How and when to replant a lemon into another pot at home

Citrus fruits grow well at home and even produce harvests. With proper care and compliance with agricultural technology, you can provide yourself with tasty and healthy fruits, as well as decorate your home with an exotic tree. However, over time, the gardener will have to face such an event as transplanting an indoor lemon into another pot. This is a necessary measure to ensure the growth, development and regular fruiting of a green pet.

In what cases is a transplant required?

Houseplants are repotted for one of several possible reasons. Citrus trees may become cramped in an old container, they may suddenly get sick, or after purchasing a tree in a store, you need to place it in a permanent pot.

Planned transplant

The planned transplantation of the lemon tree is carried out as the root system of the pot fills it. If they start peeking out of the drainage hole, it's time to rehome the plant. It is preferable to plan the work for February or early March, before the lemon begins to grow. However, if necessary, you can make a transplant in the middle of summer.

Before moving the seedling to another pot, a layer of drainage is placed on the bottom of the container, on top of which a small amount of sand is poured. After this, you can sprinkle the nutritious soil mixture, install the lemon along with the earthen lump. The root collar of the plant should be located slightly below the side of the pot. Next, add more soil so that there is little space left for watering up to the edge. The soil is compacted and watered abundantly.

After purchasing a new tree

After purchasing a lemon, it will also need replanting. As a rule, flowers are sold in so-called temporary pots, which are not suitable for long-term growing of plants. At first, the purchased seedling should be kept separate from other indoor flowers to avoid infection with spider mites.

Before transplanting, you need to prepare a new container, drainage and nutritious soil mixture in advance.Place a drainage layer on the bottom of the pot, then a layer of soil, place a lemon in the center along with a lump of earth and add the required amount of earth so that there is room for watering up to the edge of the pot. To make it easier for the plant to take root, you can cover it with polyethylene for a while, making a kind of greenhouse.

If the plant is sick and does not grow

If the first signs of a lemon disease or its growth stop are detected, it is necessary to examine the tree and take measures for its rehabilitation. An unscheduled transplant cannot be ruled out. The plant should be removed from the pot and the root system examined. If an unpleasant odor is heard and signs of decay are visible, then the diseased roots are cut with a sharp knife, the cut areas are treated with a solution of potassium permanganate, and sprinkled with wood ash. The further technology of the transplantation is no different from the planned one.

Optimal timing for transplantation

When is the right time to replant a lemon so that it takes root well and does not get sick? Experienced florists recommend doing this before the plant comes out of dormancy and begins sap flow processes. The ideal time would be the end of February - the beginning of March, but the procedure can be carried out in the middle of summer. In autumn, replanting is carried out only in case of emergency, if there is a threat of death of the tree.

Preparatory stages

Preparation for transplantation takes the most time and is perhaps the most important procedure. The further success of all work depends on its correct implementation.

Preparing the plant

Before transplanting, the lemon tree should be removed from the old pot and the root system should be inspected.If rot is detected, trim diseased roots and disinfect them. Excess branches on the plant also need to be removed so that they do not take away vitality and the seedling takes root more easily.

Choosing a pot

What kind of pot is needed for growing lemon so that the seedling feels comfortable and is easy to care for? Preference should be given to containers with a flat bottom; flowerpots are not suitable for these purposes. The material from which they are made can be absolutely any; there are no restrictions in this regard. The size of the pot for indoor lemon is chosen 4 cm larger than where the plant grew before. A mandatory requirement is the presence of drainage holes. It is better if the container is small in height but wide.

Required soil and drainage

Expanded clay and river sand are used as a drainage layer for lemon. It is preferable to purchase ready-made soil for growing citrus plants. It already contains all the necessary components and microelements.

Procedure technology

Transplanting a homemade lemon consists of the following steps:

1. Take a pot of suitable size.
2. Drainage is laid at the bottom with a layer of 3 cm.
3. To provide additional nutrition, a layer of peat 2 cm thick is laid on top of the drainage.
4. Carefully remove the lemon from the old pot, preventing the earthen lump from falling off.
5. Dry and damaged roots are cut off and treated with Kornevin.
6. Place the lemon in the center of the new pot so that the root collar is located slightly below the edge of the container.
7. Fill with prepared soil mixture and compact it.
8. Water the seedling generously and sprinkle with Zircon solution.

Lemon care after transplantation

Growing lemon at home requires some care. After transplanting in the summer, the tree is watered once a day with settled water; in the spring and autumn, 2-3 waterings per week are sufficient, and in winter, irrigation is carried out only once a week. In dry and hot weather, it is useful to spray the crown regularly.

Fertilizer application

Lemon does not require fertilizing for the first 1.5 months after transplantation. After the specified time, they begin to apply complex mineral fertilizers, nitrogen-containing preparations and organic matter.

Features of replanting tall specimens

Tall lemons grow about 2-3 meters, so replanting them is somewhat difficult. To avoid damaging the tree, the following measures must be observed:

• The trunk of the lemon tree near the root collar is wrapped in cloth;
• put a loop of strong rope on the rag;
• insert a stick into the loop;
• the stick is pressed against the stand with one side, and the lemon is lifted with the other;
• fix the stick in a hanging position;
• remove the old pot from the root system of the tree;
• place a new container with a drainage layer under the lemon;
• lower the plant into a new container and fill the free space with nutritious soil mixture;
• Remove the loop and fabric from the trunk and water the lemon generously.

It is undesirable to allow the transplanted tree to be exposed to direct sunlight, so for some time it is fenced off with a fabric screen.