Bonsai lemon: what conditions and varieties are needed for growing, how to plant and properly take care of whether a dwarf tree turns out, as well as diseases and pests

The lemon bonsai tree has been popular in China at all times. In many estates it was an integral decorative part of the interior.

In America, this plant has always been treated more prosaically, growing it as a food product. But, of course, bonsai lemon is a beautiful tree that will decorate any home.

What kind of home environment?

Before you start growing, you need to conduct an objective assessment of your home. For example, if the windows in the house are located exclusively on the north side, then it is not recommended to undertake the cultivation of such a demanding plant. Lemon is a thermophilic plant and needs additional illumination with lamps in the winter season, even from the southern windows.

Suitable Citrus Varieties

Low bones of lemon are suitable for bonsai. It:

Mayer;
Kiev;
Pavlovsky;
Novogruzinskiy;
Genoa undersized;
Lisbon.

Most popular - Mayer lemon, since it is rapidly ripening and can be stretched high. Pavlovsky lemon is also popular, as it is great for indoor cultivation.

Its fruits are sour, and the skin is thin. The Kiev variety brings quite large fruits, and Novogruzinsky shows a pronounced aroma. Genoa will be short, but very fruitful. Libson can reach 2 meters in length and has strong shoots and a dense trunk.

How to get the seeds of lemons? Everything is very simple. You need to go where the fruits of lemons are sold. Acquire several species, and then select the seeds of the fruits you like. Many would have thought, if you get the seeds in this way, then only a "wild" will grow from them.

In fact, wild forms of citrus plants do not exist on the planet for a very long time. These are fully cultivated plants and do not behave the same as apples, plums, pears, etc.

Cultivation and care

Sow the seeds should I January. It is necessary to preliminarily water the soil abundantly, and then introduce the seeds to a depth of 1 cm. To create a favorable sphere for the development of the root system, it is necessary to mix in equal proportions:

garden land;
peat;
coarse sand.

You will be able to observe seedlings after 30 days, if all conditions are met. When the first pair of leaves appears, they must be planted in different glasses. It is very important not to deepen the root neck. In the first year, the tree can be maintained without providing additional illumination, top dressing and regular spraying. So, you can find the most viable from all seedlings.

Pay attention to those who began to branch, still being 10-15 cm long. Most likely, these are the trees that will bring maximum productivity. It is worth knowing that lemons need wintering during the period of the beginning of the development of flower buds on mature shoots.

It is advisable to observe the temperature regime from + 5º to -10º. This problem is solved by expanding the windowsill. Here you have to figure out how to fence a pot of wood from the heat in the room. For this, a plastic film is often used.

Lemon is a sun-loving plant, therefore, it will bring a big harvest if you place it in the brightest part of the house. In summer, you can keep the composition on the street, as citrus fruits like heat. But, if the temperature drops at night to 5ºС, then the plant should be taken to the room and installed on the windowsill.

Watering

Citrus fruits are very picky about water, since this fluid is a carrier of both beneficial and harmful components. Therefore, water for irrigation should be given special attention. If it is not possible to use rain and snow water, then you will have to improve the quality of the tap.

The latter is very harmful to citrus fruits, as it has a high content of lime and chlorine. The regular use of such water will lead to the occurrence of salt deposits and other minerals, which lead to the occurrence of diseases. Therefore, before use, it is necessary to purify tap water.

Heat the container with water and leave for a day in the fresh air.
Leave water in the sun in a wide-necked container for 24 hours.
Boil water and cool.
Insist raw water. After, introduce citric acid in the proportions of 1 g / 6 l, as well as vinegar at the rate of 5 cap / 1 l.
Add horse peat to the water and insist for a day. 200 gr. peat for 3 liters. liquids.

By choosing one of the methods of water purification, you can water your plant with tap water without fear. Of course, tap water will never replace the key or rain, but the presented methods of purification will help to maintain plant health.

