How to Grow Lemons in a Container
A potted lemon tree makes an attractive addition to a sunny room or patio. Lemon trees easily adapt to container culture and thrive in a variety of well-draining soils. The trees produce glossy green foliage and fragrant white blossoms in winter. Native to India, lemon trees are a very cold-sensitive variety of citrus that require cold protection to prevent frost damage. Growing lemons in containers increases portability, allowing you to bring the tree inside when temperatures fall. A potted dwarf lemon is 5 to 10 feet tall at maturity. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Decorative pot, 12 to 14 inches wide
- Mesh screen or gravel
- Lightweight potting soil
- Peat, sand and pine bark (optional)
- Watering can
- High-nitrogen fertilizer
- Mild dish soap
- Spray bottle
- Pruning scissors
Instructions
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Place a decorative pot in an area where it can receive 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight every day. If growing the tree inside, place it near a south- southwest-facing window.
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Spread a piece of mesh screen over the drainage holes at the base of the container to help improve drainage. Alternatively, spread 2 inches of crushed gravel or broken crockery pieces over the base.
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Fill the pot halfway with lightweight, well-draining soil, or make your own using equal parts peat, sand and pine bark. Center the tree in the pot and plant it at the same depth as it was in its previous container. The top of the root ball should remain 4 inches below the rim of the container. Add more soil if necessary and tamp it down to remove air pockets.
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Water the tree deeply until excess water seeps out of the drainage holes. Afterward, water the container when the top 2 inches of soil feels dry, preferably one to two times a week. Avoid overwatering the tree; excess watering causes the roots to rot.
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Feed the potted lemon tree a 2-1-1 nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (NPK) formulation or a 3-1-1 water-soluble fertilizer during spring and summer. Follow manufacturer instructions for dosage. Alternatively, use a fertilizer specifically formulated for citrus trees. Do not fertilize the tree during the winter. Drench the pot with water every month to flush out accumulated fertilizer salts.
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Deter pests on the lemon tree with a homemade spray solution of 11 tsp. mild dish soap diluted in 1 gallon of water. Examine the tree for pests such as whiteflies, spider mites and aphids and spray the solution over them. Spray insect infestation with a light horticultural oil spray if the problem persists.
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Prune the tree occasionally to maintain shape, size and appearance. Snip wayward, old, dried and erratic branches off the tree using sharp, sterilized pruning scissors. Remove branches below the graft union, which is indicated by a swelling on the trunk. Collect debris and clippings from the base of the plant and discard.
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Tips & Warnings
With proper care, your potted lemon tree will thrive in the same container for many years.
References
- Tree Help: Citrus Trees
- Mississippi State University Extension; Growing Citrus in Containers in Mississippi; Dr. Wayne Porter
- AgriLife Extension; Home Fruit Production: Citrus; Julian W. Sauls
- Four Winds Growers: Growing Citrus in Containers
- Texas Citrus and Subtropical Fruits; Home Fruit Production: Lemons; Julian W. Sauls; December 1998
- "The Complete Burke's Backyard"; Don Burke; 2005
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Polka Dot/Getty Images
