Land for lemon: what soil is needed, composition for planting at home

Citrus trees have long been cultivated in our homes as a pot crop. In good conditions, these exotic plants are able to delight with their bright and healthy fruits all year round. But how to create such conditions for the tree to grow well and bear fruit? The first thing to pay attention to is the quality and composition of the soil. What should be the soil for citrus fruits, and how to choose or prepare a soil mixture with your own hands? This article will help you figure out these questions.

What kind of soil is needed?

So, what kind of soil is needed for lemons? What land should you plant lemon in?

Lemon roots do not have hairs, so it is more difficult for them to absorb nutrients from the soil than other plants. For this reason, the soil in the pot must be made up of small particles, the presence of clods of earth is unacceptable.
To ensure the flow of oxygen to the roots, to the soil add drainage (sand with fine peat particles).
The soil for lemons cannot be too acidic, its PH should be about 7 (can be determined using a special device - an ionometer). Sour soil can be neutralized by adding a little chalk to it.

Lemon soil requirements

First, I will say that the citrus tree should be well lit. You should also water and spray it on time. Planting lemon involves laying drainage (as such, I used expanded clay).

Let's talk about what kind of soil a lemon needs. The root system of this plant does not have hairs; therefore, it is more difficult for it to assimilate the beneficial components contained in the soil.

In order for the lemon to fully develop, it is necessary to plant it in a homogeneous soil without lumps.
Expanded clay or clean sand combined with peat can be used as a drainage layer.
Lemon does not take root in acidic soil. The recommended soil pH is 7. If the soil is too acidic for the plant, neutralize it: add a small amount of chalk.
It is important to water the lemon properly! I bring in clean, settled water.
If you have chosen the right soil mixture, the plant will receive useful substances from it throughout the year. In the future, you will need to apply fertilizers.
Citrus nutritional formulations should be free of chlorine and sulfuric acid.
Lemon requires picking. It is necessary to perform the procedure 2 years after the initial planting, while it is better to use a different soil. The roots of the tree should not be crowded. Choose a pot a few centimeters larger than the previous one.
A lemon transplant must be competent. It is forbidden to perform the procedure when the plant forms flowers or fruits.

The best soil

Ordinary (universal) soil for indoor flowers is not suitable for lemon in terms of nutrient content.

Lemon roots need a constant supply of oxygen, so let the earth be light and loose, without lumps.
Ideally better make your own earthen mixture, mixing in equal parts leaf humus, ordinary earth and sand.
If you chose a purchased earthen mixture (special mixtures for lemon are sold), then when transplanting a plant, be sure to add some sand and agrovermiculite to the pot (expanded clay) so that the soil becomes porous and retains more moisture.
Never cover different parts of the soil in layers. - humus, sand and black soil have different water permeability, so water will be unevenly distributed during irrigation. It is imperative to mix the soils in the pot before planting the lemon in it.
Agrovermiculite is poured into the bottom of the pot, it should occupy about 1/5 of its volume. Then the prepared earth is already covered. Agrovermiculite does not need to be mixed with the ground.
To prevent the development of fungus in the soil, add birch charcoal to the earthen mixture in a ratio of 1:40 or pour 1 centimeter of chopped pine bark on the bottom of the pot, on top of agrovermiculite.
Young cuttings lemon is first planted in wet sand, and only after a few weeks - in the ground. The grains of sand should be neither too small nor too coarse. The optimum diameter of a young lemon pot is 12 centimeters. A ceramic pot works best for lemon.
If you smell rot when transplantingcoming from the roots, add crushed coal to the soil and cut off the damaged roots.
If the soil in the pot has sunk, but the time for transplanting has not yet come, you need to add fresh soil to the pot.

So, preparing the soil for lemon is not at all as simple as it seems at first glance.

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Lemon soil plays an important role in the growth and development of the plant. Choosing the right soil for homemade lemon helps to grow the tree and get quality fruits.

Land for homemade lemon

Lack of valuable substances

For full development, lemon needs nitrogen. If a citrus crop is deficient in this component, the quality of the fruit decreases. In severe cases, fruiting is completely absent.
Phosphorus deficiency is manifested by a change in the color of the leaves. They turn yellow, pale. The skin of the fruit hardens.
Lack of potassium is manifested by an increase in the leaf plate, while small dents form on it.
If the soil contains an insufficient amount of iron, the lemon becomes sick with chlorosis. The leaf plate is covered with light yellow spots, the lemons themselves brighten and fall off.

Citrus crops do not grow well if they lack moisture. When caring for a lemon, you need to take this feature into account. To make up for the nitrogen deficiency, you should feed the lemon with a special solution. It is simple to prepare it: you need to take 50 ml of a 0.5% solution of nitrate and dilute it in 11 liters of water.

In order for the fruit crop to better absorb potassium, it is necessary to feed it with a product that contains potassium salt. 40 g of potassium nitrate and 15 g of potassium salt are dissolved in 11 liters of water.

Lemon has a positive effect on phosphorus. Superphosphate is a fertilizer containing this trace element. To improve the composition of the potting mix, add 40 g of superphosphate to 900 ml of water and boil for half an hour. This amount of the composition is designed for 11 liters of water.

It so happens that the lemon lacks calcium. In this case, a lime solution is prepared, the trunk is whitewashed at the roots. To improve the properties of the soil, organic matter is also prepared. Lemon takes slurry well.

Take 1 tbsp. l of purchased product and combined with 10 l of water. The organic mixture is ready after 8 days. Slurry solution improves photosynthesis of fruit crops. It stimulates growth, vegetation processes. Experienced gardeners recommend applying this fertilizer in the summer.

In winter, lemon does not need feeding. Fertilizer should be applied from early spring. Before using this or that remedy, it is imperative to moisten the soil. Note that the feeding should be balanced. It is unacceptable to overfeed lemon like any other plant.

Lemon soil

For indoor lemon seedlings, the soil should be light and rich in minerals.The mixture is purchased at the store or prepared on your own. Cultivation of lemons begins at 2-3 years of age, provided that the optimal development conditions are observed.

The normal growth of the plant is ensured by introducing a high-quality soil mixture. It must meet the following parameters:

lightness, air and moisture permeability;
neutral pH5-7: increased acidity of the soil affects leaf fall and plant death;
lack of earth lumps that interfere with the penetration of nutrients to the roots.

Growing young lemon trees is impossible in heavy soil, moisture is poorly distributed in it and greenhouse processes are present. The root system is prone to drying out and rot.

Signs of a lack of nutrition

For good development and fruiting of a culture, it needs a sufficient amount of nutrients. With their deficiency, the crown of citrus turns pale, the leaves fall off, the buds and fruits are not formed.

Lack of nutrients in oranges, tangerines and lemons is manifested by the following symptoms:

yellowing or blanching of leaf plates;
strong manifestation of veins on the leaves;
falling foliage from a tree;
thinning and stretching of shoots;
the formation of dark spots on the leaves, while their edges curl inward;
the tree does not bloom, the ovary is not formed;
outwardly, the plant has a sickly appearance.

Each of these signs is indicative of a lack of a specific nutrient. If veins appear on the leaves, then the culture is deficient in manganese and iron. A change in foliage color indicates a sulfur deficiency.

The pallor of the leaves and their curling down is the result of a lack of potassium or boron in the soil. With a lack of these trace elements, watery spots can form on the foliage, after a while they become transparent. These signs can be joined by cracking of veins and the formation of crusts on the surface of sheet plates.

The constant wilting of the upper leaves is a signal of copper deficiency. The color may remain normal, but the leaf itself expands and takes on an irregular shape. Low copper content in the soil can also be manifested by the formation of young shoots and their rapid withering away.

