Where to buy an indoor lemon tree?
There are many benefits to having an indoor lemon tree at home – providing fresh, sweet-smelling citrus fruit all year round, as well as bringing life and vibrancy to any room. If you’re interested in essentially purchasing a piece of nature to add to your home, here’s how to buy an indoor lemon tree.
The first step is to do some research. There are usually plenty of options in nurseries and garden centers, but it’s important to read up to find out which variety and size best suits your home. For instance, some lemon cultivars, such as the ‘Lisbon’ or ‘Eureka’, are better suited to indoor environments and have smaller, more manageable fruit.
Don’t hesitate to ask questions to the staff in the store, as they’ll be able to give you more detailed advice on the level of care and grooming your tree will need. Before you leave, it’s a good idea to check that the tree is in prime condition by looking at the leaves for any damage, discolouration or rot. Your ideal tree should have smooth, glossy leaves, although you can still buy one which is smaller or is just budding.
When it’s time to buy, consider what accessories you may need to maintain your tree’s health. These could include potting soil, a set of trellises to ensure your tree grows straight and healthy, and maybe even a fertilizer mix if your retail outlet has one. Lastly, you’ll want to get some hessian or mesh bags to keep pests away. When you’ve got the supplies, you’re ready to start planting your lemon tree.
As you can see, there are a few things to think about when it comes to buying an indoor lemon tree, but it can be a rewarding experience! If you take the time to do your research, get the supplies you need, and find the perfect tree, you’ll be enjoying fragrant citrus fruit in no time.
Choosing the Right Varieties
When deciding where to buy an indoor lemon tree, it’s important to consider the type of tree you need. It needs to be a variety that can tolerate the often dry, indoor climate. Depending on the size of your home, both potted and bigger trees are available. That said, the ‘Meyer’ is a popular dwarf cultivar, which can bear full-sized fruit despite its dwarf size. Another option is the ‘Lisbon’ or ‘Eureka’, which tend to have smaller-sized fruit and are better suited to indoor cultivation.
Consider the amount of space you have in your home. If you have a wide enough area to fit larger citrus trees, such as the ‘Cumquat’, these can bear even fuller-sized fruit. If you’re tight on space, then look for dwarf-sized varieties, such as the ‘Meyer’ or ‘Buddha’s Hand’. Keep in mind that these types may take a bit of time to bear fruit, and need more frequent watering.
If you’re based in a colder region, you may also want to invest in more hardy lemon varieties, such as the ‘Villa’, ‘Ujukitsu’, or ‘Yuzu’, as these can withstand temperatures as low as -9˚C. The ‘Bergamot’, or ‘Eureka’, are also relatively hardy varieties, and both these fruiting and leafy trees tend to have thick leaves and quite a fragrant smell.
When you have a good idea of the type you’d like, be sure to research quality nurseries and garden centers to purchase from, and read customer reviews to get an idea of the quality of plants they offer.
It’s also best to keep an open mind when visiting nursery and garden centers. Don’t hesitate to ask questions and take note of the condition of the tree; look for smooth, glossy leaves, and no signs of discolouration or rot. This will ensure you are purchasing a healthy seedling to establish your indoor lemon tree.
Preparing the Site
Before you plant or transfer your lemon tree indoors, you’ll need to create a suitable growing site. The best space for your tree should be filled with lots of natural light, and a room with a window or two is ideal. You’ll also need to find a pot that fits your tree’s size. Choose one made of sturdy material, such as clay or ceramic, as these allow the soil to breathe.
If you want to boost your tree’s growth, then you can also buy sterilized potting mix, preferably one containing mycorrhizal fungi, Leaf Mulch, or other beneficial ingredients. If you already have potting soil, then you’ll need to create a suitable blend of soil, sand, and compost. The last step is to add a fertilizer or natural compost to the soil before you transfer the tree.
When you have the soil and pot ready, it’s time to place your lemon tree in its new home. Make sure you place a few stones in the bottom of the pot for drainage, and slowly fill the container with soil and compost. Once the tree is planted, water the soil slowly and allow the excess to run out of the pot.
When you’re done, place your indoor tree in its new spot and provide some auxiliary support if needed. Use trellises, which provide stability to ensure it grows straight and healthy. And make sure the soil is always slightly damp.
