Best Indoor Lemon Tree

Best Indoor Lemon Tree. A miniature lemon tree is a type of citrus plant that thrives indoors yet still produces full-sized lemons. In their natural habitats, mature outdoor lemon trees often reach heights of around twenty feet. In comparison to their larger outdoor counterparts, dwarf cultivars that are grown indoors only grow to a height of four to ten feet and develop fruit more swiftly.

Best Indoor Lemon Tree

Although home gardeners who reside in lower climates can successfully grow these indoor plants indoors, they do best in the mild winters and warm temps found in USDA Hardiness Zones 8–11.

How to Grow a Lemon Tree Indoors

Lemon trees raised indoors from seeds will probably take many years to produce fruit. The most effective course of action is to move a two- to a three-year-old dwarf tree that you bought from a nearby nursery or garden centre into an indoor pot. To cultivate a lemon tree inside, follow these instructions.

1. Pick the Right Tree:

Meyer and Ponderosa lemon trees are the best varieties of miniature lemon trees for container gardening. The largest lemons are produced by the hybrid citron-lemon tree known as the Ponderosa. The simple-to-grow Meyer lemon tree is a cross between a lemon and a Mandarin orange tree. Try an ‘Improved Meyer’ cultivar, which is resistant to typical citrus tree viruses, if you want to plant the latter variety. Pink-fleshed lemons are produced by variegated pink lemon trees, which are also suitable for indoor use.

Select the Proper Pot:

To keep your tree from becoming waterlogged and getting root rot, plant your indoor lemon tree in a terracotta pot with drainage holes. Measure the root ball of your tree to estimate the size of your pot, then look for one that is at least two inches larger on all sides. If your tree becomes root-bound as it develops, move it into a larger container

Use a potting Mix that is Well-Drained:

Find a potting mixture designed especially for citrus trees. To avoid damp soil, the best potting mix should be quick to dry. Dig a hole for your tree before adding the potting mix to your container.

Plant the Tree:

By locating your tree’s root flare, which should be directly above the soil line and serve as the root ball, you can determine the ideal depth at which to plant your tree’s root ball. So that the soil doesn’t leak out during watering, leave an inch or two of space between the soil line and the pot’s top.

Use a Starter Formula to Treat After Thoroughly Watering:

The lemon tree should be watered until water starts to leak out of the drainage holes. Apply a plant starter formula to the soil the following day to lessen the impact of the transplant.

Decide Where to Plant the Tree:

Place your tree close to a south-facing window because citrus plants need eight to ten hours of direct sunlight every day to develop fruit. Use an artificial grow light if you can’t locate a location in your house that receives enough hours of direct sunlight each day. Avoid installing indoor lemon trees next to heat or air conditioning vents as they like temperatures between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

How to Care for a Lemon Tree Indoors:

1. Feed with Special Fertilizer: Give your tree the nutrients it needs to thrive by fertilising it with an organic fertiliser with high nitrogen content. To determine how much fertiliser to use and how frequently to apply, refer to the instructions on the fertiliser package.
2. Keep up Pest Control: Keep an eye out for typical indoor plant pests like aphids and spider mites on your lemon tree. Apply the right pesticide to your tree as soon as you notice the first signs of an infestation.
3. Water Sparingly. Only water your lemon tree when the top two inches of the soil are dry. Keep the soil moist without oversaturating it. Stop watering once the liquid seeps out of the pot’s drainage holes. Water your lemon tree more frequently during the summer than you do in the winter months, especially if you move it outside in the summer.
4. Use little Water: The top two inches of the soil should only be dry before you water your lemon tree. Keep the soil moist without soaking it too much. Once the water starts to leak out of the drainage holes in the pot, stop watering. If you move your lemon tree outside in the summer, you should water it more frequently in the summer than you do in the winter.