch to the top layer of the soil so that it avoids the weeds which lemon plants hate.

Finding the correct place for Indoor Lemon Tree

Location is one of the most important things when it comes to growing a lemon tree. It is recommended that when you are growing a lemon tree keep it in a semi-shade place where it does not get direct sunlight. This will help the plant get adjusted to its new home. Make sure that the plant gets some sunlight during the day. 4-5 hours of direct sunlight is just perfect for these types of plants. 

If you keep your plant facing south then it will get all it needs to be fulfilled. Placing the lemon tree on the balcony could be a bit tricky because you will have to keep a track of the time the plant is under direct sunlight.

Regularly water your Indoor Lemon Tree

If you are new to gardening then you need to keep in mind that an Indoor Lemon tree that has been newly planted needs water every alternate day. Once it is accustomed to the new home you will have to switch to watering the plant twice a week. Once the plant starts growing rapidly make sure to water it once every week. If you water an Indoor Lemon Tree every day then it will surely end up keeping the roots soggy and eventually die. 

The simplest way to find out if the plant needs water is to poke one finger in the soil and if more than one inch is dry then it needs to be watered. Watering the Indoor Lemon tree is a bit hard and needs a lot of attention because the roots are all stuck to the pot and there is no space for them to spread. 

When you are watering the plant make sure to wash the stems and leaves of the plant because they also need to be kept clean and watered. Using a water spray is something all gardening experts suggest because it helps to keep the plant wet with a very little amount of water.

Feeding the Indoor Lemon Tree

Since lemon trees are citrus in nature it is quite demanding when it comes to nourishment. You will have to feed the plant regularly for it to grow steadily. You will have to add compost every couple of months to the plant or else the lemon tree will not be able to survive. 

Make sure you keep adding magnesium and potassium because it will surely help the lemon tree grow bigger. Since you are growing the lemon tree in the plant you can always add all the nutrients needed by the tree separately.

Pruning the Lemon tree

If you plan to keep a lemon tree at home then pruning is something that you should do regularly or else the growth of the lemon tree will slow down. The process of pruning is quite simple and you will be able to do it yourself. All you need to do is take scissors and cut all the extra leaves and stems from the tree. 

Make sure you remove all the dead leaves or the leaves which are eaten by insects. Pruning helps to reduce the yield of the lemon tree and keep it away from insects. Remove all the dead and diseased branches and also make sure to control the height of the tree. Pruning should always be done depending on the place of the tree.

Using a humidifier

This is a step that you can use only if you are keeping your tree indoors and it is not growing properly. Set Up a humidifier near your lemon tree and make it feel that it is growing in a humid climate. Humidifiers should only be used in dry places. Set the humidifier into 50 percent settings so that the indoor lemon tree can absorb moisture from the air itself. Setting up a humidifier could be a little expensive so if you are unable to do so simply use a spray gun to spray the leaves once every day.

Conclusion

Gardening has become a hobby for a lot of people because spending time on trees is just a great experience. There are so many types of plants and trees available which you can grow in our garden and the lemon tree is surely one of them. Lemon trees are generally very beautiful and grow quite fast if taken care of. Not a lot of gardeners grow lemon trees because it needs a lot of attention but if you want to enjoy some citrous lemons from your tree then you should give it a try. Make sure you read this article carefully and follow all the steps so that you are successfully able to grow an indoor lemon tree at your home.