Prophylactic self-isolation for lemon trees acclimation. Day 55th.

I believe many of us are the gardeners, whose experience and observations are of golden weight. Yesterday, I sent a photo of a ladybird to a friend of mine. The ladybird was busy on the lemon tree which I am growing at home.

And the discussion has started. It appears my friend is already a home-expert in growing lemon treesJ What a coincidence! Just at the moment my lemon trees, the 1-year old young generation, were recovering from the cold winter on my windowsill…

My short lemon story (The long lemon story is coming in days:))

One-year old lemon trees were sprouted from the seeds at home. They grew strong, green and healthy all last summer and autumn.

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In the middle of winter I stated to notice, some leaves were going yellowish, some white spiderwebs were visible here and there, later, the leaves started to fall down from some branches, the young trees obviously slowed down in growth in winter time.

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This spring, I apologized to them for the cold winter, put them in another place close to the large window and bought a special lemon fertilizer (I use my own homemade Bokashi fertilizer for a year, but here was an emergency, I wanted to save my plants). I had around 50 young lemon trees, I shared them with my friends, fellows, and neighbors, but still have a lot. I shared those trees which were the healthiest and strong looking, because I understood, my mission in this project is to save those who need my help (hope to succeed in it:))

The knowledge I l’earned from the friend of mine:

1. Lemon trees are loved by every creature in a garden, every creature likes and wants to chew and crunch it: butterflies, spiders, even mice and cats
2. Lemons should be fertilized regularly: compost, home-made or commercial fertilizer for lemons should be given. Worth to remember, if the soil was enriched with compost at the beginning – plants do take the “food” from it and after some time all the enrichment of soil is gone. I guess now, home-made compost in soil composition is valid for half a year, probably no longer
3. Lemons love sun, but not scorching direct sun. Keep it warm
4. White spots could appear on the leaves because of overwatering
5. The soil. The soil should be not only black earth or humus, the soil for lemons should be mixed with sand and compost. It could not be only black earth, it will be (and it is from my own observation) too rich and too much for lemon roots. It appears, they could grow even in sand, without the black soil
6. Use banana-water fertilizer (simple and effective): put a shell of banana in water and banana-water will be ready next morning
7. Good to mix the soil with dry fallen leaves of the same lemon tree, time to time
8. If you really see a big trouble is taking place with your lemon tree – emergent reanimation is needed. Gently pull lemon tree out of pot, check the root – is it ok? Brush and wash pot thoroughly with water (only water) and change the soil (compost + sand + black soil). If you see the root is ok, not eaten by something and yet not rotten because of over-love (overwatering) – than plant the tree back to refreshed pot with a refreshed soil mixture
9. In those regions, where the climate is not too hot and parching – be very moderate in watering, do not overwater
10. If your lemon tree is growing in a pot – 1 hour after watering check the underneath plate and pour out water from it – the roots should not stand in water for hours, days and/or months
11. Young lemon trees, under 1 year old, like to grow together in one pot, feeling connection with their brothers and sisters and being close. Only when the stem is strong and with a bunch of leaves – you can place them into separate pots (this step in growing lemon trees I made completely right and properly!:))

The most important is that inner power, because the stems of all young lemon trees are firm and strong, these lemons are the Power!

Photos by Dr. A. Palatronis on www.z-antenna.com

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