Just bought a potted lemon tree? Here's how to plant it and water it

A lemon potted plant just brought home is so green and cute, but does it lose its leaves and drop its fruit as you care for it? In fact, as long as you do these few things well, even beginners can grow a lemon tree with lush branches and leaves that bears fruit year after year.

Light

Daily care: place it on a south-facing balcony, terrace, or open courtyard, and make sure it gets at least6 hours of direct sunlight a day. The more light it gets, the sturdier its branches and leaves will be, and it also helps prevent leggy growth.

Summer note: when the high temperature exceeds35°C, you can use a gauze curtain to provide a little shade at noon to keep the leaves from getting scorched spots, but the morning and evening sun must be full.

Watering

Watering frequency: follow the principle of "dry then wet" - in the peak growing seasons of spring and summer, wait until the top2cm of the potting soil has dried out, then slowly water thoroughly along the edge of the pot (until water comes out the bottom); in autumn and winter when temperatures are low, water only after most of the potting soil has dried out, reducing the number of waterings.

Humidity and pest prevention: in dry seasons (such as when the air conditioning or heating is on), use a spray bottle to mist the leaves (avoid the high heat of noon), which both increases air humidity and prevents spider mites from covering the leaves.

Pitfall warning: never let water accumulate in the saucer! Lemon roots hate being smothered, so empty the water from the saucer half an hour after watering to avoid root rot.

Repotting+Fertilizing

Repotting tips:

1.Use a loose, airy potting mix (peat moss+perlite+leaf mold=3:1:1), which holds water without causing root rot and lets the roots breathe freely.

2.Repot every spring (March-April), choosing a pot 1 size larger than the original, and transplant it with the original soil ball (do not break up the roots!), with a layer of clay pebbles at the bottom of the pot, and drainage will be maxed out~

Fertilizing guide:

1.During the growing season (spring and summer), apply a high-nitrogen fertilizer once every2 weeks (such as the Peters Professional10), to promote the growth of branches and leaves, making the leaves greener and thicker.

2.Before the flowering period (late summer), switch to a phosphorus-potassium fertilizer (diluted monopotassium phosphate watered into the soil), and spray a little foliar fertilizer, which can induce more flower buds and increase the fruit set rate.

3.After the fruit sets, add an organic fertilizer (homemade fruit peel enzyme or fully rotted sheep manure will both do), so the fruit grows sweeter and larger, and it also improves the soil fertility.

Pest and disease control

Spider mites/Aphids: if you notice small white spots or curling on the leaves, quickly bury a little systemic insecticide (sprinkle it on the surface of the potting soil), or dilute neem oil and spray it on the undersides of the leaves - safe and effective.

Leaf spot disease: when brown spots appear on the leaves, immediately remove the diseased leaves (do not throw them in the pot!), and spray1 time of carbendazim every week; spraying2-3 times in a row will control it.

Winter care:

North: when the temperature drops below5°C, move it indoors, place it in a spot with good light, and use a grow light to supplement the light (4 extra hours a day), and keep it away from radiators and air conditioner vents.

South: when the temperature is not below0°C, it can overwinter outdoors, but you need to find a wind-sheltered spot to avoid the cold wind blowing directly on the leaves.

In short, as long as you do well with light, watering, and fertilizing, a potted lemon will not only grow lush branches and leaves, but also bloom and bear fruit year after year.