I live in northeastern Pennsylvania. Two years ago, I took a lemon seed (from a store-bought lemon), stuck it in a pot with regular potting soil, and now I have a 3-foot tall, skinny lemon tree with nice, fragrant leaves and some thorns. My problem is: I don't know how to take care of it from here.
Should it be cut back? How tall will this thing grow? During the spring and summer, I leave it in an east-facing window all day, and turn it once a day. It has never been outdoors. It grows rapidly in the summer, and stops growing during the fall/winter. What is the best way to take care of my "baby"? This tree has become my pride and joy, since I never expected it to germinate, let alone grow into a tree!
Ed, What is at the bottom of the pot? Is that saucer? Be aware that citrus should not stay in the water. Overwatering is the main killer of poted citrus trees.
Examining weather data for Avoca, PA, I see night temps droping below 13C:
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is the most valuable information for citrus care I have, citing Millet (regular 'citrus guru' at given forum): "You can put the tree anywhere as long as you keep the foliage (scion) and the root system balanced. If the tree is in front of a warm sunny window, then the roots must be kept at 65F>, if the tree is kept in a low light area than the entire tree should be kept at least 40F to avoid the possibility of damage. If the tree is under grow lights, then I would recommend that the roots be maintained at 65F+ - Millet"
Also, root stops functioning at the soil temp above 90F.
In other words, if the soil temp is below 40F (or above 90F) then the root do not function. If the root do not function and the plant is exposed to the sun, eh...
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took me 25 yrs for me to get my first flower. NEver did get any fruit. I dumped it in favor of a store bought tree. it has goobs of fruit and the flowers are very fragrent.
They can be forced to grow in to little bushes. Mine was 5 ft tall and and shaped into a globe. THey benenfit greatly by taking them outdoors every summer. Make sure you harden it before putting it in direct sunlight. Soil needs to be slightly acidic. A dose of acid fertilizer once amonth is good. In any long term pot growing, the soil eventually breaks down and needs replacing or supplementing.
I did this once with an orange tree. It just got big and thorny with no fruit. After maybe 10 years, I trashed it. I assume you can buy something citrus that grows better in the house.
Note that you are trying to grow a plant that is not a house plant where the climate is not suitable for keeping it outdoors year-round. That said, citrus is grown in greenhouses in Pennsylvania (at least at Longwood Garden in the southern part of your state).
Unlike many other plants, citrus is apomictic. This means that they can form viable seeds without pollination, with the result true to its one parent. Since they can also form viable seeds with pollination, with the result a random hybrid, you will thus not be sure what you have until it finally forms fruit.
Putting it outdoors when there is no danger of frost might be good for the tree. Just be sure the container does not receive sun all day long; otherwise the roots will cook. Putting it outdoors might cause it to grow more sturdy and less skinny.
Since you are protecting it against frost, you may trim the tree at any time of the year. However, it does not need pruning to bear fruit. You only prune it for aesthetic reasons.
Yes, lemons are thorny. You can cut the thorns away without harming the tree.
Grow your lemon in a clay pot. Keep the soil moist but not wet.
Feed very lightly about twice a month. Use a commercial citrus food; in your area, you might have to mail-order the fertilizer. You can get it in small quantities. Also get some zinc sulfate, which citrus needs but apparently is not longer included in commercial citrus food. (If you have gardenias, they seem to thrive on citrus food with the addition of the zinc.) For a 3-foot tree, use about a half-handful of citrus food and a teaspoon of zinc sulfate at each feeding. NEVER feed when the soil is dry; feed in moist soil and then add some more water to start dissolving the fertilizer.
Many might think you are foolish for trying to grow a lemon tree from seed. But it is a great accomplishment if you succeed. I have an oak tree that I started from an acorn; I'm very proud of it. See my .
No, what is growing is the grafted stock, the tissue that produces the leaves and flowers and fruit. It may have problems as it is not grafted on to a selected root stock. So it might (just for example) be larger or smaller than the tree that bore the fruit or it could be susceptible to root rot. OTOH it may be fine.
If you want it to prosper it will need much more light at least. The reason it is so tall and thin with no branches is lack of light. Perhaps you could buy it one of those grow-lights that substitute for sunlight, especially for the winter. Consider if it can go outside in summer. I don't know the climate at Scranton but citrus like it warm and sunny.
How big it grows depends on the genetics of the parent and the conditions. Citrus on full-size root stock can grow about10-12ft high, and as wide, in good conditions but in a tub that is not happening. If you can get it good light then give it some citrus food (a specially blended fertiliser, any garden shop should have this) in spring and midsummer and pot it on to a tub as it will outgrow the small pot quickly. There is no point in feeding it if it isn't getting enough light.
Once you have it growing strongly you can prune its top (take the top 1/3 to
1/2) to encourage it to bush out which will make it a more attractive plant and allow you to have more flowers and fruit (well maybe) before it hits the ceiling. If you succeed that far you will have joined the select few who are able to enjoy the aroma of citrus flowers indoors. The decadent aristocrats of Europe used to do this so it must be good. See
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way that you have started is not the recommended one and it ain't going to be easy but have fun and good luck.
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