Important: With a lack of nutrients, the appearance of the fruit may also change. Lemons or tangerines develop dark spots or resin clumps on the skin.

Iron deficiency is the main cause of the development of diseases such as chlorosis. The lack of a trace element can be recognized by such signs - the formation of yellow and pale spots, the fruits become too light, and soon they completely crumble.

If any of these changes in the appearance of the plants have been noticed, it is necessary to urgently feed.

Store-bought lemon mixes

Store-bought lemon primer consists of:

fibrous peat: remnants of marsh plants after decay, material with water and air permeability, containing components necessary for growth and development;
peat humus after decomposition;
sand;
a complex of fertilizers consisting of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

Homemade lemon does not always take root after transplanting it into store soil. This is influenced by the following factors:

the use of waste land from greenhouses for the preparation of mixtures: it is devoid of nutritional components, pathogenic microflora is developed in it;
storage of soils: in dense bags in a humid environment, plant components decompose, conditions are created for the development of anaerobic bacteria.

Soil selection

When choosing a store-bought soil for homemade lemon, check:

start and end date of the expiration date;
proportions of minerals: lemon needs nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium;
the size of the constituent parts of the soil: the presence of large compressed lumps indicates poor quality of the mixture.

Which land to choose for homemade lemon?

If you provide the tree with proper care, the lemon begins to bear fruit as early as 3 years of age. But this happens when optimal conditions are created. The most important factor on which the growth of a tree depends is the quality of the soil. It is desirable that the land for indoor lemon meets the following requirements:

ease. The earth must allow oxygen and water to pass. The root system of a lemon is not equipped with special hairs, so it is difficult for a plant to extract nutrients from the soil;
neutrality. Excessive acidity adversely affects the health of the planting and often becomes the cause of death;
uniformity. Before replanting, it is recommended to pre-sift the soil so that there are no lumps in it, since they interfere with the absorption of nutrients.

Lemons are not suitable for heavy soil, especially oily black soil.

This is due to the fact that moisture is unevenly distributed in such soils, which increases the likelihood of greenhouse processes. Under these conditions, the roots often dry out or begin to rot.

When deciding on the soil for replanting lemon, you need to take into account how old the plant is. Young lemons need soil with a higher content of sand and peat, while older trees need heavier soils.

It is recommended to transplant a lemon every 2 years, but only during the dormant period, when the plant does not bloom and does not bear fruit.

Preparing the soil at home

It is better to prepare the soil yourself

Homemade soil is better for lemon than store-bought mixture.

For cooking you will need:

low-lying peat (before use, it is ventilated for 2-3 days);
garden land;
sod land (good properties near the land from a clover meadow or a plot with nettles);
humus from leaves (it is better to collect soil from under lindens; soil from under willows, oaks and needles will not work, since it has a high acidity and tannins content);
sand;
dung humus;
alder or birch charcoal;
crushed coal - 20 g.

A mixture of all components is prepared in advance, all elements are mixed. Garden, turf, deciduous soil and sand are used in a ratio of 1: 1: 1: 1.

You can plant young indoor lemons in a mixture of turf and deciduous humus in a 1: 1 ratio, a small amount of sand or peat. Soil storage is carried out in a cool place.

Types of soil for citrus

Homemade citruses are quite capricious, so choosing the right soil for them is not as easy as it seems at first glance. Today flower shops offer many options for special potting mixes labeled “for citrus fruits”, and these are often used by growers. This is very convenient, since such soil already contains a full range of nutrients, which will last for about 6-12 months.

Its main component is peat. It improves the drainage properties and increases the nutritional value of the soil, but its excessive amount leads to an increase in acidity, which is very harmful for citruses. Sometimes for planting exotic trees, gardeners use garden land, consisting mainly of black soil. Of course, it is rich in nutrients, but it compresses very quickly, which also negatively affects the condition of plants, especially small seedlings. In too dense soil, it is difficult for them to absorb nutrients, and trees that are not used to such conditions simply begin to wither. You can use black soil, but in small quantities and in combination with other components. With the age of the tree, the ratio of land can be increased.

The best option, from the point of view of aeration, is loose gray or forest soils with a large amount of deciduous humus. In terms of their composition and characteristics, they are significantly superior to the above options. In such soil, even the most whimsical representatives of the citrus family, such as clementine, develop well and bear fruit, and without additional fertilizers. It is best to collect soil under an oak or aspen tree. Ideally, it should be mixed with garden soil and sand in equal parts.

Land quality

After preparation, before planting, check the quality of the resulting land for lemons. The pH level is checked using litmus paper. A lump of earth is moistened with filtered or distilled water, litmus paper is tightly applied to it. The yellow, green color of the paper indicates a pH level of 6-7, red - about high acidity, blue - about an alkaline environment.

To check for the presence of oil impurities in the mixture, a small part of it is sent to water and mixed.

After subsidence of the earth at the bottom, examine the surface of the water. If there are no greasy spots on the surface, there are no impurities. The study of the mineral composition allows you to choose the soil you need for lemons.

When purchasing a tangerine or lemon tree in your home greenhouse, you need to prepare for its frequent transplants. Which one citrus soil to choose and is it worth spending money on its purchase? Is it possible to prepare the soil mixture yourself and how to do it? Maybe simple enough buy land for lemon? The answers are below.

Ready mixes

Soil purchased in a store is important to check for quality, acidity. To do this, you need to take a lump of substrate, moisten it with distilled or filtered water, and then apply litmus paper to the lump. If the color of the indicator strip turns green or yellow, the pH level in the soil is correct.

A blue bar indicates an alkaline soil, and a red litmus indicates a soil that is too acidic.

Tip: it is important to check the store substrate for the content of petroleum products. To do this, you need to throw a clod of earth into clean water and stir it. If the surface of the water is not covered with a film, rainbow or greasy spots, the substrate is of high quality.

If you wish, you can take a small amount of the substrate to the laboratory to study the level of minerals - lemon does not like both high and low content in the soil. Also, before using both self-prepared and store-bought soil, it must be calcined - this procedure will help get rid of possible pest larvae, fungal spores (pathogens), pathogenic microorganisms.

When buying, in addition to the store substrate, it is necessary to purchase drainage. It can be: expanded clay, red broken brick, crushed stone, river pebbles and even fragments of earthenware.

Transplants: frequency and prerequisites

Seedlings of most citrus fruits require an annual transplant, there are several reasons for this:

in the first years of life, the plant actively increases the root mass, which, in turn, contributes to the optimal development of its aboveground part;
in the process of life, the tree changes the ph-balance of the earth, which can lead to the creation of unfavorable conditions for it (especially important for growing lemons at home, and not in the garden);
the soil is depleted, this happens especially quickly during periods of active plant growth and during the ripening of fruits;
over time, pathogenic microflora may develop in the soil;
it is necessary to regularly check the roots of the plant for the presence of rot in order to timely identify and prevent their necrosis.

Up to the age of five homemade lemons land needs to be renewed annually - most with an increase in the pot, some varieties - while maintaining its size.In the future, trees need to be replanted every two years. When carrying out the procedure, it is necessary to take into account the acidity of the earth, the demanding citrus fruits for good drainage, their sensitivity to possible infections and damage to the roots. All plants of this genus are transplanted strictly by transshipment, while it is not recommended to completely remove the earthen lump, unless we are talking about a complete replacement of the soil. All manipulations with the roots are reduced exclusively to the removal of decayed and dried out areas. Expanded clay or minerals should be placed on the bottom of the pot - this contributes to the outflow of excess moisture. You can also place a few stones in the thickness. land for indoor lemon - to ensure ventilation of its roots.

