Miniature lemon trees (Citrus limon) are evergreen tropical fruit trees, which stay small when grown in containers. The small varieties of lemon trees include dwarf trees like “Dwarf Lisbon” lemon, which grows best in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 10. Many miniature lemon trees grow to 12 feet tall, but are kept smaller with pruning. Taking care of a miniature lemon tree provides the grower with full-sized juicy lemons.
Transplant the miniature lemon tree into a container a couple of inches wider. Use commercial potting soil mixed with equal parts of peat moss, perlite and compost. If the soil creates a container that is too heavy to move, then add hardwood chips to the soil mixture. Plant the tree at the same level that it was growing at in the nursery. As the tree outgrows its container, move it to a larger plant pot until it is in a 20-gallon container, such as a whiskey half-barrel.
Move the transplanted lemon tree into an area protected from wind with at least six hours of sunlight daily. If growing indoors, set the tree in front of a south-facing window. Outdoors, place the container in an area where reflected heat from paved areas or walls creates a warmer microclimate.
Water the miniature lemon tree when the soil is dry to the depth of 6 inches. Pour room temperature water into the top of the planter until it runs out the bottom. During hot dry summer weather, the lemon tree may need watering every day. Reduce the frequency of watering during the cool months of winter.
Feed the lemon tree with citrus plant food in February. Use the recommended dose on the package. Fertilizing this citrus plant can be broken into three doses by dividing the recommended dose and feeding in spring, early summer and late summer.
Cut off any new shoots appearing from below the graft with pruners. Remove thorns from the branches by snapping them off with pruning shears. Trim the branches back for shape and size control in the early spring.
Pick large garden pests off by hands. Wipe mealybugs off the leaves using a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. Control smaller pests like aphids with insecticidal soap.
String holiday lights in the lemon tree’s canopy during the winter, using the type of lights that produce heat. Keep the lights on during cold weather. Toss a blanket over the tree if frost spells are predicted. In areas with cold winters, bring the miniature lemon tree indoors for the winter.
Things You Will Need
- Large container
- Citrus plant food
- Pruning shears
- Cotton swab
- Rubbing alcohol
- Insecticidal Soap
- Holiday lights
- Do not use soil mixes with chemical wetting agents, developed to keep the soil moist. These chemicals keep the soil around the roots too wet, which causes root rot.
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