Lemon house plant. Potassium permanganate for plant health - reliable and indispensable

Lemons  - perennial evergreen subtropical plants from Southeast Asia. They are hardy, durable, but   require  enough attention.

Thanks to its brilliant leathery leaves, it is very decorative even in a non-flowering state. And during flowering the whole room will be filled with its delicate and invigorating scent.

Plant emits volatile essential oilswith bactericidal action, ozonizing air, raising mood, giving vitality.

Varieties of indoor lemons (with photos)

For growing  The following sorts of lemon are suitable:

Pavlovsky. Shade-tolerant, annually gives 6-15 tasty fruits weighing 200 g (up to 400 g) with a thin skin. Old popular variety. Blooms for 3 years. There are several clones of the variety, with different shape and weight of the fruit.

Lunario. The most unpretentious variety. The taste of fruits is average, their weight is 120-180 g. In a year it gives 8-16 fruits. Bloom for 2-3 years. Most common in Europe.

Ponderosis. Grade up to 1 m, unpretentious, but low-yielding (3-5 per year). The weight of tasty fruits is more than 300 g. They bloom for 1-2 years.

Lisbon. Unpretentious, resistant to heat. The branches are hollowed out. Tasty fruits weighing 180-200 g. Yield 6-16 fruits. Seedlings are blooming for 3 years. Proper crown formation can reduce plant height.

Meier. The shortest (0.5-1 m), remontant, precocious. Capricious, painful, requires winter illumination. Fruit weight 150-190 g. Their taste is average. In the year gives 6-15 fruits. Blossoms for 1-2 year. Due to its size, it is the most common variety.

Suitable for growing in room conditions, but rare varieties  lemon: variegated Eureka (with white veins on the leaves), Kursk and Genoa - both with very tasty fruits, Maikop (the most productive), Villafranca, Novogruzinsky.

Lemon Houseplant Care

To get fragrant flowers and long-awaited fruits you need to know how to care for a potted lemon.

Lighting

This plant short daylight. A long day increases growth, but retards fruiting. Bright diffused light is needed, so they place the lemon on the east window. Southern windows are also suitable, but with shading from direct summer sun.

For a uniform expansion of the crown once or twice a month slightly turn the lemon  in relation to the sun. Lack of lighting leads to slow leaf growth, sour taste of the fruit.

Temperature

For growthbut, flowering need temperature + 17-20, for the development and ripening of fruits + 21-22. In the summer, the plant can be kept outdoors, but do not forget to follow the sharp changes in temperature.

In winter, they contain lemon at + 15-18, lighting up to 12-hour daylight hours, or at + 7-14, while the plant “sleeps”. Excessive heat is very harmful, especially with low humidity.

Better if   soil temperature  close to air temperature. Undesirable sharp fluctuations that occur when the content of lemon on the street and immediately brought during cooling in the room.

Air humidity

Humidity should be   very high. The plant reacts negatively to its decline, especially in the heat. Summer  - daily spraying, spraying is also necessary during the heating season. Periodically (after 7-10 days) a lemon is given a warm shower.

Moisture increase, placing near a wide container with water for evaporation or putting the pot in the pan with a moisture evaporating material.

Watering

In the summer it should be plentiful  and regular (2 times a week). Do not overdry the ground! Water is needed at room temperature, it should not contain chlorine, for which it is boiled or defended.

Winter watering is more rare (once a week). Avoid waterlogging  land.

Top dressing

For room lemon fertilizers are of great importance! AT summer  weekly period in the winter  - once a month only in the case of fruiting.

Use  organic and mineral dressings. An hour or two before they are made it is necessary to water the plants in order to avoid burning the roots.

Organic top dressing: manure is mixed with water 1: 1 and left to ferment for a week. Before irrigation, the solution is filtered, diluted: horse 1:10, cow - 1:15. Top dressing is combined with watering 2 times a year with a solution of ferrous sulfate (3 g / l) and a pinkish solution of potassium permanganate.

Mineral top dressing: it is produced by fertilizers for citrus fruits according to instructions, for example, “Citrus mixture” with the ratio N: P: K - 14:16:18 and a complex of trace elements.

Transfer

Lemons up to 3 years transplanted  annually in spring. Transplantation should be done carefully, without damaging the root system. It is better to use transshipment with partial removal of the old land.

Adult Lemons  transplanted in 2-3 years at the beginning of the growing season. Cannot be transplanted during flowering and fruiting.

Pot size  no more than 10-15 cm. At the bottom of the required drainage (2-3 cm) of sand or expanded clay with charcoal.

The soil  should be loose, nutritious, neutral.
Composition:

• 4 pieces of leafy land with the addition of turf;
• 1 part of manure humus;
• 1 part of sand;
• 1 tbsp ash ash.

If you can not make a mixture, use the purchase, but you can only use special - for citrus.

Trimming and shaping

Crown pruning  room lemon is best done in the spring, before the growth. The crown is formed by a bush on a low (15-18 cm) trunk. Shoots pruned, leaving 4-5 leaves.

To begin fruit formation, the plant must be branched. Most varieties tie fruit on branches 4-5 orders of magnitude, only Meyer’s lemon can form fruits on branches 2-3 orders of magnitude.

Lemon with a well-shaped crown can to please flowers  already for 2-3 years. Be sure to adjust the number of flowers, otherwise depletion of the entire plant may occur. In the first flowering, half of the flowers are removed, and from the resulting ovaries leave 3-4 fruits. In the second year you can leave 5-6 fruits, then - 7–8.

