Am I Taking Good Care Of My Meyer Lemon Tree?

Did you place your Meyer lemon tree somewhere where it can get lots of bright but indirect sunlight?

Did you planted it in a well-drained potting soil?

Do you water your lemon tree excessively?

Do you keep your lemon tree somewhere warm?

Did you provide it with a high humidity environment?

Did you fertilize your lemon tree with high nitrogen fertilizer or a slow-release all-purpose fertilizer?

Did you prune your Meyer lemon tree?

Do you keep your tree free of pests and diseases?

All citrus trees love full sun. When your plant is indoors, give it as much light as possible. This can be done by placing it in a sunny, southwest-facing window or by setting it under grow lights or shop lights fitted with one cool and one warm bulb. Be careful about giving the tree too much direct sunlight as this can burn your plant.

Meyer lemon trees can grow in almost any type of soil with good drainage, but they prefer a soil pH between 5.5 and 6.5 and thrive in loamy or sandy loam soils. Add lime to increase the soil pH or sulfur to lower it if your mixture is too acidic.

Proper watering is one of the keys to growing any citrus plant, particularly those grown in pots. The aim is to keep the soil moist but not wet. Stick your finger into the soil, at least up to the second knuckle. If you feel dampness at your fingertip, wait to water. If it feels dry, water your plant until you see it run out of the bottom of the pot.

Meyer lemon trees are happiest in temperatures between 50 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Unless you live in USDA zones 9 to 11, you should bring your Meyer lemon tree indoors when temperatures start regularly dipping below 50 degrees. During the spring, if you live in a cold climate bring your tree outdoors when night temperatures are consistently above 50 degrees.

Indoors, citrus trees do best with humidity levels of 50 percent and above. If you don't have a humid enough spot indoors, fill a tray with rocks and pour water to just below the top of the rocks. Place the pot on top of the rocks and humidity will rise around the plant.

During the growing season (spring to fall), feed your citrus plant regularly with either a high nitrogen fertilizer or a slow-release all-purpose fertilizer. Citrus trees also respond well to additional foliar feeding with a liquid fertilizer like compost tea, liquid kelp, or fish emulsion.

Periodically pruning your Meyer lemon tree is important both for structuring the plant so that it fits in your space and so that the branches can support the fruit as it emerges. Cut back long leads as they develop (these branches typically do not produce fruit) so that the side branches can fill out and strengthen to hold the fruit.

Good job! You are taking good care of your Meyer lemon tree.

Keep an eye on small insects like aphids, mealybugs, or scales. If the pests do appear, use a spray bottle of water or wipe the insects off gently with a bit of rubbing alcohol on a paper towel or cotton swab. Also, maintain good watering practices to avoid root rot and other fungal problems.