How to grow a lime from a stone or a cutting

If you have a desire to grow a small citrus plant, you need to know that caring for a lime at home is not difficult. You just need to learn some rules. In the open field, s will not be able to get the fruits of this tree, since a temperature of 1-2 degrees is detrimental to shoots and leaves. The plant is grown in large pots at home. Tree height – no more than 2 m, leaves with a characteristic smell of lemon.

Features of growing lime at home

The climatic conditions of Our Country are not very suitable for growing citrus trees and shrubs (lime is no exception) in the open field. Most often, planting is planned in specially equipped greenhouses or at home. The fact is that on an evergreen plant flowering and bud formation occurs throughout the year. Flowers appear in the spring, and the fruits begin to ripen at home by the New Year.

Many indoor flower lovers grow lime as a pot culture. Of course, not every lime can be grown at home. Experienced gardeners recommend these varieties.

• Palestinian

  

• Mexican

  

• Lime Tahiti

  

• Kaffir lime or Kaffir

  

• Calamansi (musky)

  

• Rangipur
  
• Limequat (Limonella)

  

• Pomeranian (Limetta)

  

For propagation and cultivation of citrus fruits, seeds or cuttings are used at home.

How to grow a lime from a stone

For propagation, you can use varietal seeds or take stones from lime fruits bought at the store. Only in the latter case, you should not dream of a varietal seedling.

Preparing the seeds

For reproduction at home, seeds must be selected from ripe fruits. The seed material must be treated carefully: the seeds should not be damaged, stained.

Rinse the selected bones with water at room temperature to remove any remaining pulp. Put in humic fertilizer for 30 minutes, then spread the bones on a dry napkin and dry.

Soil and planting preparation

Fill a container for seedlings (volume – at least 2 liters) with special soil intended for growing citrus fruits. Experienced gardeners advise adding 20% ​​of coarse river sand to the soil, previously washed from silt.

If it was not possible to purchase a special soil, the soil mixture can be compiled independently. A little sand is added to the garden soil so that the soil is loose, water and breathable.

The presence of a drainage layer is important for growing lime at home from seed. Small pieces of brick, expanded clay are used as drainage. The layer is poured in 2 cm, and on top of the nutrient soil mixture.

Bone planting

To prevent the embryo from dying, the bone is deepened by 1 cm. The pot is covered with glass or film on top to create a greenhouse effect. This procedure will accelerate the germination of planting material.

The pot is placed on a bright window in a room where the temperature is at least 25 degrees. As a rule, when growing lime from the stone at home, sprouts appear in 2-2,5 weeks, if the right temperature is maintained. At low rates, germination stretches up to 2 months.

Sometimes, when planting, due to fear of a lack of germination of seeds, 2-3 pieces are planted in one container. Replanting is not recommended, as well as pulling out seedlings, otherwise the root system can be damaged. It is necessary to carefully cut off weak seedlings with scissors, leaving the strongest.

As soon as sprouts appear, the shelter is removed and the pots are placed on a bright window, where there are no drafts. If a stable temperature has been established on the balcony or loggia within 19-20 degrees, pots of lime grown from the stone are taken out there. Water the seedlings a little every day. Limes grown at home do not tolerate dry air, so the seedling must be sprayed with warm water from a sprayer.

Sometimes after a few months, several sprouts may appear from one bone. There is nothing wrong with that, this is how all citrus fruits are arranged. After 2-3 true leaves grow on the seedling, the strongest shoot is selected, the rest are removed.

During the year, the lime tree is grown at home, in one container. Then you have to transplant the seedling into a larger pot (from 5 to 10 liters). Transplantation is carried out by transshipment, so as not to damage the roots. The root collar must not be buried.

How to grow a lime from cuttings at home

Lime can be propagated not only by seeds, but also by cuttings. This planting material can be cut from your plants or borrowed from friends.

The choice of containers and soil

For planting at home, choose a deep pot so that there is enough room for the growth of the root system. The bottom of the seat is filled 2-3 cm with expanded clay to provide drainage.

The rest of the pot is filled with soil. As with lime seed propagation, it is best to buy a special soil from a citrus plant store. It must be mixed with washed river sand (about 20% by volume) to ensure looseness, moisture and breathability.

