Updated June 15, 2022 by admin
While you might think that citrus trees are difficult to grow indoors, Meyer lemon trees are surprisingly easy. The Meyer lemon tree produces fruit with a citrus flavor that features notes of both lemon and mandarin orange. By growing an indoor Meyer lemon tree, you can enjoy citrus fruit as well as the tree’s fragrant flowers and vibrant green foliage. Meyer lemons are perfect for culinary uses. Add them to make cocktails, pastries, lemon bars, and more.
Meyer lemons are more expensive than regular lemons because they’re more fragile, which makes them more difficult to transport around the country. By growing your own Meyer lemon tree indoors, you can enjoy its citrus fruit or even give away the bright yellow lemons to family or friends. Learn about Meyer lemon tree care and how to get your citrus trees to produce fruit here:
Meyer Lemon Trees: Description
People tend to love Meyer lemons because they’re less tart than common lemons; they have less acid and produce a sweet, lemony taste with orange undertones. As citrus fruit goes, Meyer lemons are among the most popular, but it’s tough to find them year round. They’re generally featured in stores in the fall. However, by growing your own Meyer lemon trees, you can enjoy them whenever your trees bear fruit. Meyer lemon trees are hardier than many other citrus trees and tend to produce lemons in larger quantities than many other lemon tree varieties.
Meyer lemon trees are native to China. These citrus trees can usually bear fruit in less than two years! Conventional Meyer lemon trees can grow as tall as 10 feet tall. However, the dwarf Meyer lemon tree, which is a popular indoor lemon tree, is unlikely to exceed seven feet tall. These citrus trees boast dark green leaves that are glossy in appearance. Meyer lemon trees produce white blossoms with a purple base. The skins of the lemons are bright yellow–close to the shade of an egg yolk with a hint of orange.
Growing Meyer Lemon Trees Indoors
To a Meyer lemon tree indoors, follow these tips that apply to both the standard and dwarf variety lemon trees:
Pots
When growing a Meyer lemon tree, choose a five gallon container or a pot that is about two feet tall–or no less than a foot tall. Your Meyer lemon plant pot should have drainage holes and be able to accommodate the tree’s root ball with room for growth.
Light
To ensure that your Meyer lemon tree gets enough light, place it in a south facing window. Like other citrus trees, Meyer lemon trees need plenty of direct sunlight. If your windows don’t allow for at least six hours of direct sunlight, consider using grow lights to keep your plant happy and healthy.
Soil
Meyer lemon trees prefer a well-draining potting mixture that contains potting soil, peat moss, and perlite. The perlite will help you ensure that your soil has good drainage, which is essential for growing an indoor Meyer lemon tree as well as other citrus trees. If the pH of your potting soil is too acidic, you can add lime to the potting soil to bring the pH into a range of 5.5 – 6.5.
Water
Water your Meyer lemon plant to keep its soil moist, but soggy soil is not good for the tree’s root system. That’s why good drainage is crucial for maintaining the health of your Meyer lemon tree and other citrus trees. If the top two inches of your potting mixture are dry, it’s time to water your indoor lemon trees.
Temperature
Meyer lemon trees prefer high humidity and warm climates. When growing a Meyer lemon tree indoors, you’ll want to mist it daily to meet its humidity needs. Cooler nightly temperatures are okay for these lemon trees as long as the temperature doesn’t drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Like any other citrus plant, the Meyer lemon tree can be harmed by extremely cold temperatures. Additionally, be sure your Meyer lemon tree has plenty of good air circulation.
Food
Since Meyer lemon trees are heavy feeders, you should plant to fertilize them each month during their active growth phase beginning in early spring and ending in September. You can use a fertilizer that is formulated for citrus trees or lemon trees.
Meyer Lemon Tree Care Tips
To keep your Meyer lemon tree healthy, be sure to monitor its growth when container growing. You don’t want your tree to become root bound in a pot that’s too small. You should also prune your own Meyer lemon tree to control its size and shape. Puning will also help you ensure that the tree branches can support the Meyer lemons once they begin to grow.
Since Meyer lemon trees are self-pollinating citrus plants, you only need to cultivate one of them. When growing a Meyer lemon plant indoors, you should plan to hand pollinate your citrus tree, using a cotton swab to collect and spread the pollen.
Meyer Lemon Tree Care and How to Grow Citrus Indoors FAQs
Do Meyer lemon trees need a lot of water?
Meyer lemon trees need plenty of water and daily misting. The amount of water will vary depending on the size of your citrus tree. Plan to keep its potting soil moist but not soggy.
How many years does it take for a Meyer lemon tree to produce fruit?
A Meyer lemon tree may begin to produce fruit in about two years.
Do Meyer lemons taste good?
Meyer lemons are highly sought after citrus fruits. When growing Meyer lemon trees at home, you can enjoy its fruit with each harvest.
Do lemon trees grow well indoors?
Yes! Meyer lemon trees grow very well indoors in containers providing you can offer them an adequate supply of direct light and meet their other care requirements.