Popular remedies

Among the store-bought preparations for feeding citrus crops in floriculture, the following fertilizers are used:

"Planet of flowers for citrus fruits" (organic fertilizer). The composition includes such trace elements as boron, copper, manganese, zinc. It is a source of potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen. For root top dressing, the cap of the product is diluted in a liter of water, for spraying plants, half of the fertilizer is used.
"Garden of Miracles" (organic). The product contains nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. 2 caps of liquid fertilizer are diluted in 2 liters of settled soft water. The solution is used to water the plant from February to November.
"Effect-spring" (mineral fertilizer). This type of fertilizer has been applied since early spring. It accelerates the awakening of citrus fruits after winter rest and improves vegetative development.
"Effect-Autumn". It is used during the leaving period from October to March. 1 cap of the product is diluted in a liter of water.
"GUMI-20". It is a natural growth stimulant. To prepare the fertilizer, you need 5 drops per 1 liter of water. A solution is used to water the plants between dressings.
"Ripen-KA" (organic fertilizer). The composition includes minerals and trace elements - boron, copper, manganese, zinc, nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus. For 2 liters of water, you will need 1 teaspoon of the product. It is applied once a month from November to March. You can also use fertilizer for spraying leaves and stems, then a teaspoon is diluted in 4 liters of water.

Ground requirements

Citrus soil choose a special one that meets certain requirements for acidity and uniformity. Thus, the ph level is preferable in the range of 5.5 - 7.0. On packages of industrial soils, this indicator is usually indicated; when preparing a mixture on your own, you can use an electronic tester or litmus to determine it. In the absence of special devices, there is a "folk" method for determining the acid-base balance: a handful of soil is placed in a cooled infusion of currant leaves and the color of the liquid is observed to change. Redness of the broth means high acidity, such soil is unsuitable for lemons.

Citrus land It should not be heavy, on the contrary: light, loose, well-drained soils are more suitable for them, capable of quickly absorbing moisture and free air access to the roots. At the same time, excessive looseness is also not welcome, pure peat will not work. But its mixture with more oily, nutritious soils is fine. It is even better to use a mixture of black soil with soil taken under birch trees - it has sufficient air permeability and at the same time is rich in nutrients.

How to choose a quality soil

Special mixtures designed for growing citrus fruits at home are the easiest and best option, but, as practice shows, they are not always useful for plants. Those who used these mixtures noted that at first the trees really developed very actively, but literally after six months they began to wither.And the point here is not at all a lack of nutrients, but in the amount of peat in a given substrate. Ready-made soil mixtures contain, as a rule, from 10 to 50% peat, and the higher the content of this component in the substrate, the sooner its acidification occurs.

The soil for citrus must have neutral acidity (pH 5.5–7), but with a large amount of peat, this indicator shifts within 5–6 months, which immediately affects the condition of the plants.

To avoid this problem, choose a soil mixture with a minimum peat content (10–20%), and periodically check the acidity of the substrate using a litmus indicator. It is also important that the soil is breathable, loose, and does not contain lumps and unnecessary impurities, for example, oil products. To make sure they are not there, put some of the substrate in any container and fill it with water. Oily stains on the surface indicate the presence of harmful impurities, and it is not recommended to use such soil for planting seedlings.

There is another way to determine the quality of a potting mix. Take a small handful and squeeze it in your hand. Good soil should not turn into a lump or sleep through your fingers. "Correct" is the soil, in which the grains first stick together a little, and then slowly crumble. Hopefully, these simple tips will help you choose the right potting mix and grow a wonderful harvest of homemade citrus fruits.

grow-

Today, on the Internet, there are many articles about the cultivation of citrus fruits, and many are more and more concerned about the question: "What substances should be an ideal fertilizing for citrus fruits?" The emergence of such increased attention to the problem is due to the fact that breeders associate yellowed leaves with poor-quality nutrition. Of course, the quality of top dressing plays an important role in the development of citrus fruits, but the acidity of the soil is much more important.

Many people underestimate the importance of the indicator pH... The secret is that on self-prepared or purchased substrates, the first time after transplanting, everything grows perfectly, but after a little more, the plant begins to drop the rate of development until it stops completely. If you measure the level pH the soil of such plants, you can find out that in pots of chlorous citrus fruits, the acidity of the soil is much higher than normal, in contrast to those that have a rich green foliage.

Optimum soil acidity for citrus fruits

We all remember from the school chemistry course that pH Is an indicator of acidity. If the medium has an acidity of 7.0, then it is neutral, if the indicators are higher, we are talking about an alkaline medium, but if the indicators are below 7, then this indicates increased acidity.

Chlorosis Is a disease accompanied by the loss of the ability of plants to produce chlorophyll during photosynthesis. The main symptom of the disease is that the leaves are actively yellowing on the plants. Experienced farmers know that iron is responsible for the production of chlorophyll in the sprouts, which the culture cannot assimilate if the acidity is incorrect.

With chlorosis, yellowing of the leaf plates of the seedlings is observed, while the veins on them retain an active green color. Alkalinization of the soil can be observed if the bushes are constantly watered with hard water. If the acidity of the soil in pots of plants that are grown in heavy soil has dropped to 8.0, then it is recommended to deoxidize it. Most often, for deoxidizing soils at home, 1/3 teaspoon of citric acid is added to a liter of water.

If you water citrus fruits with the prepared solution, which have stopped growing, and their leaves show clear signs of chlorosis, then you will notice that after the soil in the pots reaches the desired pH value, 6.5, the bushes will begin to actively overgrow with new healthy shoots.This allows us to conclude that the cultivation of citrus at home must necessarily take place with full control of the acidity of the soil.

Growing citrus fruits at home requires the most responsible approach, and if you pay attention to any changes in the life of your pets and try to provide them with ideal conditions, then you will definitely be able to harvest the first harvest of tasty and aromatic fruits in your life.

Soil types, composition

Most often, there are two types of soil mixtures: based on peat or based on humus (vermicompost is also included here). Peat soils are distinguished by a very high level of air permeability, they are quite loose, their acidity is regulated by the addition of lime or ash, since it is initially increased. The disadvantages of such soil include its relatively low nutritional value compared to compost-based soils. Also, peat has a high ability to absorb moisture, which can lead to waterlogging of plant roots and create preconditions for their decay.

Composition of soil for citrus fruits on the basis of humus, it is much richer and more nutritious, but it is also heavier. Vermicompost by itself is an excellent complex fertilizer, therefore, its use contributes to the rapid development of the plant, its active growth. Among the negative features of such soils, the main one is the risk of various kinds of infections - from weeds (important for humus, vermicompost is safe in this regard) to helminth eggs and larvae of various insects. These soil mixtures are best used outdoors than indoors. Before using humus as a soil for indoor plants, you need to take care of its disinfection (calcination, treatment with boiling water or a solution of potassium permanganate).

When preparing the soil, remember that it should be free of lumps.

Can't answer unequivocally what land to plant lemon, since it is necessary to take into account the individual characteristics of the plant, and the period of its growing season, and age, and many other related factors. But the older the plant, the more clay should be in the soil.

Essential minerals

The better and more competently the soil in the flower pot is fertilized, the more actively indoor citrus plants can develop. Lemons, for example, practically do not grow without minerals. In order for citrus fruits to delight you with a healthy appearance and a variety of fruits, you need to study this process well. Such plants are fed almost all year round. The exception is the period from October to February. And with the onset of cold weather, you should not completely forget about indoor citrus trees: they should at least be watered with a solution of potassium permanganate.