Harvesting cuttings

For cutting cuttings, young twigs of the mother plant are used. Only in this case, the workpiece will give a good root system. You need to work with gloves, the lime tree is prickly at home. Last year’s branches are cut into pieces 8-14 cm long. Each of them should have at least 4-5 buds. The lower cut is performed at an angle of 45 degrees, the upper one at an angle of 90 degrees. Leave 3 leaves on the handle.

The lower cut of the cutting must be treated with any means to stimulate the formation of roots. You can take:

• “Kornevin”;
• “Heteroauxin”;
• charcoal.

So that the cutting does not dry out, the upper cut must be covered with garden pitch.

Planting cuttings and care

Moisten the soil well in the pot and place the cutting with a sharp cut in the center at a slight angle. Planting depth – no more than 1,5-2 cm.

A pot of lime for better germination at home is covered with a film to speed up root formation. You can use a cut plastic bottle for this purpose.

Set the container to good lighting in the room at a temperature of 25 degrees. But direct sunlight should not fall on the stalk so that the plant does not get burned. Every day, 2 times lime cuttings are sprayed with warm water, and watered as needed.

Good roots usually appear after 30 days. After that, you need to transfer to a new pot. You need to work carefully so as not to damage the root system.

How to care for a lime

Growing indoor lime at home and caring for it is not so simple, as the plant is picky. In order not to lose the lime tree, it is necessary to observe the features of agricultural technology, to create optimal conditions for the pot culture. Moreover, they directly depend on the time of year.

Optimal Growing Conditions

In its natural environment, this citrus plant is found in tropical climates. This should be taken into account when creating conditions for homemade limes. These options include:

• illumination;
• choosing a place for planting lime;
• temperature regime;
• watering and air humidity to the apartment.

Lighting and location

Lime is a tropical plant, so it has a special relationship with lighting at any time of the year. The room where the citrus tree will stand should be light. Unfortunately, the windows are not always well placed.

Where to place the lime tree:

1. Lime loves light, it is best to choose a west or east window for placing the plant at home.
2. If the windows face south, then the pot is placed in the depths, away from the scorching rays of the sun.
3. If the room is northern, then the plant will not have enough light, so you will have to install additional lighting in the form of phytolamps.

Another nuance that beginner gardeners should pay attention to. Lime at home gets used to a certain place, he does not like it at all if the pot has been moved. Very often, lime after a change of place begins to hurt.

Temperature conditions

Maintaining the temperature in the room where the pot of lime is located will depend on the period of plant development and the time of year:

1. Active vegetation of the plant lasts from March to October. At this time, for lime grown at home, a temperature of 20-35 degrees is recommended.
2. From October to March, the lime begins a period of relative dormancy, so the plant needs coolness from 15 to 18 degrees.

Such a temperature regime will contribute to the timely laying of flower buds, so fruiting will be good.

Air humidity

A tropical plant does not develop well if the air in the room is dry. That is why in the warm season the plant is bathed 2-3 times a month. In a city apartment, you can use a shower, in a village – spraying from a spray bottle.

In winter, home-grown limes need less spraying. Enough 1 time per month.

It is not necessary to arrange a shower to humidify the air. A lime pot can be placed in a wide tray on a small substrate, filled with expanded clay or sphagnum. Water is poured directly into the tray, evaporating, it humidifies the air.

Watering

Despite its tropical origin, lime does not tolerate too wet soil, reminiscent of a swamp. Water lime, grown at home from a stone or a cutting, as needed. It is not difficult to understand that lime is thirsty: the topsoil becomes dry.

The plant especially needs timely hydration during the period of active vegetation, namely from spring to autumn. In winter, watering is reduced (no more than 3 times a month), but they do not stop completely.

Additional fertilizing

Any indoor plants need timely feeding, including lime. During development, the root system draws all the nutrients from the soil. If you do not feed the lime tree at a certain time, the plant will begin to hurt, be damaged by pests faster. Of course, there is no need to dream of any harvest.

