What do you know about the Meyer lemon tree, aside from the fact that they're truly worth growing? Here are some useful Meyer lemon tree facts to get started!
If you enjoy the fragrant, refreshing smell of citrus fruits, you may be wondering how to grow your own lemon trees.
Living in a cold climate region makes it tougher to grow citrus fruit outdoors, but there is one type of tree you can grow almost anywhere. The Citrus meyeri, more commonly known as the Meyer lemon tree is a versatile citrus fruit tree that can withstand whatever climate you live in. Take some guidance from these five facts in order to grow your very own Meyer lemon tree.
1. A Meyer Lemon Tree Can Grow Indoors
If you live in California, Texas, or Florida, you can easily grow a Meyer lemon tree outdoors. However, since they are shrub-like, these citrus trees make for perfect container gardening plants as well.
When growing outdoors, these trees mature to be 8 to 12 feet tall. On the other hand, if grown in a container, they conform to its size.
To grow Meyer lemons indoors, all you need is a suitable wide container that offers a lot of drainage. Technically, your container can be as small as 5 gallons in volume, but the larger the container, the more support your tree has.
You can even plant your tree in a mesh growing pot. Mesh pots provide excellent drainage, and they expand to accommodate your plant without weakening in terms of support.
2. Full Exposure To Sun Is Necessary
Your Meyer lemon tree may not need to grow in a tropical climate, but full exposure to a good source of lighting is necessary.
If you grow your plant indoors, make sure to place it in full view of a window. It should bathe in sunlight for around 8 hours a day.
However, take care not to place your potted lemon tree by a vent. Dry air can damage its leaves and cause your plant to dehydrate quickly.
Also, too much direct sunlight can burn your plant.
3. Meyer Lemons Don't Need Much Water
Your lemon tree should be watered consistently. That said, make sure not to over-hydrate it.
Meyer lemon trees only need a small amount of water. Therefore, watering it on a weekly basis will suffice.
After each time you water your tree, ensure that the pot drains properly. Trees whose roots sit in wet soil for long will not survive.
Meyer lemon trees thrive in soil that is slightly moist, but not wet. If your tree grows naturally outdoors, don't worry about watering it at all. Rainwater is sufficient unless you live in an area hit with a drought.
4. Meyer Lemon Trees Thrive In Loamy Soil
Neither topsoil or regular gardening soil are suitable for Meyer lemon trees. These citrus trees can only flourish in a sandy soil with a PH of 5.5 to 6.5.
If you grow your tree in a container, simply use potted plant mix as your soil substitute. This enriched mix is typically well-balanced in terms of minerals and acid. The potting mix will provide a lot of nourishment and proper drainage.
Grow Lemon Trees
For more lemon tree growing tips, be sure to browse more of our citrus blog.
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