But during the active growth and fruiting of homemade lemon or orange, organic and mineral fertilizers are applied constantly at intervals of once a week or ten days. Thanks to top dressing, the fruits become even more sugary, and the bitterness disappears. Experienced flower growers know which nutritious mixtures it is better to give their preference to. Among the useful components, it is worth highlighting the following vitamin solutions:

foskamide;
darina;
ideal;
agrovit-cor.

For the successful growth of citrus fruits at home, do not forget about the use of organic fertilizers, at least humus.

Buying soil: what to look for

For those who find it easier buy soil for citrus, it is useful to know how to choose it and what points to pay special attention to - even when choosing in favor of specialized soils designed exclusively for lemons and tangerines, there are risk factors.

The most important point is the expiration date. The fact is that the active substances in the soil continue to react with each other, even being in a sealed package. Thus, over time, the acid-base balance of the substrate may change, the soil may crumble or rot, the appearance of molds is possible.If the timing is normal, you should check the homogeneity and moisture of the soil - this can be done without opening the package. Waterlogged soil cakes and crumbles into lumps, which are easily probed through polyethylene. If everything is ok, you can buy earth for citrus.

After opening the package, there are several other factors to consider. The earth should easily crumble in your hands, the presence of hard lumps, foreign objects (chips, traces of insects) is unacceptable. Next, you need to evaluate the smell of the earth: is there any putrefactive shades in it, since rotting of the soil will inevitably lead to diseases of the root system. In rare cases, you can find colonies of mold fungi in packages with industrial soils - such soil cannot be used under any pretext, since fungi are very resistant to a wide variety of reagents. It is more expedient to purchase another soil mixture.

Types of soil for citrus fruits

Potting mixes suitable for growing indoor citrus plants include:

soil mixture. The key component of this substrate is peat. This mixture is suitable for growing citrus fruits, as it has all the necessary characteristics. It conducts air well, absorbs moisture, which contributes to the active development of the root system. It is peat soil that is considered the best solution for a grower, since it includes a whole variety of mineral elements;
black soil. What type of soil is undesirable to use for planting citrus fruits is black soil. At first, the plant develops well on it, but over time it becomes so denser that the root system of an indoor lemon or orange simply has nowhere to go. The best option is to combine potting mixes. In this case, black soil can be included in such a composition, but not in large quantities;

deciduous humus. Among citrus plants, clementine is the hardest to adapt to soil mixtures. But if you use deciduous humus, then even such a plant will activate and begin to grow actively. Fertilizers are an optional element, because as a result you will collect an environmentally friendly crop.

Which type of soil is best for you depends on the types of citrus plants that grow in your home or apartment.

With your own hands

To cook earth for lemon at home you can do it yourself, but it will take some skills and time. The main thing that you need to focus on is acidity and water permeability. There are several well-proven recipes for preparing lemon soil.

The simplest one has already been cited above - this is a mixture of earth from under a birch with black soil in equal proportions with the addition of sand and ash. For more demanding gardeners, the following recipes will be relevant.

You will need garden soil, turf soil and coarse sand. Sod for soil preparation is best taken in fields used for grazing. The optimum will be the land on which clover, chamomile, bluegrass grow - these herbs prefer soil that is ideally suited to citrus in acidity. It is better to choose sod based on sand - it is lighter. Garden soil should be collected under fruit trees from a depth of up to 7 cm, half a meter from the trunk. You can use the soil lying in piles near wormholes - it is loose, crumbly and cleared of debris by the animals themselves. The collected soil must be sieved through a sieve to make it homogeneous and cleaned of straw, chips and other impurities. If necessary, the acidity must be adjusted - it can be lowered by adding quicklime or wood ash. To enhance the breathability of the mixture and make it light, sand is added. All components must be thoroughly mixed until uniformity is achieved - and the earth for lemons is ready to use.

Soil based on leafy soil (soil collected under deciduous trees with inclusions of rotted deciduous mass) and humus. The components are mixed in equal proportions, after which river sand is added to them (no more than a tenth of the total mass). You can add a glass of superphosphate and peat - as much as sand. Before mixing potentially hazardous parts of the substrate, they should be disinfected by heating in an oven at 90 degrees for an hour or boiling. You should not subject the finished mixture to heat treatment, since such manipulations significantly reduce the nutritional value of the soil and destroy the beneficial microflora.

Selection of substrate

Citrus grafting will be much faster and more effective if you choose a good quality potting mix.

In this case, it is not necessary to dwell on a specific option, you can mix several types of soil. The soil composition, prepared from black soil and forest land from under oaks, is considered to be quite high quality. Such soil contains a large number of nutrients, moreover, it is breathable.

A quality substrate should be breathable and contain the necessary nutrients. Growing citrus plants at home can be as good as growing outdoors. The main thing is to choose a high quality substrate or even cook it yourself. In this case, one of the key stages of citrus growing will be followed by you competently.

Buy or do it yourself?

For novice citrus growers, the process of self-preparation of soil mixture can be a rather difficult task, there is a very high risk of making a mistake with acidity, overheating, or vice versa - it is not enough to effectively cultivate the soil from possible infections. It is better for such people to use industrial soils, which also need to be modified - to recheck and adjust the acidity, in some cases to disinfect, add nutritional supplements. Understanding, what kind of land is needed for lemons, will come to the novice citrus grower with experience.

For experienced indoor lemon owners, it is preferable to prepare the mixture yourself, as this will allow you to adjust the nutrient balance to the needs of a particular plant. A person who has been growing citruses for several years can accurately determine by the appearance of a tree which components are not enough for him at the moment, and which ones are in excess. Land composition for lemons he can be corrected in one direction or another, and this will not cause him any difficulties. An unprepared person who does not know how to identify such moments runs the risk of overfeeding the tree, and this is fraught with serious problems up to the death of the plant.

Proper preparation of the substrate for lemon provides the lion's share of the conditions for its fruiting and active development. However, the addition of such components as humus, peat or humus does not imply a refusal to apply fertilizers in the future. The first feeding should be carried out within a month after the plant is transplanted, and in the future, adhere to the fertilization schedule, drawn up in accordance with the growing season.

Buy land for lemons it is possible in our online store Citrus plants nursery Pavlovsky lemon. Also at points of sale you can get recommendations on certain soils, necessary additives and the intricacies of caring for home fruit trees.

We are looking at how to independently prepare soil for young lemons:

Essential minerals and elements

For indoor citrus, nutrient balance is very important. With a lack of some elements, the tree can shed its leaves, stop flowering and stop developing.An excess of fertilizers can also lead to the same sad consequences, so they should be applied very carefully and dosed. If special mixtures "for citrus fruits" are used, then no additional fertilization is required. Also, there is no need for nitrogen fertilizers if leaf humus was added to the soil.

The nutritional value of a self-prepared substrate can be increased with a small amount of compost (1-2 tablespoons of wood ash). Pieces of charcoal, which contains many useful minerals, can be placed on the bottom of the pot as drainage. Of the finished products, it is recommended to use mineral-organic complexes: "Lemon", "Rainbow", "Effect", "Gummi". Fertilizers, laid down during planting, are enough for the plant for 10-12 months, after which it needs to be fed regularly. The same is the case with mature citrus trees.

Usually, liquid mixtures containing a full range of essential minerals and trace elements are used for feeding. In winter and autumn, the trees are fed once every 2 months, in spring and summer - once every 2 weeks. It is worth knowing that mixtures containing chlorine and sulfur are harmful to citrus fruits.

