Lemon has long gained popularity among amateur flower growers - a beautiful perennial plant that will delight the owner with an elegant green crown, exotic flowers, and healthy tasty fruits. However, in its homeland - in India, China and on warm tropical islands - the lemon tree reaches 8 meters in height. How to grow a lemon in an ordinary apartment?
Instructions
It turns out that caring for lemon is not so difficult, and this can be done even in the northernmost regions of our country. The most common indoor cultivar is Pavlovsk Lemon. This tree is up to 1, 5-2 meters in height, characterized by shade tolerance and ease of grafting. At the same time, thin-bore fragrant fruits growing on this tree can reach 500 grams of weight, although on average they grow up to 150 grams.
Lemon, although a southern plant, easily tolerates a lack of light. However, it is still better to keep it in a place with bright, diffused light and protect it from direct sunlight. By the way, a long daylight stimulates the active growth of lemon shoots, and a short day - fruiting.
In order for the plant to actively form buds and bloom, it is desirable to maintain an average air temperature of +15 - +18 degrees. For flowering and fruit formation, a cool wintering is also important - a bright room where the air does not warm up above 12 degrees is suitable for it. Completion of such a "winter" will help the plant to understand that it is time to bloom. However, lemon also does not like a sharp change in conditions. Having put a tree covered with fruits on a balcony or on the street, its owner may soon witness the loss of not only fruits, but even leaves, and also risks not waiting for the fruits the next year.
It is advisable to water the lemon with warm water, both in winter and in summer. But in winter, to ensure a dormant period, watering should be done 1-2 times a week, while in summer you can water every day, and even twice a day. In any case, the result of overdrying the earthen coma will be the loss of leaves and fruits, so it is better not to allow this. However, excess moisture will be destructive. Root respiration is important for lemon, so the topsoil should be loosened periodically.
Air humidity is another important factor in caring for this plant. The plant must be sprayed in summer, and if it hibernates in a heated room, then in winter. With insufficient air humidity, lemon can become an easy victim of scale insects and ticks.
Lemon is transplanted by transshipment without destroying the earthen lump. An annual transplant is recommended, but if the clod of earth has not yet been braided by roots, then it is not needed. If the tree already has fruits, then the transplant can be carried out less often, once every 2-3 years, before the start of active growth. If this moment is missed, then it is better not to disturb the plant. It is necessary to ensure that the level of immersion of the root collar in the ground remains constant during transplantation.
The most popular and easiest way to propagate a lemon is by cuttings. However, growing from seed is also possible and can be quite an interesting experiment. In addition, such a plant will be much better adapted to the conditions of an apartment than one grown from a cuttings.
As you can see, caring for a lemon is not difficult, but it requires a lot of perseverance and care. But the lemon will thank you for proper care with abundant flowering and delicate healing fruits, which will not only replenish the diet with vitamins, but also remind you of the hot southern countries - the homeland of this amazing tree.
