Wondering why your indoor lemon trees belong outdoors? Find out more about when to move your indoor lemon trees outdoors for the best lemon growth below.
We all know that trees are meant to grow outdoors, but many climates don't give us the option of keeping our citrus trees outdoors all year long.
Your indoor lemon trees can certainly survive indoors for the winter, but as soon as the weather warms up, they are just dying to get outside where Mother Nature intended them to be.
Follow this guide to transition your indoor lemon trees to the great outdoors when possible, where they can thrive all summer long.
1. When Should You Move Your Citrus Trees Outside?
When spring comes in your region, you should start monitoring the temperatures, both during the day and at night. Lemon trees thrive in temperatures between 77 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit.
You don't want to risk having your lemon tree outside if you get a late frost, so you should wait until nighttime temperatures don't get lower than 40 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit before moving your trees to an outdoor climate.
If you want to bring your trees out earlier, you can start off by bringing them outside during the day and bringing them back in at night if there is a threat of frost.
2. Make a Gradual Transition Outside
You need to let your lemon tree slowly get used to its new home outside. Start off by putting your trees in a semi-shady spot for a few days, and then transition into a full sun spot for its permanent summer home.
It's also a good idea to be on the lookout for drier soil when you first move your lemon trees outside. Due to the exposure to wind and outside air, the soil will most likely dry out more than it does inside the house. If it's dry to the touch, give your trees some extra water.
3. Lemon Trees Like it Humid
Your house isn't humid inside, and it's not supposed to be. Too much moisture wreaks havoc on a home, but it's ideal for your lemon trees.
For those who have to keep their citrus trees indoors during the winter months, you can use a humidifier, but when the weather starts to warm up, it's best to let your tree get its natural humid air outside.
4. Lemon Trees Love to Bask in the Sun
Everyone knows plants need sunlight, but lemon trees love to soak up the sun all day long. Citrus trees require full sunlight at least eight hours a day; however, they thrive on twelve hours of sunlight a day.
Why do they need so much sun? It's all the sunlight that gives lemon trees the strength they need to bloom and bear fruit, which, of course, is the ultimate goal. Lemon trees that are kept in the shade are known to produce less fruit and poor quality fruit.
5. It's All About the Fruit
Who doesn't love a refreshing fruit cocktail with freshly squeezed lemon juice from your very own tree?
When your lemon trees don't spend any time outside, there aren't any bees to pollinate them. You can pollinate your lemon trees by hand but if you have the opportunity to get your trees outside, that is by far the best and easiest option.
Get Ready for Spring
Start keeping an eye on your region's temperatures and for when you're able to transition your lemon trees outside for natural citrus growth and quality lemon production.
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