How often to water a lemon

Watering is an important part of houseplant care. Moisture entering the soil helps the absorption of nutrients. The root system of citrus crops is designed in such a way that the flow of useful elements from the soil is slower than that of other plants. Therefore, regular watering is necessary for the full cultivation of indoor trees. Lemon at home is watered regularly, the full development and formation of fruits depends on this.

The Importance of Keeping a Watering Schedule

Lemon, as one of the leaders in the domestication of citrus crops, is considered an unpretentious plant. Full development at home is possible if a small list of requirements is met, on which it depends: how often to water lemons, how to water them, when to arrange dormant periods. Watering simultaneously performs several functions:

• help in obtaining nutrients from the soil;
• coordinating evaporation processes;
• stabilization of humidity indicators.

From following the rules for watering a lemon growing in a pot, its development at home depends. Citrus growers recommend setting a watering schedule at the beginning of cultivation and following it throughout the life of citrus crops in the house. Excessive irrigation can cause diseases of the root system, drought can lead to the death of the plant. Too much moisture can cause:

• rotting of the root system;
• infection with fungal diseases;
• loss of elasticity of leaves and trunk;
• yellowing, wilting of leaf plates;
• slowing down the growth process;
• obstruction of fruiting.

The lack of moisture in indoor plants is easy to determine by the state of the upper layers of the soil. Dry clods of earth begin to harden, the surface cracks. The aerial part reacts to drought in its own way:

• the tips of the leaves dry up;
• rastenie želteet;
• ovaries fall;
• trees are unable to form and form fruits.

Regular watering errors lead to the loss of the lemon’s natural defense mechanisms, making it weak and vulnerable.

How to water indoor lemon

Tap water is not suitable for irrigation because it is too hard and may contain high amounts of chlorine. Melt water or rain water is the best option for citrus fruits. During the period when it is impossible to collect it, citric acid is added to tap water. This helps to soften the water and improve its quality. For 10 liters of water add 1 tbsp. l acid.

How to water a lemon so that it bears fruit

The main task of those who breed lemons is to bring the tree to stable and productive fruiting. The trick to caring for a lemon tree is to add extra nutrients at the time of watering. This technique helps to adjust the feeding scheme, protect the tree and increase the strength for further flowering and fruit formation.

Hybrid varieties have a root system that almost lacks thin conductive hairs that can absorb microparticles from the soil. The assimilation of nutrients in them is slow, so the regularity of top dressing is considered the key to full growth.

During the stage when the tree has flowers, ovaries, and partially ripened fruits, the root system needs additional nutrition to meet the needs of the plant.

Citrus growers use wood ash as a way to feed the plant with phosphorus, potassium and calcium. For this, 1 tbsp. l. ash is diluted in 1 liter of water. This solution should be watered with a lemon no more than 1 time in 2 weeks. Ammonium nitrate as a source of nitrogen is used 1 time for 1,5 – 2 months.

When applying liquid fertilizers under the root, it is necessary to adhere to a clear scheme:

• citruses are watered with solutions from March to October no more than 1 time per month;
• summer top dressing can be increased if necessary.

For fruiting, the level of soil acidity is important, therefore, with excessive watering or fertilizing with nitrogen-containing complexes, it is important to measure the acidity. Soil acidification leads to root rot and fruit loss.

How to properly water a lemon at home

Questions that relate to growing lemons or oranges at home most often relate to watering rules. Despite the fact that experienced citrus growers recommend assessing the external condition of plants, there is a generally accepted scheme that takes into account the basic requirements for watering:

1. Time of day for irrigation. Suitable early morning or late evening.
2. Frequency. At air temperatures from +25 ° C to +29 ° C, trees need daily watering, watering lemons in winter is reduced to 1 time per month.
3. The amount of water. Citrus crops require moderately moist soil to thrive. The amount of moisture depends on the size of the tree and the container in which it grows.
4. How to water. To monitor the level of soil moisture, the lemon tree is watered in portions. After watering with the first portion, wait until the top layer of soil dries out, and then add the remaining water.

How often should a lemon be watered after planting?