Flowering and harvest

Depending on the variety, lemons can bloom and bear fruit from 1 to 4 (lemon Ponderosa) once a year. Flowers  bisexual, forming the ovary without cross-pollination.

Growth and bud development  lasts about 5 weeks. Each flower blooms about 2 months. 180-230 days, depending on temperature and lighting, take place from the setting of the fruit to the beginning of maturation.

Flowering and fruiting allow only in the presence of a sufficient number of leaves. For each fruit  - at least 10 developed leaves.

Intense golden skin color  The fruit speaks of their full ripening. They should be removed at this moment, since after maturation they do not fall, continuing their growth. But their quality deteriorates, the peel becomes thicker, the flesh becomes drier, and the juice becomes less sour.

If the conditions of the content of the lemon can grow, blossom, bear fruit all year, at the same time on the plant can be buds, flowers, fruits.

Reproduction room lemon

Grow room lemon can be as from familiesso and vegetatively  (cuttings, layering).

Seed propagation

Mostly used the seeds  from purchased lemons. They germinate easily, but it takes more than 10 years to wait for flowering and fruiting.

Vegetative reproduction

Cuttings  produce in spring and summer. Semi-lumbering cuttings with 2-3 buds (length 10 cm) are cut from fruit-bearing plants.

The lower cut is treated with stimulants (“root”). The cuttings are placed in water or a wet mixture of earth and sand, deepening 2 cm. The top is covered with a transparent film to maintain humidity.

Rooting It takes 2-3 weeks, then the stalk is transplanted into a small pot and placed in a room with ambient lighting and a temperature of + 20 + 25.

To receive cuttings  on a developed branch of a fruit-bearing tree, the bark is removed with a sharp knife, making a ring 1-2 cm thick. The exposed wood is treated with rooting agents, covered with sphagnum moistened moss and wrapped in black polyethylene.

After 2-3 months, the branch with the formed roots is separated and planted in light soil.

Indoor Lemon Diseases

May be caused by the following reasons:

Violation of agricultural technology

Dropping leaves  indoor lemon in winter can be caused by high temperatures in combination with insufficient lighting, irrigation with cold water, increased acidity of the soil, overflow.

Lack of power

If a little:

• nitrogen: yellow spots appear on the leaves, then the leaf turns yellow and falls off;
• phosphorus: the glitter disappears from the leaves, their tips turn brown and dry:
• potassium: deformations appear in the veins in the form of dimples and folds;
• gland: the foliage becomes very pale, dark green veins stand out clearly on it;
• manganese boron: new knots are not fastened and fall already formed ones.

With excess nutrition  blackening and dying of the edges of the leaves occurs.

Fungal, infectious, viral diseases

Consider briefly the main diseases that are characteristic of lemons and methods of first aid to plants in this case.

Fungal diseases.
Late blight  - the damaged area is cleaned, lubricated with copper sulphate or special chemicals.
Root rot  - the affected roots are cut, disinfected, the plant is planted in fresh soil.
Black fungus  - enough to wash the leaves with soap.
Mold  - spraying with Bordeaux mixture or other fungicides.

Infectious diseases.
  Not always curable.
  Gommoz (on brownish bark crack with leakage), malsekko (drying of the shoots, incurable).

Viral diseases.
  Not curable, lead to the death of the plant.
  This xylopsorosis, tristeza, leaf mosaic, cancer of citrus.

Lemon Pests

The most common are: shield, aphid, whitefly, It is necessary to mechanically remove insects, wash the plant with soap, using a brush, once in 3 days to arrange a cold shower, if necessary, make treatment with insecticides according to the instructions.

Prevention  - regular washing of plants.

And for those who like to know more, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with a useful video in which you will learn about the care of citrus fruits and will be able to decide whether you are ready to plant these plants in your garden.

Evergreen perennial plant indoor lemon belongs to the family rutovyh, a kind of citrus. His homeland is India, the foot of the Himalayas. Houses on the windowsill to grow it is easy and very exciting. With proper care, the bush will be able to bear fruit, its fruits are as tasty as those grown under the southern sun.

Types of indoor lemons

Domesticated citrus attracts with glittering emerald leaves and bright yellow fruits. Room lemon description:

• the plant is considered undersized, the oldest specimens can reach a height of 1.5 m;
• shrub has thorny branches;
• leaves are leathery, elongated, oval, serrated, contain essential oil;
• several times a year the plant forms small white rosettes (4-5 cm in diameter) with a lot of stamens and a delicate aroma that cleans the room from unpleasant odors;
• bud develops 5 weeks, blooms 50 days;
• fruiting homemade citrus from one to four times a year, depending on the variety, the period of fruit development is 200-230 days;
• the fruit has a light yellow color and a noticeable lemon smell, the flesh is juicy and sour;
• during normal development, the culture bears fruit all year round — ovaries, buds, flowers, and fruits can simultaneously develop on the bush.

Potted lemons are varieties:

Growing indoor lemon

Grow indoor lemon easier out of the stone. To accommodate the bush is better to choose the southern or eastern window sills with good lighting. Lemon is a thermophilic indoor plant, the optimum temperature for it is + 15-22 ° C. Planting is carried out in a depth of 1-2 cm with a distance of 5 cm in small pots with drainage of expanded clay or charcoal. Contain seeding in a bright place, it germinates after 2 weeks. After the appearance of sprouts choose strong, cover with a can. After a couple of true leaves germinate, the specimen is planted in a 10-centimeter pot.

