In winter, the hobby gardener's citrus plant is a problem child. If the location and care are not right, leaves will fall in droves. It doesn't have to come to that if you follow these tips. How to overwinter citrus correctly.
Citrus trees need cool and bright wintertime
Citrus winter bright and cool - location tips
Site conditions play a key role if you want to overwinter citrus plants at their best. In this respect, all evergreen, exotic plants and flowers pull together. The rule of thumb is: Citrus must spend the winter bright and cool. What exactly is behind this premise is explained by the following notes:
- light: bright to shady, without direct sunlight
- temperature: 3° to 8° Celsius (minimum 0° Celsius, maximum 10° Celsius)
- premises: unheated conservatory, greenhouse or garden shed (€24.90) with frost guard, cool bedroom
If the thermometer exceeds 10 degrees, it becomes critical for citrus in the winter quarters. At this threshold, the vegetation sets in with fatal consequences for the Mediterranean ornamental tree. The brightest room can't provide anywhere near the full sun that citrus plants need to grow. The plant quickly registers the discrepancy between light supply and room temperature, senses danger and sheds the leaves.
Care tips for the winter
With the right choice of location, citrus is halfway through the winter. Expert care rounds off the exemplary citrus overwintering. These tips summarize what really matters:
- Place pot on wood to protect against rising cold from the ground
- Cover the vessel with fleece or jute
- Compensate for lack of light with a daylight lamp
- Water sparingly, ideally using a watering indicator in the substrate
- Do not fertilize from the beginning of November to the end of February
The most common maintenance problem in the winter quarters is pest infestation. Scale insects in particular have their sights on the evergreen leaves. Check citrus plants regularly so that you catch lice in good time. A lye made from curd soap has proven to be an effective control agent. You can make the home remedy yourself or buy it ready-to-use.
tips
At the end of the winter break, citrus plants benefit from a topiary. The prime example is the lemon tree (Citrus limon), which tends to grow sparsely and misshapen. Let the scissors circle in February, bring out twigs that protrude from the crown or gesticulate wildly in all directions.