Required composition

The composition of the soil from chernozem and soil from under oaks is considered optimal. It is a very breathable and nutrient-rich soil. There are several types of potting soil suitable for growing citrus at home:

Soil mixtures. Peat is the main constituent of the substrate. The peat soil contains a considerable number of minerals, it absorbs moisture well and conducts air, which has a beneficial effect on the formation of the root system.
Chernozems. A small amount of black soil can be included in the composition of the soil for citrus fruits. Since it has a tendency to compaction, and this is detrimental to the development of plant roots.
Humus from leaves. Promotes increased growth, simplifies the process of adaptation of young plants to the soil. It is a good alternative to mineral fertilizers.

Transfer

Plants need to be replanted regularly. Knowing what kind of soil a lemon needs, you can provide a tree's constant access to nutrients, which will help accelerate its growth and development. It also helps to change the acidity of the substrate to the one that the plant needs.

Clear signs that a plant needs to be transplanted are:

immature branches;
the plant stops growing;
lemon development is slow;
roots emerged from the drainage hole of the pot.

It is necessary to transplant the plant during the period when there are no buds, fruits. Prepare for the transplant in advance. Lemon is watered for several days in order to completely wet the earthen lump, but without stagnant water. The tree is carefully removed from the pot along with an earthen lump. If dried, damaged roots are visible, then they are removed.

The lemon is placed in another pot with a larger diameter so that the existing earthy ball does not collapse. Sprinkle the plant with new soil.

Regular transshipment allows you to form a strong tree. After transplanting, the tree is well watered, covered from direct sunlight for a couple of weeks, until the plant adapts to the new conditions.

What land for citrus plants to buy: selection criteria

The best option is ready-made soil for citrus fruits in Moscow and the region, a substrate that already fully meets all the requirements of the plant.

So, the land for growing oranges, tangerines or lemons in pots must meet the following criteria:

Acidity in the range of 5.5-7 pH.
High content of sod land (especially for mature plants).
Absence of pest larvae and weed rhizomes.
The presence of components that absorb and retain moisture (loam, peat).
A complete set of nutrients that will not be washed out of the soil.

Fertilizers are especially important when growing in a pot.It is necessary to use a complex that remains stable for at least 6-12 months. You will need both ash and nitrogen group minerals. If there are critically few of them, the flower will stop growing and may even shed flowers and leaves.

Substrates for growing lemons

Based on the components of the potting mix described above, you can prepare several options for growing indoor lemons and citrus plants.

Substrate Is a mixture of several types of soil, taken in a certain proportion.

Do not forget to check the acidity of the finished substrate, especially one containing peat. Remember, lemons prefer slightly acidic and neutral soils.

If necessary, reduce the acidity of the finished substrate by adding wood ash or dolomite flour to it. You can increase the acidity of the soil by adding additional manure humus or peat.

Mix in equal quantities previously sifted sod, leafy soil and dung humus. Add washed coarse river sand to the resulting mixture in an amount of 10% of the total mass. Mix thoroughly again. You can add 200 g of granular superphosphate to a bucket of the finished mixture.
For the preparation of this substrate, equal amounts of sod, leaf, peat lands, dung humus (preferably horse) and river sand are taken. When planting (transplanting) adult plants of sod land, twice as much is taken than other components of the substrate. All components of the mixture must be thoroughly mixed and free from impurities.
The composition of this substrate differs from the previous one in that it does not include peat soil and the sod content is increased. For young plants, the initial components of the soil mixture: sod land, leaf land, manure humus and sand are taken in a ratio of 2: 1: 1: 1, and for adults - 3: 1: 1: 1. River sand can be replaced with sea sand (for example, dune sand).
A more nutritious substrate is obtained by increasing the amount of leafy soil. Take 2 parts of sod land, 3 parts of leafy land, 1 part of manure, 1.5 parts of sand. To increase the breathability of the mixture and prevent root rot, charcoal (0.5 part) can be added to the substrate.
All previous mixtures contained turf and leafy soil as the main components. If their preparation is difficult, then you can use the following substrate. Take 2 parts of garden soil, 1 part of sand and 1 part of peat. To enrich the mixture with nutrients, you can add organic fertilizer based on manure (1/10 of the volume of the mixture).

The finished substrate is heat treated, steamed to destroy the larvae or eggs of pests and pathogens (fungal spores), as well as harmful bacteria.

The substrate is steamed in two ways:

in an oven heated to approximately + 80-90 ° C, keep the baking sheet with the substrate for
pour the bucket with the substrate with water (8 l of the substrate / 1 l of water) and boil for a while, covering the bucket with a lid.

After cooling, the substrate can be used.

Unfortunately, steaming not only kills insects, nematodes, worms, pathogenic fungi and bacteria, but also deteriorates the microflora of the substrate. It is possible to sterilize not the entire substrate, but only its most dangerous components (sod, leafy soil, compost, humus), and add relatively clean (peat) after cooling.

Self-cooking

To prepare soil at home, you will need the following components:

Land. You can collect it anywhere, for example, from a garden bed, it is desirable to clear it of weeds, roots, larvae, grass and other debris.
Low-lying peat. Sold in garden stores. Before use, the material is ventilated for 2-3 days.
Leafy humus. This is the land gathered around the trees.
Sod land.Sod is ideal if it is harvested where nettles or clover grow. In this soil, chemicals are in sufficient volume and contain the most optimal level of acidity.
The sand is coarse, preferably river sand.
Charcoal. Most often, alder or birch charcoal is used for cooking. Coal must be crushed and then mixed with the rest of the components. Add two tablespoons of charcoal to the plant pot.
Manure.

We mix all the components until a homogeneous mass is obtained.

In what land should an adult plant be planted? For mature specimens, the following proportions are suitable:

one part of peat;
sand;
turf land;
leaf humus.

For open ground

A similar composition of nutrient soil is used, if the climatic conditions of your region allow.

How to define quality?

The soil chosen for planting lemon must first be checked for acidity

Green and yellow indicate a normal pH level (6-7).
With increased acidity, the indicator is red, blue - the soil has an alkaline environment.

The second test is a check for the content of petroleum products... Place the prepared soil in a container with clean water. If streaks or greasy spots appear on the surface of the water, this means that oil products are present in the soil, such soil cannot be used for planting plants.

Before the resting phase

During this period (August - September), when the plant stops growing, it is fed with phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. Nitrogen-containing drugs are also introduced, but in small doses.

To complete the growth process, strengthen young shoots, preserve the crown and maintain immunity at the proper level, flower growers feed citrus fruits with superphosphate and potassium sulfate.

For this purpose, a complex fertilizing for citrus indoor plants is best suited. It contains phosphorus, potassium and the minimum acceptable dose of nitrogen.

Both root and foliar nutrition is carried out. The concentration of substances will be different. Preparation of top dressing is carried out according to the instructions on the package.

Folk ways of fertilizing citrus fruits

Experienced flower growers who grow indoor citrus plants have long noticed the positive effect of using organic matter when planting seedlings.

A mixture of horse manure and soil in a 1: 3 ratio provides citrus fruits with nitrogen for the next 6 months.

For further feeding, you can use kitchen waste, food and other folk remedies:

Ash... Dissolve 1 tsp. in a liter of water.
Weeds... Grind the leaves of the quinoa and add to the soil.
Tea brewing... Dry before adding so that small insects do not start.
Coffee grounds... Use in the same way as tea leaves.
Sugar... Effective for weakened plants and at the stage of active growth. You can just sprinkle 1 tsp. on the surface of the soil and then water, or you can prepare an irrigation solution (the same amount of sugar per 1 tbsp. water). Apply no more than 1 time in 7 days.
Eggshell... Sprinkle the ground around the bush with powdered shells. For watering, insist several whole shells in boiled water for 3 days.
Aquarium water... Use for periodic root watering.

