Q&A for How to Care for a Lemon Tree

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Can you keep lemon trees inside?

Mark Leahy
Plant Specialist
Mark Leahy is a Plant Specialist based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is the Co-Owner of Bella Fiora, a custom design floral studio, and SF Plants, a plant shop and nursery. Mark specializes in floral artistry and indoor plants including floral arrangements, terrace planters, office plantscapes, and living walls. Mark and his business partner have been featured in Vogue, The Knot, Today’s Bride, Wedding Wire, Modern Luxury, San Francisco Bride Magazine, San Francisco Fall Antique Show, Black Bride, Best of the Bay Area A-List, and Borrowed & Blue.

Mark Leahy

Plant Specialist

Expert Answer

Lemon trees can grow inside in a warm climate if they're kept in a very sunny room. They need to be in direct sun.

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Question

How often should you water an indoor lemon tree?

Mark Leahy
Plant Specialist
Mark Leahy is a Plant Specialist based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is the Co-Owner of Bella Fiora, a custom design floral studio, and SF Plants, a plant shop and nursery. Mark specializes in floral artistry and indoor plants including floral arrangements, terrace planters, office plantscapes, and living walls. Mark and his business partner have been featured in Vogue, The Knot, Today’s Bride, Wedding Wire, Modern Luxury, San Francisco Bride Magazine, San Francisco Fall Antique Show, Black Bride, Best of the Bay Area A-List, and Borrowed & Blue.

Mark Leahy

Plant Specialist

Expert Answer

Because they're in direct sun, lemon trees do dry out more quickly than other house plants. However, wait until they're dry about 2 inches below the surface before you water them again.

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Question

This year my lemons are quite small. Lack of water?

Ninox

Top Answerer

More likely a lack of nutrients. Try to add fertilizer rich in potassium and nitrogen to the soil.

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Question

Bought a pink lemon plant in Florida in February, but it is only growing up, no side branches. What do I do to get it to branch out?

Ninox

Top Answerer

You should prune the elevated branches. I should give a more compact shape to the tree.

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Question

My lemons grow to the right size but never turn yellow. Is this normal?

Ninox

Top Answerer

The color of the lemons depends on the temperature. They turn yellow because of lower temperature, so they can be mature but still green if you live in a hot place.

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Question

l grew lemon trees from pips, so I don't know what variety they are. Will they ever fruit? They seem really healthy, have evil thorns and about are 2 feet high now. No flowers as yet.

Ninox

Top Answerer

Lemon trees take lot of time before growing fruit. It usually take around 10 years, so be patient.

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Question

How often do you water a lemon tree?

Drew Hawkins1

Community Answer

Lemon trees need to be watered every 10 to 14 days, depending on how dry the soil is. When you do water your lemon tree, water it slowly and count to 20, or until you see water coming out of the pot. If after 20 seconds you still don’t see water coming out of the pot, continue counting and watering for an additional 10 seconds. If you're watering a tree in the ground, check to see if it needs water by sticking your finger into the soil up to your second knuckle. If the soil is damp, wait another day or two before you water the tree.

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Question

What is the best fertilizer for a lemon tree?

Drew Hawkins1

Community Answer

Lemons are citrus fruit, so you can use a fertilizer that's designed specifically for citrus trees. Apply the fertilizer only to the top of the soil without mixing it in. The best times to fertilize your lemon trees are during the summer and spring, when the trees are actively growing.

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Question

How long does it take for a lemon tree to bear fruit?

Drew Hawkins1

Community Answer

It depends on how big or old your lemon tree is when you plant it, but from seed, it can take between 3 and 5 years before the tree starts to bear fruit. When you see fruit starting to grow on your tree, wait until they're about 2 to 3 inches (5.1 to 7.6 cm) big before you start picking them. The greener the lemon, the more sour it is, so wait until they turn completely yellow if you want your lemons more sweet.

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