The age of the plant and the level of humidity are responsible for the frequency of watering. But there is no established period for watering lemon trees. When does a tree need watering?

The soil turned gray.
There was a loud sound when tapping the walls of the pot.
The pot began to weigh less.
The soil crumbles into dust.
Shoots on and the leaves droop.

Rules for watering a lemon:

Trees should be watered in two stages. The first is irrigation, and the second is soil moisture.
Do not rush when watering. Water should penetrate the soil in a narrow stream.
During the growing season, it is best to use water several degrees warmer than air temperature.
It is recommended to water in the evening, since evaporation is reduced at this time.

It is also necessary to irrigate the crown, as this has a beneficial effect on cultivation.

Humidity

Higher room humidity must be observed.. To do this, you can purchase special devices for moisturizing. They are filled with water and attached to the batteries. In extreme cases, you can use ordinary dishes. You will also need to regularly use a spray gun.

Fertilizers

You need to feed lemon if you want your bonsai to be healthy and beautiful. Since bonsai are grown in a small amount of land, you will have to saturate the soil with useful elements from time to time. For these purposes, any liquid fertilizer that can be purchased at appropriate stores is suitable.

How to transplant in a large pot?

It is not difficult to transplant a lemon at home. The root system adapts and takes root very quickly. The transplant procedure is performed in several stages:

The bottom of the pot is covered with a layer of drainage. It should occupy approximately 20% of capacity. Expanded clay is suitable for these purposes. Drainage is covered with a layer of sand.
A tree with an overgrown root system is removed from the old tank. It is necessary to inspect the system for rotten roots and prune them. To increase the growth efficiency of the root system, you can treat it with a special stimulant, sold in special stores.
The sand in the pot is covered with a layer of soil and the roots of the lemon tree are introduced into it. It is necessary to pay attention to the root neck. It should be located slightly below the edge of the pot.
The earth is compacted and watered. Further, the soil can be loosened in order to ensure oxygen saturation.

If you did not grow the plant on your own, but purchased it in a store, leave the purchase for several days in quarantine using a solution for the prevention of diseases.

Lemon Tree Formation and Pruning

Some varieties of dwarf lemons respond perfectly to wire formation. In spring, you should form young branches with wire and sticky paper.

It is also recommended to expand strong branches, so that light penetrates through them. A tree with 3-4 branches below is suitable for formation. These branches will be used as the basis.

The angle between the trunks and the side branches is changed using a ribbon or bends. You can use homemade weights. In the same way, you can change the position of the branches by pulling them together with a wire bracket or pushing them apart with a wooden strut.
In the formation of a large role is played by the removal of ugly elements of the composition.
Symmetrically, the crown will develop if the tree is turned from time to time to the sun. You can change the position of the plant by several degrees every two weeks.

The trunk of a lemon is cut above the upper branch, and the branches should be shortened to 20 cm. Thus, branches grown on skeletal branches will be second-order shoots. After them shoots of the 3rd order will appear on them and so on.

Diseases and Pests

Spider mite. It can be brought into the house along with the purchased plant. Once on the windowsill to other flowers, it will lighten fast, will settle them. Getting rid of it is extremely difficult.
Aphid. It attacks the leaves and sucks life from the plant. Can attack other plants.
Shield is a pest that feeds on the juice of lemon leaves. Lives on the leaves, from the bottom.

Growing difficulties

Failure to comply with the rules of citrus fruits will lead to a poor result or to the death of the plant.
To form a bonsai from a lemon is not difficult. The main thing is to correct defects in time. Otherwise, you get an ugly and crooked tree.
It should be noted that even dwarf lemon can occupy up to 2 meters of area. It should be understood that lemon bonsai is a rather big plant, so a future location should be provided.
Citrus fruits can often get sick, so they require exceptional attention.

Lemon bonsai is a beautiful original compositionwhich will decorate a light interior. At the same time, it will bear delicious and fragrant fruits. It is important that you follow the rules of care and formation so that your tree grows strong, healthy and beautiful.