Buzz
Yellow lemon trees are evergreen plants known for their pleasant fragrance and tangy yellow fruit. While they thrive best outdoors, they can also be grown indoors with proper care. By meeting the plant's needs, you can help it adapt to an indoor environment, and soon your lemon tree will grow rapidly and be ready to bear fruit!
Steps
Planting the Tree
Choose a Meyer lemon tree for indoor planting. Meyer lemon trees are the most adaptable for indoor growth. They produce small to medium-sized fruits and are relatively easy to care for, making them ideal for beginners.
- Variegated pink lemon trees also thrive indoors and are beginner-friendly.
- Purchase a lemon tree that is at least 2-3 years old, as younger trees may not adapt well to indoor conditions. While you can grow lemon trees from seeds, they are less likely to adapt to indoor environments and may not produce fruit true to the parent plant.
Select a deep plastic pot for planting your yellow lemon tree. Plastic pots are ideal for lemon trees because they make it easier to move the tree as seasons change and light conditions vary. A deep pot is necessary to keep the tree stable as it grows and begins to bear fruit.
- The depth of the pot will determine how large the tree can grow. Choose a pot with a minimum capacity of 60 liters.
- Ensure the pot has drainage holes to prevent waterlogging.
Choose a drainage tray that fits the pot. Place a few pebbles in the tray and add a small amount of water before setting the pot on top. The water in the tray will help maintain humidity around the tree.
- You can cut a piece of landscape fabric and place it at the bottom of the pot to prevent soil from falling into the tray. Replace the fabric when repotting to avoid blocking the drainage holes.
Purchase a slightly acidic potting mix. Yellow lemon trees thrive in peat moss-based mixes, as they are slightly acidic and drain well. You can find peat moss or other well-draining potting mixes at garden centers or nurseries.
- Cactus soil is also suitable for citrus trees.
Find a sunny spot for your tree. Yellow lemon trees grow best with at least 8-12 hours of direct sunlight daily. Choose a location near a window where the tree can receive sunlight throughout the day.
- If you live in an area with limited sunlight, consider installing a grow light near the tree and keeping it on for up to 12 hours a day.
Remove the tree from its nursery pot and spread out the roots. Use your hands to gently loosen and separate the root strands. This will help the roots spread faster, allowing them to absorb more water and nutrients from the soil.
- Be gentle to avoid damaging or breaking the roots.
Fill the pot halfway with the potting mix. Before planting, add soil until the pot is half full and level it out. This step ensures the roots can easily penetrate the soil and keeps the tree upright when placed in the pot.
Place the lemon tree in the pot. Position the tree upright and fill the remaining space with soil. Firm the soil around the base, ensuring no roots are exposed above the surface.
- Plant the tree at the same depth as it was in its previous pot.
- Avoid covering the trunk with soil, as this can increase the risk of fungal infections.
Water the tree immediately after planting. Moist soil is more familiar to the lemon tree and aids in its adaptation process. Water until the soil is damp but not soggy or waterlogged.
Tree Care
Water the tree weekly. If the yellow lemon tree lacks sufficient water, natural salts produced by the plant can accumulate in the soil. Maintain soil moisture without overwatering to prevent root rot.
- If using hard tap water, you may need to lower the pH before watering. Mix 1 tablespoon (15ml) of white vinegar into 4 liters of water for an effective solution.
- Curling leaves indicate the tree needs more water.
Facilitate air circulation around the plant. To mimic an outdoor environment, open nearby doors or windows when the weather is warm. If it's too cold, placing a rotating fan near the plant can help improve air flow.
Fertilize the plant every few months. Yellow lemon trees thrive with high nitrogen levels—look for nitrogen-rich fertilizers at most plant stores. Apply fertilizer every 3 weeks in spring and summer, and every 6 weeks in fall and winter.
- NPK 2-1-1 fertilizer is ideal for citrus plants.
- Avoid fertilizers containing alfalfa meal or cottonseed meal, as these can lead to fungal infections.
Prune the plant lightly. Over-pruning can reduce yield, but occasional trimming is beneficial. Remove dead, broken, diseased, or weak branches to manage the plant's height and canopy, ensuring it fits well indoors.
- Indoor yellow lemon trees can be pruned year-round.
Place a humidifier near the plant. Yellow lemon trees naturally grow in humid climates. A humidifier nearby can prevent stagnant air. Set it to at least 50% to maintain adequate humidity.
- Misting the plant weekly or during rain can also restore moisture.
- In humid regions, simply opening doors or windows can provide sufficient humidity.
Control room temperature to ensure a fruitful lemon season. Yellow lemon trees grow best at an average daytime temperature of 21°C and 13°C at night. Temperatures below 13°C won't kill the plant but will induce dormancy, halting growth.
Harvesting lemons
Pollinate the plant using a paintbrush. Indoor lemon trees lack natural pollinators, so manual pollination is necessary for fruit production. Gently brush the paintbrush against the stamens and anthers in the center of the flower, then transfer the pollen to the pistil located deeper within the flower.
- Repeat this process daily to ensure successful pollination. Yellow lemon trees typically bear fruit 6-9 months after pollination.
- While the tree may produce fruit without pollination, the lemons will grow larger if pollinated.
Thin out dense clusters of lemons. When a cluster of small fruits appears, remove two-thirds of them to allow the remaining third to grow properly. Use pruning shears to carefully trim the excess lemons.
- Overcrowded fruit clusters can drain the tree's energy, resulting in stunted growth for all fruits.
- Many lemon trees naturally shed some fruit. Wait a few months before deciding to remove any.
Check the ripeness of lemons using your thumb. Once the lemons have grown to a good size, press your thumb against the skin. If the fruit feels soft and juicy rather than firm, it’s ready to harvest.
- Lemons can remain on the tree for a long time without overripening.
- They typically stop growing when ready for harvest and develop a bright yellow color.
Cut the lemons from the branch using pruning shears. Use shears to snip the fruit off at the stem. If shears aren’t available, you can gently twist and pull the lemon off by hand.
- Handle the fruit carefully to avoid damaging the tree.
Store yellow lemons for 1-2 months on the kitchen counter or in the refrigerator. After picking, lemons can last 2-4 weeks on the counter and 1-2 months in the fridge. Avoid cutting lemons until needed, as sliced lemons only last 2-3 days in the refrigerator.
- For longer storage, squeeze the lemon juice into a jar, seal it tightly, and refrigerate or freeze for 4-6 months.
Prune the roots if the tree stops producing fruit. Potted lemon trees can develop root-bound conditions, which may halt fruit production. Carefully remove the tree from its pot and use a sharp knife to trim 1.3–2.5 cm from the outer root ball.
- Keep the roots moist by spraying water around them.
- Replant the tree and trim about one-third of the foliage to balance the root system.
Tips
- If you live in a warm climate, you can move the potted plant outdoors or plant it in your garden.
What You'll Need
- Plastic pot
- Acidic soil mix
- Water
- Nitrogen-rich fertilizer
- Humidifier
- Paintbrush
- Pruning shears
- Grow light (optional)