Spring and autumn are the time of active vegetation and feeding of domestic trees with organic matter or mineral fertilizers:

1. Plants need nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. These fertilizers are applied in equal proportions. Many flower growers use special formulations designed for citrus plants for feeding.
2. If organics are used, then a mullein solution is best suited.
3. In order for the plant to develop normally, top dressing is carried out regularly after 14-15 days during the period of active growth, flowering, fruit setting and filling.
4. In winter, during a period of relative dormancy, top dressing is carried out after 30-45 days, so that the lime has time to form new flower buds.

Trimming

Limes grown at home need timely pruning, at different periods of development. Moreover, you need to start work already on a young tree, thereby stimulating the growth of lateral shoots on branches.

When the lime is one year old, it is necessary to cut each branch by a third of the length. In subsequent years, formative and sanitary pruning will be required. These events are held every year.

All types of pruning are necessary so that the crown is not thickened. This will save the homemade lime from many problems, including diseases and pests.

A lime with a beautifully formed crown bears fruit better and will delight its owners not only with fragrant huge buds, but also with bright green fruits throughout the year.

The picture below shows a scheme for pruning lime grown in pots at home at different stages of life.

Transfer

Every lover of indoor plants is well aware that it is impossible to grow a tree in one pot for a long time. Moreover, lime at home can grow up to 80 years.

Transplantation of young plants up to 5-6 years old should be carried out every year before the active awakening of lime begins. This is the end of winter – the beginning of spring.

Older lime trees at home do not need to be replanted every year. Roots sprouting through drainage holes serve as a signal for work. The plant is placed in a large pot by transshipment and the top layer of the earth is replaced.

As with propagation by seeds or cuttings, nutrient soil is taken for transplantation. This can be a ready-made composition for citrus fruits or compiled independently. In this case, the mixture should consist of equal parts of soddy, leafy soil, humus and sand.

• looseness;
• ease;
• moisture and breathability.

Transplant rules:

1. For transplanting, take a pot, the diameter of which is 2-3 cm wider. Clay or plastic containers are suitable. Several drainage holes are made in each container so that there is no stagnant water.
2. The bottom is filled with drainage: expanded clay, broken bricks, foam plastic or stones. The layer should be at least 2-3 cm.
3. Then dry manure is poured with a layer of 1 cm and prepared soil to a third of the height of the pot.
4. In an old container, you need to water the plant so that the water soaks all the soil. Take out the lime from their pot, transfer it to a new container and add soil.
5. It is not recommended to deepen the plant much, the root system should be close to the surface, and the root collar should be above the soil surface.
6. After transplanting, the lime is watered and harvested for 1-2 days in partial shade so that the plant does not wither.

Will a lime from the stone bear fruit

Growing lime at home from the stone, gardeners dream of getting tasty and healthy fruits with the aroma of lemons. It should be noted that when creating optimal growing conditions and maximum observance of agrotechnical standards, the first flowers, and then fruits, will appear on lime in 6-10 years.

Diseases and treatment of homemade lime

Lime at home, as well as in the open field, can get sick and be affected by pests. Most often it is:

• spider mite;
• shield;
• mealybug.

You can understand that the plant was visited by pests by the following signs:

1. Deformation, yellowing, and then leaf fall occurs.
2. The upper side of the leaf blade is covered with a gray or black coating.
3. Shoots and leaves become sticky.
4. Very small red or red bugs appear on the plant.
5. The underside of the leaf is covered with cobwebs or white foam.
6. Little or no flowering at all.

In the fight against pests, if there are few of them, you can use a folk remedy: dissolve laundry soap in water and spray the tree. With a massive invasion of pests, it is better to use chemicals, for example, Actellik and Aktara or others.

If we talk about diseases, then gomoz is considered the most dangerous for indoor limes. For various reasons, cracks appear on the shoots through which a sticky liquid begins to flow. After some time, the shoot begins to dry out, which leads to the death of the tree.

There are several causes of the disease:

• non-compliance with the rules of planting;
• excessive watering;
• use for cold water irrigation.

To save the lime, you need to spray those areas where signs of the disease are noticed with a solution of copper sulfate (3%). Then coat with copper sulfate or lime paste.

Conclusion

Caring for a lime at home, if you study the rules of agricultural technology well and strictly follow them, is not so difficult. As a result, you can grow a tree up to 1,5 m high, which will give fragrant and healthy fruits.