The cold season is approaching and the sensitive citrus plants have to go back to winter quarters. This is how you can cut the lemon tree and overwinter it.
Cut the lemon tree and overwinter: This is the care the exotic tree needs
It gives the garden an exotic touch and makes us dream of a holiday on the Mediterranean. Because wherever the tree grows in the gardens, summer is hot and winter – warm. In this country, however, it needs a winter quarters in order to get through the cold season well. And the potted plant has special requirements - if something is wrong with the location, it will shed its leaves and can even die. How do you keep him healthy through the winter?
When do you have to bring the citrus plant into winter quarters?
The lemon tree is not only very sensitive to frost. It can generally tolerate temperatures down to -1° Celsius. Changeable weather, with temperatures above 15° Celsius during the day and below 0°C in the evening, causes problems for the plants. Heavy rain can cause waterlogging and the roots will become moldy.
Basically, the rule of thumb applies: If autumn is warm, the lemon tree can stay outside until mid-October at the latest. Provided it is protected from rain. In addition, you can wrap the bucket with fleece and place it on Styrofoam coasters to prevent the ground from freezing.
Cutting lemon trees before wintering: necessary or unnecessary?
The lemon tree grows quite slowly, so it does not need to be shortened annually. But it often gets out of shape and its branches grow in all possible directions. Topiary pruning, in which side shoots are removed so as not to compete with the main shoot, is therefore recommended in autumn. The rest is shortened and given the right shape so that the tree has a round crown and all branches can receive even sunlight. Young shoots can be tied and bent into the desired shape - so they are not cut off. Wild shoots are torn off directly while they are still young.
You can leave unripe fruits on the tree; they will ripen next summer.
Pruning should not only improve the appearance, but also keep the tree healthy. Citrus plants often fall victim to aphids or are attacked by the spores of the sooty mold fungus. Diseased shoots must be removed before overwintering and the tree should be at least 2 meters away from other plants.
The right location in the apartment
Warm and sunny:The right location determines whether it survives the winter or not. It is not enough to simply bring the tree into the apartment. The lemon tree is one of the plants that needs a lot of light even when it is resting. A spot directly by the sunny south window is therefore ideal. The air temperature should not vary too much - the lemon tree feels best at room temperatures between 7° and 10° Celsius.
Cool and sunny:It can also stand out of the sun. The following applies: if the plant is in a sunny location, it should be overwintered in a cool room at 5° Celsius. The sun worshiper should also spend the entire winter in one place. A frequent change of location puts unnecessary stress on the plant and itsheds its leaves.
Dark rooms are not suitable for overwintering the plant. The basement or attic are not suitable winter quarters and the plant will not survive the rest period there.
Overwinter in the greenhouse or winter garden
In the greenhouse:In order for the lemon tree to feel comfortable in its winter quarters, the right ratio between sunlight and room temperature is very important. Greenhouses are usually very bright, but temperatures can vary greatly. During the day they quickly rise above 15° - 20° Celsius and in the evening they drop to around 0° Celsius. The exotic cannot survive the strong fluctuations.
To help him, you can place the bucket on a Styrofoam coaster and wrap it with fleece.
In the winter garden:Unlike the greenhouse, the winter garden is usually heated. In this case, however, you should keep the room temperature between 8° and 10° Celsius - so it is best to only turn the heating on in the evenings in October and November.
Lemon tree loses leaves? That's it!
It's not just the right location and the right room temperature that play a crucial role when overwintering. You should also water the tree regularly and one last timeFertilize before overwintering.Yes, the exotic needs water and fertilizer to get through the winter:
- In October, the exotic is watered as needed, although waterlogging should be avoided at all costs. It's best to do a finger test first and then water.
- From November you can spray or mist the popular balcony plant with water.
- If the location is too dark, you can use an additional plant lamp.
- The lemon tree is fertilized once before overwintering to provide it with phosphorus and potassium.
Also read:Lantana overwinter in the garage or in the apartment: How you should care for your plant in winter!