Soil for indoor lemon

Fertile soil for indoor lemons should be slightly acidic or neutral (6-7 pH), aerated. For self-preparation, you need to make a mixture of meadow sod, leaf earth, coarse sand, humus in the ratio (2: 2: 1: 1). You can use the citrus soil from the store, mixing it in equal parts with peat. Then the composition will be light and breathable.

Reproduction of indoor lemons

For indoor lemon grafting is a popular breeding method. For sprouts in the spring take shoots of 10 cm in size with 3-4 buds and 2-3 leaves. The twig is treated with a stimulator for the development of roots and placed in water for 3 days. For the cultivation of suitable soil from humus, coarse sand and floral earth in equal shares. The cuttings are added dropwise by 3 cm, the leaves are moistened daily, the substrate should not have water stagnation. Rooting occurs after 30-45 days, then the cutting can be planted in another pot.

Lemon Room - Home Care

Taking care of a room lemon is troublesome. He likes good lighting, compliance with temperature and irrigation. For the growth of leaves it needs at least + 17 ° C, during the development of the fruit the temperature should be increased to + 22 ° C. Care room lemon involves the organization of good lighting. Direct sunlight should fall on the bush 2 hours a day. So that the tree does not develop one-sided, every 10 days it must be rotated by 10 ° around its axis. In winter, with a short light day - to organize the lighting with lamps.

Trimming indoor lemons

• in the first year of life, the plant shoots 30 cm;
• for the second season in the spring, pruners must cut it, leaving a height of 20 cm, and the tree will begin to produce lateral buds;
• lower shoots must be cut off, leaving the top 3 - they will make up the skeleton of the culture;
• the same year, they do the same with the side branches - they are shortened to stimulate the development of daughter shoots, then a few upper shoots are left;
• room lemon gets a beautiful view in the presence of trunks up to 5-6 level of branching;
• further pinching of fast-growing shoots or their removal is enough.

How to feed a room lemon?

Citrus at home needs feeding. Feeding trees begin when they reach 2-3 years of age. For fertilizer, complex mineral compounds are used in the spring and summer period twice a month. From mid-autumn, recharge is carried out once every 6 weeks. Two hours before fertilizing the substrate in the pot, it is important to pour clean water.

From organics, the lemon tree prefers the extraction of wood ash, birch infusion (half a can of leaves is poured with water and kept for 2-3 days), diluted 5-6 times fresh manure. Organic fertilizer for indoor lemon is made with the same frequency as the mineral feed. If there is an intensive growth of green mass to the detriment of fruits, nitrogen should be removed from the dressings and the phosphor component should be added;

Watering room lemon

Before you take care of the lemon in the indoor environment, it is important to study the rules of its moisture. From May to September, home citrus needs moderate watering every other day, in winter it is reduced to once a week. Moisturize the tree with cold water, settled for 5 hours. Pour it over the entire surface of the pot. The plant likes spraying with heated boiled water, especially in winter, if heating systems are around. For citrus, the “wet” air around the crown is more important than the excess moisture in the soil.

Lemon Disease in Room Conditions

Why do the leaves of the indoor lemon turn yellow?

Often, improper care leads to a disease of indoor lemons, the leaves turn yellow in the plant. There are several reasons:

1. Lack of nutrients. Calcium is responsible for the root system, phosphorus helps in the formation of tasty fruits, nitrogen affects the healthy color of foliage, and potassium contributes to its normal absorption. Timely fertilization with such elements will help prevent foliage from yellowing.
2. Lack of lighting. Room lemon needs a 12-hour day, if it is shorter - the light with a fluorescent lamp will help.
3. Excessive light, direct sunlight causes burns on the leaves. The tree must be moved to a shaded place.
4. The lack of moisture leads to the fact that the tips of the leaves turn yellow. It is necessary to carry out daily spraying of a plant with the help of a spray bottle. It is useful to keep water near the pot in a flat bowl for evaporation. In the summer, once a week, the plant is advised to wash under the shower.
5. Sudden temperature drops, drafts, and proximity of heating devices can also lead to yellowing of the foliage. Then you need to get rid of such adverse factors.

Why do leaves fall in indoor lemon?

Unfavorable conditions of the bush lead to the fact that he begins to shed leaves. Often this occurs in the autumn-winter period. The more healthy leaves on the tree, the better it grows and bears fruit, by their number and judge the condition of the bush. In some cases, the plant is restored on its own, but it is important to eliminate the cause of the unpleasant phenomenon. If the indoor lemon shed its leaves, what should be done:

• with a lack of moisture should spray the plant more often and not allow the soil to dry out;
• if the plant has little light, use additional lamps;
• exclude overcooling of roots, water the bush only with warm water;
• if the pot is tight - the bush should be transplanted into a larger container (2-4 cm);
• control that the soil does not have an excess of moisture, leading to rotting of the roots;
• inspect the tree for pests, if they are found - to treat.

Room lemon diseases - sticky leaves

In some cases, the foliage on the shoots becomes sticky — as if sprayed with syrup, it can even form crystals. The disease is caused by schitovka, settled on a tree. In case of late treatment, a black fungus is turned on in the sticky liquid, which appears on the branches, trunks and leaves with dark spots, without treatment, the plant dies.