A well-proven method of using bone glue for fertilizing citrus fruits. First, the drug should be dissolved in water (for 1 liter - 2 kg of glue) and boiled to a liquid consistency. Water the plants under the root. When the earth dries up a little, be sure to loosen it up.

Do you need drainage?

When planting lemons, drainage must be used to maintain the comfortable importance of the soil. Otherwise, moisture stagnation and root decay cannot be avoided.

The nuances of its preparation

Drainage before planting you need:

rinse thoroughly;
disinfect;
then dry;
lay on the bottom of the pot in an even layer of at least 3 centimeters.

List of materials

Expanded clay is most often used as drainage, and you can also use crushed stone, pieces of red brick or fragments of earthenware.

We prepare the soil ourselves

A home-prepared substrate is preferable to a store substrate, because in this case you can control the quality of each component.

The components are mixed according to one of the following schemes:

2 cups of forest soil (layer no deeper than 10 cm), 1 cup of coarse river sand, 3 tablespoons of humus, 1 tablespoon of wood ash, a small amount of drainage (charcoal or activated carbon).
Sod, leafy land and humus in equal proportions with the addition of coarse-grained river sand (10% of the total mass).
An equal amount of sod, leafy land and peat land, river sand and dung.
2 parts of garden land, 1 part of sand and 1 part of peat. For enrichment with nutrients, organic fertilizer (based on manure) is added in an amount of 1/10 of the total mass.

Self-prepared soil, like purchased one, must be sterilized.

So that the beneficial microflora does not die at high temperatures, the "living" components (garden, leaf or sod soil, humus) are steamed or heated, the rest are added after the substrate has completely cooled down.

Fertilization methods

The procedure for fertilizing citrus fruits at home is carried out according to the same principle as in the garden. The only thing to consider here is that indoor specimens have a less developed root system. Therefore, fertilizers are applied to the pot in small portions, but quite often.

For each type of lemon, there are specific rates of fertilizing. However, here you should know the individual characteristics of the plant, since overfeeding can do no less harm than a deficiency of nutrients. In both cases, fruiting becomes impossible.

There are the following rules for fertilizing a lemon tree:

from March to mid-August, this procedure is carried out every week;
in March, it is recommended to add slurry (100 g) to the pot, as well as superphosphate (5 g);
in April, potassium sulfate (3 g) should be added to the substances used in March;
in May, due to a decrease in the plant's need for nitrogen, urea (1.5 g) is introduced into the pot, as well as complex mixtures containing boron, magnesium and copper;
in June and July, potassium sulfate (3 g) and superphosphate (5 g) must be added to the solutions used in May;
in August, slurry (100 g) should be added to the soil, into which manganese (0.2 g), complex mixtures and substances that were used in June are added;
in September, only complex mixtures are taken.

In spring, summer and autumn, nutrients enter the plant through the root system, since top dressing is applied only to the soil.

In winter, fertilizers are used once a month. At this time, only the foliar feeding method is carried out. In the cold season, lemon leaves should be sprayed with a solution of potassium permanganate from a spray bottle. Also, for the purpose of prevention, the tree itself is sprayed with a solution of potassium permanganate. All manipulations with potassium permanganate are carried out only in the evening.

For lemon, it is very important to spray the crown. This procedure is well combined with the introduction of foliar dressing and is carried out once within a month. For its implementation, the following drugs are used:

copper sulfate (250 mg / l);
boric acid (200 mg / l);
potassium permanganate (250 mg / l);
iron vitriol (3 mg / l);
zinc oxide (6 g / l);
magnesium sulfane (10 g / l).

As you can see, the dressing carried out for lemon at home is very diverse.Here you can use both purchased ready-made mixtures and folk remedies that are prepared with your own hands. The main thing is to correctly observe the timing of the introduction of nutrients, as well as their dosage. If the lemon tree does not lack macro- and microelements, then in your house it will actively bear fruit and please the eye with its decorative appearance.

Indoor lemon care

Young lemons grow very actively, they quickly draw nutrients from the soil. Therefore, it is important to properly care for the plant and soil. If you plant it in a barren land, the plant will die. Basic rules for caring for indoor lemon tree:

Watering. From May to September, lemon is watered every day. Watering twice a week is carried out in autumn and winter. Lemon doesn't like drought.
Introduction of mineral and organic fertilizing. It is best to use a liquid fertilizer for citrus fruits. From the materials at hand, you can mix the top layer of earth with ash (1 tbsp. Spoon), crushed charcoal, tea leaves (1 tbsp. Spoon). In the summer, top dressing is applied once a month, in the fall, once every two months.
Loosening. The earth needs to be loosened regularly. This increases its breathability. The top layer of the earth is loosened with a wooden stick or small spatula.
Transfer. Young lemons are transplanted into new tubs as they grow. Adults every 4-5 years. You can not change the place of residence of the tree during flowering and fruiting. A lump of earth on the roots must be left.

Correct maintenance will ensure the normal development of the tree. A healthy lemon pleases not only with the beauty of the green crown, but also with juicy yellow fruits. If the lemon starts to hurt, you need to revise the watering regime, check the quality of the soil again. The presence of pests is indicated by spots and holes on the leaves.

Substrate constituents

It is impossible to find suitable land for growing citrus fruits in our latitudes. It is preferable to make special soil mixtures yourself. Often for this purpose, purchased soil is used, designated for lemons, but it uses its potential after 1-1.5 years, then it is changed. Such frequent transplants are not recommended for plants.

The key ingredients for mixing a comfortable substrate for these trees are:

Garden soil, preferably old, which is formed under fruit trees and bushes. It has a special nutritional value at a distance of half a meter from the tree trunk, namely a layer 7 cm thick. The soil from molehills is even more appreciated: it is neutral in acidity, free from the remnants of roots and insects, light, crumbly. Such land is prepared in summer by sifting through a sieve.
Sod is a soil layer that is located under perennial forbs: chamomile, clover, timothy, bluegrass, etc. - in meadows and pastures. Grasses growing there choose neutral or slightly acidic soil. Sod on a sandy basis is suitable for growing, it is lighter, with exposure under a dark film for at least 2 years. To use, sod is sifted through a sieve, removing excess roots and stems. The acidity is reduced by adding lime or wood ash.
Leafy soil is a layer of humus of fallen leaves of maple, oak, birch, linden and other trees growing away from cities and highways. It is possible to prepare such a soil on your own, raking the leaves into a heap, pouring liquid manure and water and waiting 2 years. More often, the thickness of the earth is removed in a deciduous forest right under a layer of last year's green mass. To lower the acidity, lime is added at the rate of 500 g per 1 m³.
Peat land results from the mixing of decomposed peat from raised bogs and humus. Such soil reaches full readiness in 3 years. Its acidity level is slightly higher, therefore lime is used for neutralization - 3 kg / m³ or wood ash - 9 kg / m³.Peat soil is designed to improve the structure of the substrate, increase the function of absorbing and retaining moisture.
Compost is the result of natural decomposition of organic waste, mainly of plant origin. It is prepared in a special pit using the means intended for this for 2 years. Before use, the compost is sieved and steamed to disinfect and get rid of weed seeds.
Manure humus is formed after complete decomposition of manure waste. Its quality depends on the source material. Horse humus is considered the best for citrus fruits. In the substrate, this component is used to saturate it with useful elements and enrich it.
River or lake sand is added to the substrate as a component that can impart lightness, friability, and enhance the air permeability of the soil. It is a prophylactic agent against fungus and rot of the root system, perfectly retains moisture and heat. For this purpose, only coarse, pre-washed sand is suitable.

