How to Make a Lemon Tree Grow Faster

Lemon tree require optimal conditions to grow effectively.

Homegrown lemons can be used for many different applications. They can be used for home cooking, for making cleaning products and for first aid. Lemon trees require regular sunlight to grow effectively, and frosts will quickly kill them off so they need to be kept in warm climates. If you grow a lemon tree from a seed, it can take up to 15 years for the new tree to start sprouting lemons. Whether it from a seed or a graft from an existing tree, there are some general guidelines that will help a lemon tree grow as quickly as possible.

Things You'll Need

• Fluorescent grow lights
• Water
• Fast-draining soil
• Citrus fertilizer

Instructions

1. Grow the tree indoors if your temperatures frequently drop to below 55 degrees. Lower temperatures put the lemon tree into dormancy, and this greatly slows growth, assuming the tree doesn't die outright. Lemon trees can be grown indoors as long as their basic needs are met, and an indoor tree can be expected to grow from 3 to 5 feet tall. They grow best in conditions ranging from 55 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the tree outside again during warm periods to increase the odds of bearing lemons.

2. Keep the tree in constant sunlight during the day, and utilize fluorescent grow lights during winter months when sunlight is less plentiful.

3. Water the lemon tree extensively once a week to keep its roots moist and healthy.

4. Use soil that drains quickly so the roots don't retain too much moisture, which can lead to root rot and stunt growth. Slightly acidic soil is best and is what generally works best for growth.

5. Apply a citrus fertilizer to the lemon tree every four to eight weeks during the spring and summer and every eight to 12 weeks in the fall and winter. Follow the directions on the fertilizer package since some are applied to the leaves while others are applied to the ground itself. Never place fertilizer near the trunk of a lemon tree, however. Citrus fertilizer is slightly acidic, which benefits the soil and is high in nitrogen.

References

• Gardening Know How: Growing Lemons -- How To Grow A Lemon Tree
• Gardening Know How: Fertilizing Citrus Trees -- Best Practices For Citrus Fertilizing