To eliminate plaque, the foliage is wiped with a solution of transformer oil (6 ml per 1 l of water). After 5-7 days, the treatment is repeated. The solution removes the sticky plaque and kills the young shield. You can use another lemon treatment method - houseplant care in the form of spraying with carbofox or tobacco solution also helps a lot. The treatment is carried out 2-3 times with an interval of 7 days.

Room Lemon Pests

Citrus fruits can also be damaged by typical pests. To grow a room lemon, you need to know how to take off the fight:

1.   When they are present, the leaves fall off, the branches dry, the plant dies. Pests are cleaned with a brush, the leaves are washed with a soap emulsion (2 tbsp of liquid product per 1 l of water), garlic water (7-8 crushed heads are drawn in a bucket of water for 24 hours).
2. It is located below the leaf, gradually enveloping the whole culture. At defeat it is necessary to spray the tree with the “Aktelik” solution, repeat 3 times with an interval of 10 days.
3.   It feeds on greens, leads to drying of leaves and cracking of fruits. The plant must be inspected and manually get rid of its larvae.
4. Aphid.Eats the tops of the shoots. The plant should be sprayed three times (every 10 days) with a solution of "Aktelik". Nearby you can put a pot of geraniums. Spraying with garlic water will also help.
5. Thrips.  They look like small black dots, can fly, spread viruses. To destroy the bush washed in the shower, treated with soapy emulsion.
6. Whitefly.  The larvae are located at the bottom of the leaves. The bush is sprayed at least 5 times every three days.

Growing indoor plants is a pleasant activity, which sometimes brings good fruit. One of these fruits can be indoor lemon, which can be grown just on the windowsill.

Lemon  - fruit, which is used in desserts and snacks, and adding to tea is considered to be a classic combination. Besides, lemon is also very beautiful tree with a pleasant smellthat will decorate your home. In this article we will look at how to grow a lemon and how to care for it.

Homemade Lemon Varieties

Some varieties of lemons can be grown only in the southern regionsothers love the temperature lower and take root only   in the northern regions. Lemons are divided into such varieties:

• Lemon Ural  - unpretentious plant that grows well both in hot weather and at low temperatures. With proper care, it gives up to 12 kg of crop per year.
• Pavlovsky lemon  - This is a sort of lemon, which one of the first began to grow indoors. The plant grows best in dark places, but despite this it blooms all year round. The harvest from this type of lemon varies from 10 to 40 kg per year.
• Lemons without a single spine are called Maikop and Genoa.  In the first grade of lemon are very thin branches and dark fluffy crown. The harvest for a year reaches 30 kg. The second is noted as a short-growing plant and gives a harvest only from the fourth year of life. The amount of harvest does not first exceed 8 kg in the first years and up to 40 kg in the subsequent period.
• Lemon Ponderosis  citrus variety, the fruits of which reach 1 kg in weight. But due to the fact that the fruits are large, the harvest does not exceed 5 pieces per year
• Also large fruits can boast such a type of citrus, as   Anniversary  - they can reach 600 grams in weight
• A hybrid variety is a kind of lemon like Chinese  - This is a mixture of lemon and orange. Quite a capricious plant that requires meticulous care. Low yield - up to 3 kg per year

Lemon varieties that you can grow at home are a huge amount. They are all different - some like heat and sun, others - partial shade and cool. If you decide to plant a lemon in the pot at home, be sure to specify which temperature and light conditions  suitable for this variety.

How to grow a lemon tree at home from the bone?

Lemon can be obtained by vaccination, and grow out of the stone.  Step by step instructions for growing lemon from pits  listed below:

• Take a small pot, puncture holes at the bottom and drainage. Buy land for citrus or do it yourself. To do this in equal quantities, pour into the pot humus and sod land
• Buy a ripe large lemon, cut and, choosing   2-3 bones, plant in the ground to a depth of 1.5 cm
• Set the temperature in the house not below + 18Cand spray the soil once every three days. It is impossible to water before sprouting, an exception can be made if you see that the ground has dried up
• When the first shoots appear, it will be after about 21 days  after planting - move the pot to a lighted, but not very hot place. Water the plant should not more than 1 time in 2 weeks
• Need to transplant lemon no more than 2 times a year. If you live in the private sector, you can plant a plant for the summer in the ground and return to the premises in the fall. For apartment dwellers, a transplant is only needed if there is not enough space for a lemon in the current pot. Do not buy too large a pot for a transplant, it should be   no more than 5 cm  in diameter from the size of the previous one
• To lemon fruiting, it is worth pinch or plant a plant  late spring or summer

  Growing lemon from seeds

After completing all the above steps, you will be able to   grow in a short time  there is a beautiful citrus tree on its windowsill that will bring harvest to your table.

Video: How to grow a fruiting lemon?

How to plant a lemon?

Lemon grown from the stone, most likely will not bear fruit if it is not grafted. For,   To get a citrus crop you need:

• Cut the graft just before the moment of grafting. Do it better in the period from April to August
• Trim Graft 6 cm  and remove all leaves except upper ones - leave approximately   4 sheets
• Cut from the top about 1 cm  length and work place cut garden pitch
• On the graft, cut off half of each leaflet, tie it with a ribbon to the stock, and place it under a glass tank or a large plastic bottle
• Through 2 weeks check how the vaccination started - whether the leaves are cut off easily

If the leaves begin to fall off over time, then this is a clear sign that   tree grafting was successful  and you can slightly loosen the ribbon with which you tied the graft and stock.

