How do I look after an indoor lemon tree?

I've just been given a lemon tree as a wedding gift. I really want to take good care of it but I haven't had brilliant relationships with plants before. Could someone please advise me on how to best look after it? How often to water it? etc?


thanks

How do I look after an indoor lemon tree?
ater it and sing to it
Reply:Light light and more light. If you have a southern exposure window that's a good place for it. Whether or not you have a good window, you may want to buy a spotlight type lamp just for it, and get a strong (high watt) light bulb especially for plants to use in it. Be careful that the wattage allowed by the lamp is as high or higher than your bulb. Don't put the lamp too close to the foliage - I'd say a foot away at a minimum, Turn the tree periodically to keep its shape more symmetrical. I'm not sure where you are in the world (zone, etc.) but you should be able to put it outside in the summer once things have really warmed up. In the winter (unless you live in CA. TX or Florida) it will need to come inside. Here in MN the air gets really dry in the winter, and we have trouble with plant stress because of it. In MN we would need to make sure humidity in the house was high enough. It may not be as extreme where you are. Like any container plant it won't want to sit in water. You should check the soil periodically (at least once a week), and when the dirt is dry to the depth of your first knuckle you'll want to water the whole thing (all the dirt, not just the middle) until the water is just beginning to come out the holes in the bottom. I do this in the sink, because I always misjudge how much the saucer can hold. Just let it drain in the sink and then put it back in its saucer in its warm, bright spot. If you see water sitting in the saucer later on, you'll want to drain that. As you get to know your tree you'll begin to get a feeling for how quickly your tree dries out and how often to water. Eventually (maybe not for a year or more) you'll start to see white deposits on top of the soil and around the edge of the dirt - these are mineral deposits from the water and they're perfectly normal. That'll be a signal that it may need re-potting. You'll want to scrape any mineralized soil off, taking care not to damage the roots, if the roots have filled the pot, you will need to move up to the next size pot, and replant using a good container mix plant soil. Replace soil so that the tree is buried to the same depth that it was buried - don't bury it deeper or more shallowly. Gardeners Supply Company has a container mix that even has stuff in it to help the soil hold moisture. But that's pretty far in the future. I hope I haven't told you too much that you already know. Congratulations on your marriage and your little tree!
Reply:I tell my plants "There's water in the kitchen, help yourself!
Reply:keep it watered but not soggy and give it lots of sun. I live in Maryland and my lemon tree is happy when I put it outside late spring through early fall. It is only indoors during cold weather.
Reply:SOIL: Like most houseplants, citrus prefer a slightly acid, all-purpose mix, which you can get by using a peat-moss based growing mix. (Remember, you get what you pay for, so don't go for the cheap products.)








TEMPERATURE: Lemon trees thrive in a normal temperature range of 70 degrees during day to 55 degrees at night. TIP: Though the plants are evergreen they will go into dormancy and stop growing below 54 degrees F.)








LIGHT: Set your lemon tree in full sun from a southern exposure. Trees need lots of light. If that's not possible, supplement the light by installing 40-watt fluorescent shop lights above the plants -- especially important in the winter, when they need 12 hours of light.








MOISTURE: You'll need to keep the soil evenly moist and since most interiors are quite dry, mist your plant often -- daily if you can. Give your lemon tree a shower occasionally. (They loved to be wiped down gently with a sponge, like the one at right.)








POLLINATION: When you grow plants indoors, bees and insects can’t pollinate them. So you need to use a paintbrush or cotton swab to rub pollen within the flower. Sometimes they will produce fruit without doing this, but it's a good idea to increase your chances!



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