Description
The Little Lemon with a Big PersonalityThe Meyeri Citrons plant is native to China and looks like a shrub, but if you plant it into the ground, it can grow into a tall tree. If you want to keep the plant in a pot, then it will remain smaller. This plant is a mix between a mandarin and a lemon and was introduced in China in 1908. It is a great plant for your home; if you take good care, it will bear you fruits in as little as two years. It is not very difficult to care for the Meyer Lemon tree if you follow the right instructions. Here is a guide to help you care for the plant and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Caring for your Meyer Lemon To ensure good care for the Meyer Lemon tree, you must be careful of the plant’s location and water and light requirements. Let’s explore all the requirements in detail. LightIf you want your plant to grow well, you must ensure that it gets lots of light. These plants thrive best if they get direct sunlight, but if you can’t give that, you can also keep them in partial shade. It does not matter if you keep the plant indoors or out in your garden; they need 6-8 hours of sunlight. SoilThese plants are not very picky regarding the type of soil. You can go for any soil that offers good drainage, and your plant will grow to its maximum potential. However, it is best if the soil is slightly acidic. Therefore you can go for a combination soil and include a sandy mixture. WaterWatering a citrus plant is one of the most important aspects of growing it properly. You need to keep the soil damp without it getting soggy. Wait for the top layer of the soil to completely dry out before you water it the next time. During the wintertime, you may have to mist the leaves to keep the plant growing. However, it is important to ensure that the plant is not waterlogged. FertilizerThe growing season for the plant is early spring and continues into fall. This is when your plant needs the most fertilizer, and you can add a fertilizer with a high nitrogen quantity. If not, then you can also go for a slow-release fertilizer.However, you do not need to add a lot of fertilizer regularly; instead, you can add it three times during the growing season for maximum growth. Common IssuesWhile it is not particularly difficult to take care of the Meyer lemon tree, there are some common issues people experiences when they grow the plant. PestsThe Citrus limon ‘Meyer’ can be affected by insects and pests. You must keep an eye out for scale, mealy bugs, and whiteflies, among other pests. If you are not too careful, any of these pests can cause significant damage to your plant, and it is best to curb the growth of these pests in the initial stages. If some part of the plant is affected, you can prune it away and treat the rest of the plant with neem oil or any other alternative, such as horticultural oil. DiseaseSome of the diseases of the lemon tree include yellowing leaves, leaf loss, and stunted growth. In this case, if you follow the right care guide, you can easily prevent your plant from suffering from any of these diseases. PruningPruning does not significantly affect the tree’s ability to produce fruit. However, you can prune the tree to maintain its traditional shape. Or if you want a hedge-like tree, then you can prune it accordingly. Before you prune it, you must wait until the tree is at least 3-4 feet tall. PropagationYou can use semi-hardwood cuttings to propagate your tree. It is best to take the hardwood cuttings when the plant is in its growth stage, that is, during the time of early summer and well into the spring. When you plant the tree, you must remove all the flowers, leaves, and fruit from the cuttings. Potting/RepottingIf you were to repot a Meyer Lemon tree, then you need to choose a much bigger container and ensure that it can have enough drainage holes, so all the excess water goes out of the holes.
