In Germany, too, citrus plants such as the lemon tree are very popular in conservatories, on terraces or in rooms. The beautiful, lush-growing plants with lush green leaves bloom almost all year round and, with good care, even bear juicy fruit. However, the lemon trees from the subtropical climate zone should best be grown in pots.
Which pot is suitable?
Only containers that have good water drainage at the bottom and watertight side walls are suitable for growing lemon trees in tubs. It is best to choose plastic pots, as these are still easy to transport even as the root ball grows. Densely fired clay pots are also well suited - especially for smaller sizes - as they are less susceptible to wind. For outdoor locations in summer, you should not use a saucer so that the excess rainwater and irrigation water can drain away unhindered. This way you prevent rotting roots.
Why are terracotta pots unsuitable?
Terracotta pots look very pretty and actually fit perfectly with a Mediterranean planting. However, the evaporative cooling that occurs with the terracotta pots fired at low temperatures can slow down root activity and thus the growth of the plant. Evaporative cooling occurs in vessels where water can perspire through the vessel wall.
Provide good drainage in the pot
The drainage in the pot is also of great importance for lemon trees, which on the one hand drains off excess water and on the other hand prevents waterlogging. To achieve this goal, you should pack small pebbles as the bottom layer in the bucket. In addition, citrus soil or self-mixed substrate contains a proportion of expanded clay, (19.73 €) which ensures that the soil is pervious. In addition, good potting soil should not tend to clog, but also not be too light (keyword: susceptibility to wind). Ideal lemon tree soil has a pH between 5 and 6, which means it is slightly acidic.
Repot lemon trees regularly
In order for your beautiful plants to stay healthy and grow optimally, they should be kept regularly - but not too often! - be repotted. Young plants should be repotted every year because of the very small amounts of substrate (which are rooted through quickly) and because of their still strong growth, older ones every two to three years depending on the ratio of crown volume to pot size. The root ball is usually about as wide as the tree crown. New pots should be about a third larger than the root ball.
tips and tricks
To make it easier for you to repot a large lemon tree, you can simply lay it aside with the pot and then pull off the bucket.