Planting a seedling or transplanting an adult plant due to lack of space is stressful for any indoor tree. The lemon is transplanted using the transshipment method: this means that the root system is not disturbed, but placed in a new pot along with a clod of earth from the previous container. After sprinkling with soil and tamping the topsoil, the lemon tree is watered with settled water at room temperature. The transplanted lemon is then given rest. This period can last from 4 to 7 days: the plant is not disturbed.

To create greenhouse conditions that will help to survive the stress that has arisen, the seedlings are covered with plastic wrap. This forms a small amount of condensate, which helps the citrus adapt to new growing conditions. After a period of adaptation, the lemon tree begins to be watered in accordance with the established schedule.

How many times a week do you water a lemon

Watering a lemon in autumn and winter differs from spring-summer irrigation:

• In the hot summer, the tree needs daily watering;
• When the temperature drops to +15 ° C, one-time weekly irrigation will be enough for lemons.

Many novice lemon growers are concerned about the question of how often to water a lemon in winter. The answer depends on the conditions of detention. If it is possible to provide indoor lemon with a cool winter with a temperature not higher than +10 ° C, the procedures are minimized: the tree is watered 1 to 3 times over the entire period.

Proper watering of a lemon during flowering

Lemon trees, with proper care, bloom in the 2nd – 3rd year of existence. At home, lemons can bloom all year round, making it difficult to follow watering rules. During the flowering period, lemons need systematic irrigation, as well as additional intake of nutrients.

Blooming lemon remains for 2 weeks, after which the plant forms fruits. During flowering, citrus requires daily irrigation. If the air temperature exceeds +25 ° C, the leaves are additionally sprayed with a spray bottle. To help the formation of full-fledged fruits, several requirements must be met:

• regular watering;
• providing daylight hours for at least 12 hours;
• additional intake of nutrients, among which the content of phosphorus, potassium, calcium is high.

Watering a lemon during fruiting

When ovaries are formed, citrus is transferred to irrigation after the topsoil has dried. At this time, it is necessary to carefully monitor that the soil is not waterlogged. Wet soil can cause crop loss.

How to water homemade lemon in the fall

In autumn, the number of waterings is gradually reduced: from a daily regimen, they switch to a weekly one. In November, 2 waterings are done. This is due to the transition of the lemon tree into the sleep phase, which occurs in winter. The number of dressings at this stage is reduced. October is the month when the last pre-winter feeding with organic fertilizers is carried out.

How to water a lemon at home in winter

The dormant period of indoor lemon lasts from late November to February, it is explained by the internal processes of the tree. The life cycle of plants includes dormant periods: they are especially important for domestic citrus crops. At this time, it is not recommended to change the temperature regime, irrigation schedule, to influence the natural development. Violation of the requirements can provoke the drop of leaves, which, in turn, will lead to the depletion of the tree.

In winter, citrus is moved to where natural conditions are as close as possible to winter in a subtropical climate. When providing a temperature of +7 ° C to +11 ° C and relative humidity, the lemon needs rare watering and does not need top dressing at all. In winter, indoor lemon should be watered once a month.

If the citrus grower does not have the opportunity to place a tree in winter where the air temperature is noticeably lower, several rules should be followed:

• indoor lemon is watered no more than 1 – 2 times a month;
• at the same time increase the number of leaf sprays from the sprayer.

Additionally, a humidifier is placed next to the lemon pot to reduce air dryness.

Is it possible to combine watering and top dressing

Feeding is divided into basal and foliar. Basal watering is carried out with the addition of nutrients throughout the growing season. The only condition for their implementation is the condition of the soil. Fertilizers are easier to digest if the soil is moist. If the topsoil is dry and cracked, then it must first be moistened. After top dressing, the soil is loosened to activate the process of saturating the roots with nutrients.

Watering is combined with top dressing, depending on the time of year and the frequency of watering.

Conclusion

Watering the lemon at home is necessary regularly. This is known to all citrus growers. The yield of a lemon tree depends on the preparation of an irrigation schedule and its observance. Excessive or insufficient watering can cause wilting and death of citrus.