Usually such methods of grafting lemon are successful and   just a year after such a procedure  You will see the first, unusually smelling white flowers, from which a tasty citrus fruit will grow over time.

What soil is suitable for indoor lemon?

Lemon is a very capricious plant and will not grow in any soil.  In order to plant a citrus tree in a pot, you can use the ground from the store (special bags with the ground marked “For citrus fruits”), or make the necessary mixture yourself.

The mixture of soil for young lemon consists of sod and leafy ground in proportion 2: 1  and sand with humus in a 1: 1 ratio. For a more mature plant, the amount of sod land increases by one indicator and will be 3: 1 in the ratio with leaf ground.

A particularly good addition to this soil is rotted oak leaves.  This is a very breeding ground for the root system of a citrus tree.

Do not plant the plant in land from under the flowers or just dug up on the site.  Lemon will not only stop growing, but may simply die in such conditions.

How to feed a lemon at home?

If you grow a lemon at home, be prepared for the fact that it will not be as big as its counterpart in the store, but by smell and aroma   home crop will exceed the purchased one at times.

In order for a lemon to bear fruit, its leaves are bright green, and the tree itself looks strong and healthy, it needs fertilize regularly and properly.  The main nutrients for lemon is   nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. The first has positive results on the growth of the plant, the second - on the formation of large, tasty fruits, the third - retains the bright color of the leaves of lemon.

In stores for sale special solution for citruswhere in the right ratio all necessary components are collected. It is best to fertilize the plant in summer or autumn.  Household fertilizers can be chicken manure diluted with water in the ratio 1:9.

Lemon reproduction at home

You can multiply lemon using seeds or grafting. In each of these ways there are negative and positive sides:

• Seed propagation the tree is more powerful than the lemon that was produced by grafting
• With seed reproduction, fruits only appear. after 7 years, with cuttings lemons will be after 3 years

Consider in more detail these types of breeding. Seed after lemon eaten put in a pot with a mixture of earth, humus and sand to a depth of no more than 2 cm, spray the soil. With seed reproduction, the first shoots from seed appear maximum in a month.  Over time, the plant grows long thin branches that need to be cut.

Reproduction by cuttings  - A faster way to get a beautiful tree. In the pot with drainage need to plant   5 cuttings  from a healthy lemon with slices and cover with a jar. After three weeks, the first shoots will appear. It is worth replanting such a lemon in a pot 2 months later  after appearing processes.

When breeding lemons is necessary   1 time in several months to fertilize the plant  manure or a special mixture of stores. Fruits after this breeding method, depending on the variety, may appear as early as next year.

  Lemons grown from seeds will not bear fruit immediately - only after 7-8 years

Do not be lazy to use at least the first method, because it is not at all difficult to stick bone of lemon in the pot.  But a beautiful green tree that grows out of such a stone will please the eye every day.

Room Lemon Pests

Options solutions for saving lemon from pests weight, here are some of them:

• Solution   with soap and lube  (oil can be replaced with kerosene or blue vitriol) - mix these components in a 1: 2 ratio and carefully wipe the leaves. Through the mara hours wash them with clean water. Repeat in a week
• Mustard Soap Emulsion  - in a bucket of water, dissolve 250 g of soap and 10 times less mustard powder, mix well. Into the resulting solution pour 250 g of copper sulfate
• Dampen sponge in the weak vinegar solution  and wipe the leaves
• Grease the bucket from the inside turpentine  and cover the plant. After a few hours, remove the container and wash the leaves with warm water.
• 100 g hot pepper  grind in 1 liter of water and cook for about an hour. After that, strain through cheesecloth and leave for two days. Before use, dilute with a water ratio of 1:10
• 50 g garlic  Pass through the garlic and pour 300 g of hot water, leave for a week in a dark place. Before use, add 350 grams of soap and dilute in a bucket of water

  One of the enemies of the indoor lemon - aphid

Diseases and treatment of homemade lemon

Room lemons can overcome different fungal, viral and bacterial diseases.  After receiving a similar disease, ulcers, growths, decay and other signs are formed on the leaves and the tree trunk.

If you do not care for a lemon, then it becomes very vulnerable to similar diseases. When you saw any of the signs of fungus or bacteria on the plant, remove all fruits and flowers,  so that they do not take away the strength of lemon, necessary for pest control.

For the prevention and treatment of the manifestations of the disease must use drug "Fitosporin".  Using it, spray and water the diseased tree according to the instructions.

  Spots on lemon leaves are also a sign of one of the diseases - it is necessary to start treatment immediately.

With fungal diseases in the trees can be   such visible signs:

• Yellow leaves, fallen buds and red spots on the fruit. For treatment, spray Bordeaux mortar
• Pink warts  on the leaves and orange spots on the fruit. It is necessary to cut off the affected parts and spray the Bordeaux liquid
• Red spotscracks on the trunk of a plant. For treatment, clean the affected areas, anoint with copper sulphate and garden pitch. Carry out such procedures until complete cure.

In order for a lemon to have no such signs and not die from a neglected disease, it is worth regularly inspecting the plant and apply remedial measures  to save the tree.

Video: Room lemon and its diseases

Why do homemade lemon leaves fall?