Artificial substrates components

Commercially available substrates of artificial origin - industrially processed rocks and minerals. Artificial ingredients improve potting soil for indoor lemons.

Vermiculite

Vermiculite is an environmentally friendly material that looks like wood chips, made from clay heated to a very high temperature.

Vermiculite absorbs excess water, has a high absorption capacity and low density, maintains an optimal amount of air and moisture in the soil, which prevents compaction and caking of the soil mixture.

Vermiculite is an ideal component of potting mixes for rooting cuttings, in which they take root well. In substrates for adult plants, vermiculite with success replaces river sand.

The ability of vermiculite to absorb unused moisture and fertilizers dissolved in it and give them as needed increases the duration of the dressing.

The composition of vermiculite includes trace elements necessary for plants: magnesium, calcium, silicon, iron. Therefore, vermiculite creates favorable conditions for the nutrition of the root system and the growth of lemons.

Perlite

Perlite is a volcanic rock based on silicon dioxide, heat treated and crushed to a homogeneous mass. Perlite is used as a substitute for sand, but, unlike sand, it is light, porous and homogeneous in both physical and chemical characteristics.

Unlike vermiculite, perlite contains magnesium, potassium, calcium, iron in a bound state, in a form inaccessible to plants.

Perlite is added to improve the porosity of the mixes and to prevent crust formation on the surface of the garden soil containing substrates. The amount of perlite depends on the volume of the mixture. Perlite plays the role of a fan in the substrate.

Dolomite

Dolomite is a sedimentary rock containing calcium and manganese carbonates, one of the best materials for liming the soil.

Dolomite is ground and used in the form of dolomite flour to reduce the acidity of peat substrates, which is especially important when growing citrus plants and indoor lemons in particular.

Expanded clay

Expanded clay is an artificial material in the form of porous balls, obtained by firing clayey fusible rocks.

Expanded clay weakly retains water, therefore it is used to create a drainage layer at the bottom of the pot. A few centimeters of expanded clay will prevent the roots from plugging the hole in the pot.

I wish you to make the right substrate and grow million dollar lemons!

What soil is suitable for citrus plants

The right soil for citrus trees and shrubs is just as important as regular watering, temperature and light conditions.The land, in which any citrus crop develops, should be good for air and moisture, be saturated with useful substances and mineral components. It is equally important to consider the pH level. Ready-made soil can be purchased in specialized stores or you can prepare a soil mixture at home.

Each type of citrus needs a certain soil.

The need for citrus transplant

The systematic replanting of trees improves fruiting: the procedure makes it possible for the fruit to become tastier and juicier. Transplanting the plant during dormancy is not recommended.

Despite the acquisition of useful properties, a tangible disadvantage of transplanting fruit trees is less fruiting.

The main mistake of novice gardeners is pouring soils into the pot in layers. Stir the soil mixture thoroughly before use, and then start transplanting the plant.

Soils absorb moisture in different ways. It may happen that the top layer is wet and the bottom dry, so the plant will die.

It is not recommended to add soil, the composition of which is too different from that in which the culture is already growing.

The plant should be replanted in early spring. Some people require large pots, but if the container is suitable, then the top layer of the earth should be replaced. It will not be difficult to prepare potting mix at home. To do this you need:

meadow chernozem;
compost;
thorny land;
ordinary peat.

Mix all the ingredients in approximately equal amounts. To kill bacteria and insects in the mixture that can harm the growth of plants, it is necessary to place the mixture in the oven and incubate for 20–25 minutes at a temperature of 150–200 ° С. Let the cooled mixture stand for 2-3 weeks. The soil is ready.

Soil requirements for citrus fruits

The land bought in stores is mostly peat. This is not bad: light soils allow moisture to pass through without problems, which is favorable for the development of the root system. However, it should be borne in mind that manufacturers add fertilizers to the soil mixtures, therefore, after six months, the soil is depleted, the culture may die. Usually, the packages say which fertilizer is suitable for the mixture in order to even out the balance of substances needed by the plant.

Too light peat mixes are also not ideal for growing lemon trees for another reason. The occurrence of rot in the soil prevents oxygen from reaching the root system, creating unfavorable conditions for full growth.

Heavy soil compositions are undesirable for citrus growth at the initial stage. Chernozem tends to get lost, which later becomes a barrier to the full development of the root system. The roots continue their development along the walls of the pot, and the main micro and macro elements remain outside the accessible area. Root development is especially poor in black soil in crops such as grapefruit and pomelo. For lemon and orange bushes, a black soil base is more acceptable. As it grows, the tree becomes more favorable to a heavy and nutritious soil base.

The basis of the soil is black soil

The soil from chernozem and forest land (preferably oak grove) is successful for the favorable growth of citrus fruits. By combining them in equal amounts, you can get an airy and nutrient-rich mixture that does not require additional fertilizers.

It is problematic for city dwellers to get "light" land. Any existing heavy compounds can be diluted with commercial leavening agents: perlite, vermiculite, coconut flakes (not culinary).

Expensive professional peat-based soils are good for those who do not have the opportunity to make soil mixtures on their own, but cheap ones can damage the plant.

Soil acidity

Experienced gardeners regularly monitor the acidity of the soil. The main reason for incorrect acidity is watering the bushes with hard water.Here, the density of the soil is taken into account, on which the impregnation of water depends. An acceptable acidity indicator is 7.0. Above it is already an alkaline environment, below it is acidic, which is favorable for a citrus plant.

You can acidify the soil in different ways. The best option is citric acid (1 tsp is enough for 1 liter). This proportion is not capable of harming the plant. When the desired pH value (6.5) is reached, it will promote the growth of new healthy shoots.

In heavy soil, salts accumulated on the surface are more difficult to lower acidity.

The development of indoor lemon at home is complete with the following soil properties: looseness, good water permeability, the necessary acidity of the soil (do not exceed pH 6).

There are many possibilities to test acidity on your own. One of which is litmus paper, the base number is determined by the color of the indicator strip. To do this, pour a small amount of earth with purified water and bring it to a state of gruel. After some time, a liquid forms on the surface, to which you need to apply litmus paper. Results:

pronounced red color - high acidity level pH 5.0;
orange color - medium acidity, pH level 5.1-5.5;
yellowish tint - acidity level from pH 5.6 to pH 6.0;
saturated green indicates an alkaline environment with an acidity of pH 7.1 or more.

In the summer, the acidity level is easy to check with leaves from currant bushes. Putting a small amount of fresh black currant leaves in a glass container, pour boiling water over. In the cooled infused composition, dip a lump of earth from the pot in which the culture grows. Reddened water indicates the unsuitability of growing a citrus tree under existing conditions.

Ideal potting soil for citrus fruits at home

According to experts, nature has not created the soil suitable for growing indoor lemons. This is due to the limited amount of soil in the pot, which prevents the plant from receiving nutrients for full development, therefore, it is better to prepare the mixture for indoor citrus plants on your own. For the preparation of the soil mixture, such components as garden soil, humus, turf, sand, peat, compost are useful.

For growing in a room, the acidity of the soil should not exceed 6 pH

Garden land

Light and nutritious, the most valuable top layer (up to 10 cm), is collected at a distance of half a meter from the fruit tree. Harvesting is most successful in the summer. The collected upper layer is sieved through a coarse sieve. The land near wormholes is favorable, has light crumbling, neutral acidity.

Leaf land

As a result of the humus of the foliage of the trees, leafy earth is formed. To accelerate decay, the collected heaps of leaves are watered with water and diluted manure. This type of land has a high acidity, it is lowered by adding lime in a ratio of 500 g per 1 cubic meter. Decay lasts 2 years.

