One lemon, half a grow a lemon tree… is one of the most interesting tongue twisters because at a certain point the conjugation of syllables and monosyllables, as well as the attention you can pay to your surroundings, become key. However, it is also one of the most versatile fruits that we can have at home, as it can be used to make water, season tacos and meals, and can even be used for wounds.
Therefore, one option is to have a lemon tree at home, which, with the right care, could help your finances. However, it must also be understood that fewer and fewer people have decent access to land on which to build a large house with a garden. Fortunately, there are species of lemon tree that you can keep inside your apartment and that will provide you with enough fruit for your daily needs.
Which species of lemon tree can be grown indoors?
If you have ever seen a lemon tree, you will notice that they are huge and leafy. The leaves, as in any cartoon, are abundant, and the fruits are so common that they even fall from their branches. So how can we have a tree of this type inside the house? The answer is to choose the miniature species, specifically: Ponderosa and Meyer.
The Ponderosa dwarf, a lemon and citron tree, produces giant-sized fruit with a thick rind, perfect for lemon zest; the Meyer dwarf is the easiest to grow and produces sweet and sour lemons, ideal for cooking. In both cases, the tree is capable of bearing fruit from the first three years, and they grow to a maximum of 6 feet or 1.80 meters.
What care does a dwarf lemon tree require?
Before going to the nursery for your new lemon tree, you should know that, in order to properly care for this type offruit, it is essential that the roots have plenty of oxygen. For this, you need a suitable planting site and good drainage, just like the “big brothers” of this type of fruit. In addition, it is recommended that the trunk should be slightly above the soil line, which helps the roots to breathe.
It is also worth noting that lemon trees grow best when the soil is kept evenly moist. The wetting agent and the water-retaining crystals in the soil mixture, help you to keep the humidity constant and make the most of every drop of water you use. For the same reason, you should water abundantly, so that the water runs through the drainage holes in the pot. It is important that the soil never dries out completely.
As for light, lemon trees need about eight hours of sunlight a day, the more light they get, the better. Some specialists in the field mention that the best indoor locations are unobstructed south or southwest-facing windows. If they lack sunlight, supplement with additional lighting.
Finally, this type of tree grows best at night temperatures, that is, around 18°C, which is well suited to most homes. Lemon trees do not like drafts at any temperature, so they should be kept away from heating and air conditioning ducts.