If homemade lemon is worth   not in a lighted placethen this may be the first reason why leaves fall on the plant. To solve the problem with the leaf fall of the citrus tree you need:

• Put the tree on the windowsill on the south side
• In winter, additionally light the plant with lamps of artificial lighting.

AND insufficient, and excessive watering  Leads to falling leaves on lemon. In the first case, dried roots die off, and sap flow to the leaves stops, which in turn begin to fall.

In case of excessive moisture   the ground becomes denserthat blocks the access of air to the root system. Again, the root dies off and the situation recurs with insufficient watering. Therefore, watch the number of watering citrus.

  If a lemon leaves fall, it means you are not caring well enough

Lemon during summer heavily consumes minerals from the soil. If you do not replenish stock with fertilizer, then the lemon leaves will begin to turn yellow and fall off.

In winter, the heated room is similar in climate to the desert. Excessive air dryness - stress for lemon. Therefore, so that he does not start dropping leaves in such conditions, regularly   2 times a week, spray the leaves  and do not place lemon near the heater or battery.

  Leaves may fall due to excessive watering, as well as due to lack of water.

If the room temperature below + 10C and there is a constant draft  - this, too, can be causes of leaf fall.

Save the lemon from such stressful situations - take care of the temperature in the room where the lemon tree is stored, and the amount of watering the plant.

How to trim a room lemon?

In order for the lemon tree to bear fruit well, and to have the correct form, you need to regularly pruning  and turn the tree on the windowsill relative to the sun every two weeks. You can align the trunk, tied branches with copper wire. Thus, the branches will grow in the right direction.

If the lemon already has fruit, then when ripe, cut not only the fruit, but also a 5-7 cm long branchon which the crop grew. And a week later, new shoots will grow on the cut.

  To obtain a fragrant tree with fruits, it is necessary to prune it.

If you have too many fruits on a tree, then you need to adjust their number. at the rate of 1 fruit per 10-12 leaves.  All other lemons must be removed so that the plant is not very hard. Give the correct form to your plant so that it will bear fruit well and look healthy.

Is it possible to land a room lemon on the street?

Very useful plant a lemon on the street.  Choose a place that is not too open and lighted. The best option would be a place where   before dinner the sun, and after - partial shade.  Be prepared for the fact that after transplanting a lemon can drop flowers. But it's not scary, such a reaction in a plant to stress during transplantation.

If you don't want a lemon without flowers, plant the plant outside in a pot.  Thus, the tree will be in the same conditions, but in the open air.

Under good climatic conditions, the lemon will grow on the streets. f whole summer season. In October, it is advisable to return it to the premises, because there may be night frosts and the plant may freeze.

Anyway do not delay stay indoor lemon on the street  - as soon as the temperature starts to fall, it is necessary return to the premises.

Careful care and compliance with these measures will allow for a long time to stay in your home exotic guest - indoor lemon, which will surely please you   bright greens and tasty citrus fruits.

Video: How to grow a lemon at home?

Lemon tree is an evergreen perennial heat-loving plant that does not tolerate low temperatures. Is a hybrid type of plant of the genus Citrus, belongs to the family Rutavyh. Originally, the lemon tree was grown as an ornamental plant in China.

Lemon tree - description.

The height of the lemon tree can reach three meters. The leaves of the plant are dark green with glitter. Lemon Tree Flower  has white inflorescences, which are located tassels in the axils of old leaves or on the tips of old and new shoots.

Formation of flower buds occurs throughout the year, but more in the spring. After the appearance of the bud, the flower of the lemon tree develops for another month and only then blossoms. Lemon blooms for several days. The aroma of blossoming buds is thin and sweet, a bit like the smell of acacia or jasmine. With a sharp drop in air temperature in the room, the lemon tree reacts immediately. It is for this reason that leaves, unblown buds and flowers fall off in the lemon tree. The optimum temperature of the room in which the plant is located is +16 + 18 ° C, the humidity should be at least 60%.

The color spectrum of the lemon pericarp can be from light yellow to red or green. Lemon peel is dense from orange to bright yellow. It contains glands with essential oils that give it a specific aroma. Fruit weight is small, an average of 65 grams. Lemon length is from 6 to 9 centimeters, diameter - from 4 to 6 centimeters. The internal part of the section has several nests with seeds. The fruit of the lemon tree can be placed both individually and in clusters. In shape, they differ depending on the type or type of hybrid.

Types of lemon trees.

By the presence of stipule it is possible to determine that a lemon tree is a hybrid pot. These varieties include lemon Jubilee, lemon Meyer, lemon Ponderosa. Pavlovsky lemon, Novogruzinsky lemon, Genoa, Lisbon, Ural lemon, Kursk lemon, Maikop lemon, Jubilee lemon, Eureka, Lunario and other species are also distinguished.

Some species of homemade lemons have a reddish-lilac color of flowers during flowering. Indoor or ornamental types of lemon trees are unpretentious, relatively low and breed well (some varieties up to four times a year). They differ only in the taste of the fruit, the size of the plant and the frequency of occurrence and ripening of fruits. Their flowering and fruiting begins in the third year of life.

Where does a lemon tree grow?

The homeland of lemons is considered to be China, India and the Pacific Pacific Islands. The wild-growing state of lemon is unknown; most likely, it is a hybrid that arose during the process of evolution. As a crop, lemon is grown in the CIS countries: Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. Leaders in the cultivation of lemons are India, Mexico, Italy, Turkey.