Sod land

The soil mixture is collected from perennial grasses growing on neutral soil. Distinguish between heavy (harvested on clay soils) and light (harvested on sandy soils) sod land. Sod preparation: cut sod composition (thickness up to 15 cm, width - 25–35 cm, length - 35–40 cm) is evenly applied in layers up to 1 m in height. For productive stimulation, dry droppings are placed between the layers. In the middle of the upper part, a small depression is made to retain water. In the summer, the stacked layers must be randomly turned over, watered and added manure. Over-sized stacks are covered with a dark film to prevent strong overgrowth of weeds. After 2 years, the sod land is ready.

Sod land must be sieved before use.A self-prepared soil composition becomes porous, has a significant supply of nutrients.

Sod land is under a layer of grass

Sand

It does not contain any nutrients for plant growth. Its direct role is to give lightness and looseness. The added sand to the total mixture prevents the appearance of fungal diseases, thereby preventing decay of the citrus root.

Only sand collected near fresh waters is favorable for the growth of citrus fruits. Before adding to the general mixture, it must be thoroughly rinsed.

The ability of sand to retain heat and moisture is beneficial for accelerating the growth of young plant cuttings.

Peat land

Peat is collected from raised bogs, diluted with manure, thereby increasing the nutritional properties of the component. The pure form of this kind of land is not suitable for use. It is added to general mixtures to reduce density, increase acidity. Thanks to its components, peat soil prevents acidification. The addition of peat mixtures prevents rapid soil decomposition.

Compost

Humus collected from leaves, grass cuttings, thin branches, and straw is a good raw material for citrus fruits. The final result of decomposition of plant residues is rich in nutrients.

Composting soil is harvested in a small dug hole. For stimulation, regular watering with slurry is required. The wet state promotes active decay. Extracting the mixture until fully cooked lasts 2 years. The finished compost has a darker shade, a homogeneous structure, and the ability to crumble easily. Not to the final result, the ripened mixture will have a detrimental effect on the life of the plant.

Conclusion

Growing citrus crops strongly requires the most responsible approach. Careful handling and the creation of ideal conditions for plants will further lead to a harvest of fragrant fruits.

Folk remedies for feeding

Onion husk fertilizer takes a worthy place in plant feeding at home, as it contains many trace elements.

Feeding indoor plants with onion tincture is an excellent prevention against many diseases and pests due to phytoncides.

APPLICATION:

25 grams of onion husks (about a handful) are poured with a liter of hot water and boiled for 7-8 minutes under a lid and over low heat.
The broth is infused for 3 hours, and after it cools down, house plants and the top layer of the soil mixture are filtered and sprayed.
Top dressing with a decoction of onions is carried out about once every two months.

IMPORTANT! A feature of onion fertilizer is that it must be prepared before each feeding of home flowers.

Plants are fed by spraying, therefore, the maximum benefit will be for those species that do not have glossy or pubescent leaves.

Garlic

Garlic is a powerful prophylactic against fungal diseases in indoor plants.

APPLICATION:

150-200 grams of garlic (cloves) are chopped and poured with one liter of water.
The mixture is tightly closed with a lid and infused for 4-5 days, and then filtered.
To feed indoor flowers, the infusion is diluted with water: 1 tbsp. spoon for 2 liters.

IMPORTANT! Garlic fertilizer is suitable for watering and spraying plants - once every 10-14 days.

Aloe juice

Aloe juice is a well-known natural stimulant for rooting cuttings, while it can also be a fertilizer for indoor flowers. Feeding with aloe juice strengthens the plant's immunity.

APPLICATION:

From 3-4-year-old aloe, the lower leaves are cut off and put in a bag, and the bag in the refrigerator to make the juice "softer".
The next day, the juice is squeezed out of the aloe leaves and diluted with water - 1 teaspoon per 1.5 liters of water.
Houseplants are fed by watering or spraying no more than once every 14 days.

2nd RECIPE FROM AN EXPERIENCED FLOWER GROWER FROM MOSCOW:

6-7 branches of aloe are chopped (cut with a knife into small pieces), placed in a 3-liter jar and poured with boiled warm water.
Insist for a week in a dark place.
200 grams of infusion (glass) is diluted in 3 liters of water and watered with natural fertilizer indoor flowers at the root.

Slept coffee

This natural fertilizer is widely used by many flower growers. Drinking coffee makes the nutrient substrate looser and lighter, increases acidity and the amount of oxygen.

FEATURES: an increase in soil acidity does not have a positive effect on all indoor plants. Feeding drunk coffee is recommended for azaleas, hydrangeas, lilies, ripsalis, roses and many evergreen species.

APPLICATION: Mix coffee grounds with potting soil.

Tea brewing

Some growers feed home flowers by pouring tea leaves like mulch on top of the ground, but we do not recommend it, since sciarids (black flies) are easily bred in the tea leaves.

APPLICATION: Sleep tea as a fertilizer can only be used in this version.

The tea leaves are dried, collected in a separate bag, and during the transplantation of indoor plants, they are mixed with a soil mixture in a ratio of 1: 3.
It is recommended to feed with tea only indoor flowers with a delicate root system - begonia, peperomia, violet and others.

REVIEWS: according to experts, it makes sense to use drunk coffee and tea brew exclusively as drainage.

Aquarium water has a neutral pH and contains many substances that stimulate the growth of indoor plants, and therefore is a fairly good natural fertilizer.

APPLICATION: house flowers can be fed with aquarium water only from March to June, and not more often than once a month.

Many citrus growers are interested in how to feed lemon at home, in addition to purchased fertilizers. If there is no desire or opportunity to use purchased dressings, you can use folk remedies. They have been in use for many years and have proven to be effective as a top dressing for lemon.

Folk remedies used to feed lemon:

quinoa, which is crushed;
wood ash. It serves as a source of phosphorus and potassium. Feeding is carried out here with a solution prepared from 1 teaspoon of ash diluted in 1 liter of water;
pond silt (nitrogen source);
bone glue. It is a source of phosphorus. First, the glue (2 kg) is diluted in a liter of water. Then the solution is boiled to a liquid state. Only then can the plant be watered with the resulting infusion. An hour after applying top dressing, the soil in the pot is loosened;
used welding. It contains many of the components that lemon needs to bloom flowers: magnesium, iron, calcium, phosphorus, manganese, copper, etc. However, their concentration is not enough to consider the infusion as a complete fertilizer.

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Lemon can also be fed with coffee grounds. It contains nitrogen, magnesium and potassium. It must be remembered that coffee or tea should be well dried before use. Otherwise, they can become moldy, which will attract gnats and other insects to the pot.

Sugar can be used as a top dressing for citrus fruits. However, it is introduced exclusively at the stage of active growth or in the presence of weakened specimens. The plant gets glucose from sugar, which serves as a source of energy. Granulated sugar can be scattered over the ground before watering. Also, it can be immediately dissolved in water, which will be irrigated.

Plain eggshells can be a source of calcium for the lemon tree. It is crushed, mixed with starch, and then scattered over the surface of the earth. In addition, the shell can be poured with boiled water and left in this form for 2-3 days, so that the solution is infused.After that, just water the lemon.

You can find the following unusual feeding:

watering the tree with milk;
burying a fish head in a pot;
watering the plant with water left over from washing the meat;
using water infused with banana peels.

However, the disadvantage of using such folk remedies is an unpleasant smell. The dressings described above are organic. And she, as you know, exudes an unpleasant aroma when rotting. Also, the use of these folk remedies is fraught with the appearance of mice in the house.

Citrus growers can use all of the above options for fertilizing both as the main fertilizer and as an additional fertilizer when making ready-made preparations purchased in the store.