Caring For Your Indoor Lemon Tree
Taking care of your lemon tree starts with providing the right environment. It needs plenty of light, and it’s ideal to move your tree around during the day to follow the sun’s path. If possible, use a fertilizer mix specially made for citrus trees, and use hessian or mesh bags to wrap the tree when necessary, to protect it against pests.
Citrus trees are semi-evergreen and will shed their leaves in winter if the temperature drops below 10˚C for a long period. If you live in a cold region, your tree may suffer from a cold shock, so you should move it away from the window in winter, and cover it with a fleece in case of a frost. Pruning is also important to promote healthy growth and help develop a more compact tree. Just take away some dead leaves or damaged parts, and shape it so the branches grow outward.
In the summer, your tree will need more water, so make sure you feel the soil to check its moisture content before you water it. You don’t want to leave it waterlogged, but you should never wait for it to completely dry out either. During warmer climates, you may need to use some insect repellent or pesticides to protect your tree from any pests or disease.
Lastly, if you’re lucky, your tree will start to produce fruits! Pick the lemons before they get too ripe, as this will enhance their flavour. If you want to dry the unused fruits, make sure you dry them in the sun and keep them away from other fruits to avoid contamination.
Harvesting From Your Indoor Lemon Tree
Harvesting the lemons from your indoor tree is a simple process. Lemons are ready to be picked when they reach the size of your palm and have a yellow tinge, but they’ll still be quite tart. Don’t wait until they are too ripe, as they will be overly sweet and may not contain as many essential vitamins and minerals. To remove a lemon, twist it gently and remove it, then store it in the fridge for up to two weeks.
If you’re growing a potted tree, you may need to move it to a bigger pot if the roots start to poke through the soil. That said, you may want to keep it contained, as larger citrus trees may grow quite tall. When it’s time to repot, choose a larger container and use a suitable potting mix, such as a mixture of perlite and peat moss, or a blend of equal parts garden soil, compost, and sand.
Lastly, don’t forget to provide extra TLC to your indoor lemon tree. This could include the regular addition of an appropriate fertilizer, pruning the branches, and removing any dead leaves or branches. All of this effort, however, will be rewarded with delicious lemons that you can enjoy all year round!
Harvesting And Storing Lemons
Harvesting lemons off your indoor tree couldn’t be simpler! When the fruits are ready, twist them gently and remove them. Lemons are ready to be picked when they reach the size of your palm and have a yellow tinge, but they’ll still be quite tart at this stage. If you leave them on the tree for too long, they will be overly sweet and may not contain as many essential vitamins and minerals.
Once the lemons are harvested, it’s important to store them properly. For shorter-term storage, you can place them in the crisper drawer in your fridge to keep them fresh for about two weeks. If you don’t plan to eat them that soon, you can freeze them for a later date. To do this, simply cut the lemons into slices and place them in an airtight bag.
Alternatively, you can preserve the lemons in sugar or salt. This process can take up to two months, so it may not be the best option if you want to use the lemons soon. To do this, cut the lemons into slices and pickle them in sugar or salt. Once they’ve been preserved, you can store them in an airtight container in your pantry.
To use them, you can add the preserved lemons to savoury dishes to add a tart, lemony flavour. You can also mix the preserved lemons into olive oil or vinegar for a unique dressing. And if you’re feeling adventurous, you can stuff them with herbs for a unique side dish.
Enjoying Your Indoor-Grown Lemons
Now that you know how and where to buy an indoor lemon tree, and have harvested and stored the delicious fruit it gives you, it’s time to enjoy the rewards of your hard work! The unique tartness of lemons makes them a great addition to many savoury and sweet dishes.
To use your lemons, add them to salads or mix with vegetables. You can also squeeze fresh juice over seafood to enhance its flavour, or add it to a fruit salad for a refreshing boost. If you’re feeling creative, you can even add the zest of your lemon to drinks, sauces or dips for an extra zingy kick.
Lemons are also great for making desserts. Make sure you chop the fruit well so that you get all the juicy, unique flavours. You can add them to meringues, custards, pavlovas, and even homemade ice cream. You can also add the juice to cakes, muffins, and scones to create an extra moist texture.
In conclusion, having an indoor lemon tree is a great way to enjoy fresh, fragrant lemons all year round. Initiating the process of buying an indoor lemon tree involves researching suitable varieties, preparing the growing space, and caring for the tree with fertilizer, water and pest control. Then, harvesting and storing the lemons, and finally, enjoying their unique taste. If you’re looking for a rewarding experience, look no further than investing in an indoor