Lemon tree care.

In order for this plant to be able to please you with its aroma and frequent harvest, you should know the rules for caring for the lemon tree. Before planting, it is important to learn how to fertilize, how to prune and how to water the lemon tree.

First of all, watering lemon tree  produce only separated (not less than a day) water. A trickle of water should be directed as close as possible to the ground to avoid blurring the roots. The pot is filled with water until it appears at the bottom of the pan.

The soil during planting and during growth should be loose and nutritious. Fertilizer is applied once a week along with lemon watering. In winter, if the air temperature in the room is not higher than 15 ° C, the lemon goes into “sleep mode” and does not require strong lighting. A pot with a lemon tree is placed as close as possible to the window, but it is better if direct sunlight does not fall on the lemon. If the lemon tree starts premature flowering, such buds are necessarily removed, otherwise the plant may die.

Leaves require special care. It is necessary to ensure that no pests appear on the surface of the leaves, spraying them with water at least once a week. If, after all, pests have been found, a soap solution or tincture of tobacco should be prepared, with which each leaf is treated. Special insecticides can also be purchased. The most dangerous and widespread pests of homemade lemon are the worm, scytworm, nematode, and garden slug.

The nematode is a small transparent worm that gnaws on the roots of a lemon, settles in them and sucks the juice. In this case, the tree begins to lose leaves abundantly. To find a pest, you need to dig up the roots, they will have small swollen areas or growths, and the pest lives in them.

An interesting fact: if you move the plant from the usual place where it was located all the time, and just turn the pot with lemon, the plant can slow down the growth and produce bad fruit.

Many of you have tried to start a lemon citrus plant at home. Such a plant is distinguished by its active flowering and fruit well. But, unfortunately, not everyone, it turns out, to try the fruits of the grown citrus house. The reasons for this may be sufficient.

What kind of lemon is worth choosing

First you need to decide on the grade of lemon, suitable for growing at home. They are distinguished by compact size and high fecundity.

The following varieties of dwarf lemons exist:

• Pavlovsky;
• Eureka;
• Meyer;
• Genoa;
• Novogruzinsky;
• Maikop.

The most popular type in our region is the Meyer lemon variety. He does not require special care, because not very whimsical. People call him a Chinese dwarf. In taste, it has not very sour fruits, compared with other varieties. The number of fruits is insignificant, but it has an attractive appearance. A room with such a plant will be filled with warmth and comfort, will create a unique design.

In order to please themselves and their loved ones juicy and tasty fruits, many use tall varieties. But it should be borne in mind that such varieties must be given much more care and time.

These varieties include:

• Kursk;
• Novogruzinsky.

They should be cut more often, tied up, and also more attention.

give crown formation.

How to properly care for lemon at home

Often there is not enough heat in the apartments, the north side does not give the necessary light to the lemon, the plant starts to wither, does not bear fruit.

The most important for growing lemon is lighting. The most favorable places are located on the Southeast side of the apartment. If the windows in the apartment face north, it is necessary to apply additional lighting. With the help of fluorescent lamps, the plant is provided with 12-hour lighting. Especially this light is convenient in the winter time of day.

Too much light in the south side of the apartment is also unacceptable for growing lemon. The direct rays of the sun at lunchtime have a detrimental effect on the plant. If you do not shade a lemon, its leaves will get real burns.

Tropical fruit lemon - rather thermophilic plant. Therefore, it is important for the tree to maintain the room temperature up to 16 o C. Because of too high a temperature, the plant can dry out and at the time of budding the buds stop growing. In a quiet period, the room can reach up to 26 o C, the plant is useful to carry out on the glazed balcony.

Lemon needs to be enriched with fresh air, but you should not make strong drafts. We should not forget that this is a southern fetus, and it does not tolerate sudden changes in temperature.

Humidity is also very important for lemon. It is constantly necessary to monitor how much the soil of the pot is saturated. In hot seasons, especially in summer, you need to water it at least three times a week. In winter, we reduce the irrigation time to 1 time per week, but also need to be sprayed with water from a spray bottle. Water for irrigation should not be very cold, it is best to let it settle for about five hours. Pouring under the root is strictly prohibited, it is necessary to water around the trunk.

Required to protect the plant from dry air, in a room where lemon grows, the humidity should be at least 60%. Otherwise, the leaves will wither from drying out, curl and turn yellow.

Than you can fertilize lemon

If you purchased a young lemon tree, it does not need to be additionally fed. Fertilize the plant begins at the age of three years. As in the case of other plants, you can buy ready-made impurities, and you can also use traditional methods.

In order for the lemon to bear fruit well, egg shells are placed in water and then the plant is watered with this infusion. But it is necessary to be careful and not to overdo it with excess calcium, this can lead to a decrease in soil acidity.

If your plant looks healthy, actively blossoms and develops, it is not necessary to fertilize the soil.

For the vegetative period, you need to give bait a couple of times in the form of a solution of 1 liter of water with 50 g of superphosphate.

Sometimes water is drawn with horse manure, but at the same time it is diluted tenfold.

For rapid growth helps ammonium nitrate. It is diluted with 1 liter of water with a mixture of 30 grams. Fertilize with such a composition once a month.

Citrus supplements can replace fertilizers that are useful for lemon, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, magnesium, and others. To do this, take 3 g of this mixture, diluted in 1 liter of water, and at the same time replace the main watering.

