Growing lemon trees in pots has its benefits as they act as stunning ornamental plants for small indoor spaces like balconies and also help in producing healthy fruits that are edible.
The Citrus Limonia plant features dark green leaves with light green undersides that are riddled with tiny thorns and produce a sweet-smelling scent. They also produce whitish-purple blooms that either appear in clusters or are solitary.
Native to Asian countries like India, these potted lemon trees can grow to a full height of 20 feet tall and are regarded as fast growers as they can achieve full growth in 3 years.
| Botanical Name | Citrus Limonia |
| Common Names | Lemon Tree |
| Origin | Asia |
| Family | Rutaceae |
| Plant Type | Evergreen Small tree |
| Full Size | From 15 feet to 20 feet tall and from 12 feet to15 feet wide |
| Sun Exposure | Full, direct sunlight |
| Soil Type | Rich, well-draining soil |
| Toxicity | Produces Edible fruits that are healthy |
Lemon Tree Care
As a small tree, growing a lemon tree in a pot is an easy task to do as meeting their basic light, water, soil, temperature, pruning and fertilizer requirements should be enough to ensure proper growth.
Lemon Tree Light Requirement
Ensure that your Lemon tree potted plant is grown in a place where they are given sufficient access to direct sunlight. They are best suited as balcony plants as they can get access to direct sunlight from there.
When grown in areas with too little direct sunlight, the tree plant could have stunted growth and might not produce enough fruits or flowers.
Also, if you are growing the lemon tree outdoors, it is recommended that you place the pot on the southwest side of the wall or a southwest side of the house where it can be protected from high winds or frost during the winter.
Lemon Tree Water Requirement
Watering is an essential part of caring for lemon trees as the tree roots are very delicate and require a peculiar watering strategy.
As a young tree plant, it is important that you water the lemon tree once in a week or two. However, as they mature they require less watering as are more drought tolerant.
When watering, use a dechlorinated but tepid water source and avoid overwatering as soggy soil could lead to the plant is susceptible to root rot.
Lemon Tree Soil Requirement
Get well-draining soil for your lemon tree in a container that is rich in organic matter, well textured, and holds a little water retaining capacity.
Keep the pH level of the soil between the range of neutral and a little acidic. A value that ranges from 6.5 to 7.0 for proper growth.
Lemon Tree Temperature and Humidity Requirement
A humid climate is perfect for the Lemon tree pot plant. They do well in humidity levels around 50 %. It is recommended you make use of a humidifier when growing the Lemon trees indoors.
The temperature should be kept between the range of 70 degrees Fahrenheit to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. And ensure the protection of the lemon plant from frost.
Lemon Tree Fertilizer Requirement
Regular fertilizing would be required by the Lemon Tree plant at least once every month to encourage proper growth with fruits and blooms.
When fertilizing, do ensure you make use of a standard Nitrogen Potassium, and Phosphorus (NPK) fertilizer.
Lemon Tree Potting and Propagation Requirement
As a small tree, A lemon tree in a planter can be propagated through stem cuttings with relative ease.
When growing your lemon tree in planters, be sure to repot or replant once a year as they are fast growers. They would require a bigger planter with sufficient drainage holes at the base for easy passage of water.
Lemon Tree Pruning Requirement
When grown outdoors or in the wilds, a lemon tree can reach a staggering 20 feet in height. To grow the potted lemon tree plant indoors, regular pruning must be done to control its growth.
Before pruning, do ensure you sterilize all tools to avoid infecting the plant tree.
Toxicity
Lemon trees are non-toxic. In fact, they produce edible fruits that are rich in vitamins.
Common Health Problems of Lemon Trees in Pots
- Root Rot
- Blights
- Bacterial Blast
- Phytophthora gummosis.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Eureka Lemon tree is a popular variety of lemon trees with more nutrients and no spikes
An appropriate planter size to use would be an 8-inch container.
Using a standard NPK fertilizer or a liquid fertilizer would be ideal for a lemon plant.
In a year, a young lemon tree can grow to a size of 5 to 7 feet tall.
A potted lemon tree can be bought from online stores like Amazon and local plant shops.