How to transplant and cut lemon

Young trees are transplanted once, sometimes twice a year. Plants that have reached the age of three, transplanted less often, once every 2-3 years. But in some cases you have to suddenly transplant a flowering plant in order to avoid illness.

Starting to transplant lemon is better in the spring or autumn, before the cold comes.

The transplant process includes the following steps.

The soil is carefully watered around the trunk of the tree until it becomes soft. Care must be taken to keep the root system intact.

If you notice that the roots are spoiled, too dry, or vice versa are covered with strong mucus, they must be carefully cut with a sharp knife or blade.

We select a new pot by 30-50% more than the previous one, since the very small size of the pot slows down growth significantly. Large sizes are also unacceptable for good lemon development, so it is best to choose cone-shaped pots.

Place the shard in the hole in the bottom of the container in such a way that the protruding side is at the top.

The barrel of a lemon should be placed in the center of the pot, and around it should be gradually covered with soil, at the same time it is necessary to tread a little ground.

Cut the lemon tree is necessary for the best formation of the crown, as well as to increase the growth of fruits.

When a tree reaches the size of 20-25 cm, it is necessary to pinch its trunk in order to better develop the lateral branches. The very first fruits of lemon can be observed only on the branches of 4-5 orders of magnitude below. Therefore, you need to be patient and monitor the healthy growth of the tree.

If the position of the branches becomes vertical, then, without thinking, they need to be cut.

To achieve a flat tree trunk, you need to turn it at least every 10 days. Sometimes gardeners use copper wire, with its help strengthen the edges of the branches so that their direction is according to the growth of the plant.

Also, the crown of the tree is formed at the stage of the harvest. So, the lemon should be cut along with a small section of the branch, on which there are one or two internodes. This forms the future growth of the branches.

Lemon care in unexpected situations

As you know, a lemon tree is quite thermophilic and requires a lot of attention and care. Even with the slightest changes in temperature or changes in humidity in the apartment, you must immediately react to save the plant.

If you notice that the leaves of lemon turned yellow, darkened or began to crumble, you need to moisten the soil. However, it is also impossible to overdo it with moisture so that the root does not die. It should be a little water the root of the plant with separated water, and just sprinkle it on top. Also, wet gauze is used to increase moisture. It folds several times, and the trunk of the tree is wrapped for a couple of hours. At night, be sure to remember to take off.

Excessive moisture will also cause a significant drop in the plant leaf. Even if their appearance is healthy, you should immediately replant the lemon. To do this, carefully remove the barrel from the pot, without damaging the land ball, spread it on a dry newspaper and let the roots dry. Then put them back in the pot, as mentioned earlier, and in the future, make sure not to pour a lot of water.

If your lemon could not stand the low temperature and froze, it will be quite difficult to save it. As heat for a lemon is the main vital product. To resurrect it you will need to place it in a warm place, use additional lighting with energy-saving lamps. And it is best to transplant, while carefully examine and find the damaged roots, frozen parts of the trunk, remove all dead branches.

If brown spots have appeared on the leaves of your plant, this indicates that your plant is overheated. With such manifestations, you must immediately move the lemon away from sunlight, and ensure that there is no strong breath of air. Drink plenty of water or cool the lemon with no need.

It should be remembered that the lemon is very difficult to get used to new habitats. Therefore, a frequent change of location only hurts your plant: it will worsen fruiting, signs of diseases will appear. Equally dangerous for the plant, as stuffy rooms, and the constant drafts.

How to deal with pests

White gnaw larvae like to feed on roots, while delivering significant health losses to the plant. To get rid of insect pests use insecticides. Such solutions are usually used with water or by using aerosol cans. The most popular drugs karbofos and Aktelik.

In rare cases, mites and scutes appear on the leaves. Ticks are shaped like small spiders. They have a bright orange or brown color, so they will be easy to see on a green background of leaves. After them, a thin web remains on the leaves. Such places should be immediately washed under strong water pressure. Also, damaged areas must be treated with solutions consisting of:

• 1 onion, 1 liter of water (grate the onion on a fine grater and add water);
• 1 head of garlic to infuse in 0.5 liters of water;
• 2-3 bay leaves per half-liter jar of water;
• 2 tbsp. dry tea leaves brew with two cups of boiled water.

Caution! These solutions are not suitable for soil irrigation.

Such insects as shchitovki very much like mini turtles brown. They practically do not move and firmly hold at the base of the leaves. Three times a week, wipe the leaves with a solution of kerosene and soap in a ratio of 1: 0.5. Before washing, cover the soil well with cardboard or cellophane, and wrap the bottom of the stem with a bandage so that the liquid does not penetrate to the roots of the plant.

Due to improper care of the plant, especially during the flowering period, when its leaves become brown, you should immediately understand the conditions in which the lemon is. In the case when the transplant is forced, it is necessary to replace the soil with a new one, since the increased acidity of the soil is often the cause of the disease.

Like people, citruses need to prevent various diseases. To avoid diseases, it is necessary to maintain the desired heat temperature for the lemon, monitor the humidity, replant, cut off the dead areas. It happens that the plant is exhausted by itself, so in this case you need to leave all a few buds on it.

Each apartment has its own microclimate, so let the plant gradually get used to your conditions, help it at all stages of development. Such a careful attitude on your part and careful care will bring you worthy fruits, not a single year will your plant yield such citrus fruits useful for the body as lemons.