Propagation of lemon by cuttings at home: how to root and grow

A lemon tree is, of course, a magnificent decoration for a room with lush green foliage and a healing fragrance during the flowering period. And if you look after it carefully, it will definitely delight you, giving you fragrant and healthy fruits that can be used for culinary, medicinal and cosmetic purposes.

Propagating lemons by cuttings ensures that the best qualities of the parent tree are preserved.

A tree grown from cuttings will bear its first fruits within 3-5 years. This is a greater advantage of propagating lemons by cuttings, since a plant grown from a seed will begin to bear fruit only after 8-12 years, sometimes even later.

In addition, lemon fruits grown from cuttings will retain all the qualities of the parent tree. Citrus trees grown from seeds can have significant differences from the original fruit due to gene splitting, up to the appearance of a “wild tree” with rare, small and tasteless fruits and a large number of thorns on the branches.

Pros and cons of lemon cuttings

Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. There are advantages:

Preservation of the genetic material of the parents.
A tree bears fruit earlier than a plant grown from a seed.
This method is much cheaper than buying a ready-made seedling.
Possibility of vaccination.

The downside is that when grown from seed, the plant will grow more actively and will be less resistant to disease. But since this method has more advantages, gardeners more often resort to using it. Propagating lemons is not that difficult. To grow a healthy tree, you should follow the instructions.

Optimal time for cuttings

The most optimal time for propagating homemade lemons by cuttings is spring. It is at this time that the plant wakes up from hibernation and becomes more active. The plant begins to intensively form new shoots that can become planting material. It is permissible to form cuttings during the summer season; some gardeners prefer to choose the time for this when the heat begins to subside, and the sprouts have a higher survival rate.

Methods

Cuttings also have their own methods, each of them special in its own way.

Vaccination

This is an effective and easy way to propagate lemons. Grafting is performed in the spring, when the movement of juices begins. If vaccinations are carried out in winter or autumn, this usually does not give any result. For propagation, seedlings 1-2 years old are taken. Branches can be grafted not only onto lemon shoots, but also other citrus fruits. Good results are obtained if the branch is grafted onto an orange tree.

In this case, the tree turns out to be decorative and easy to care for.

Budding

Budding is carried out at the beginning of abundant sap flow. This can be seen if an incision is made. The bark is easily separated from the trunk. 15 days before the procedure, the side shoots are removed and the top of the lemon is pinched. First, prepare the cutting: peel it from the leaves, leaving only the petioles. Then it is washed in water and wiped dry.

The grafting site is chosen to be smooth. Make a small transverse incision and a longitudinal one from its middle. The bark is pulled up a little and lowered into place, and a shield with a bud is inserted into the small hole. Two cuts are made in place of the shield and carefully cut off. After the twig is placed there, the cut is closed with bark and then bandaged. At one time, 2-3 buds are grafted on different sides of the trunk or branch. After this, the plant is covered, but sometimes it is better not to do this so that it does not suffocate and become moldy.

After 10-15 days they check whether the operation was a success. To do this, lightly press on the petiole. If it falls off, it means that the budding was successful. Then, after a month, the upper part of the rootstock is cut off and the bandage is removed.

Rooting

It is considered the fastest way. First, wash the pot well with warm, clean water. Small pebbles or something similar are placed at the bottom. Then soil with organic mixtures and sand. The top layer of sand is 1.5-2.5 centimeters. Holes are made at the bottom of the box or pot through which excess moisture will escape, fresh air will enter and the plant will take root.

Air layering

In this case, the branch is first rooted and then separated. For this, a semi-lignified spring shoot (branch) is usually used. The procedure is carried out at the end of summer. Clear the trunk of leaves and shoots. Then the bark, 1 centimeter wide, is removed from the middle. The moss soaked in water is squeezed out. A lump with a diameter of 5-8 centimeters is made from it, it is divided in half. These pieces are pressed against the tree along the trunk.

The whole thing is wrapped in plastic film and secured at the top and bottom. Black polyethylene will retain water and protect from direct sunlight. After a year, remove excess shoots. New roots will grow into the moss. Chinese lemons are propagated in this way.

How to prepare a container and substrate for cuttings

First, it is best to use a small pot (ceramic, baked clay, plastic, peat) with a diameter of 10-15 cm and a volume of 1-2 liters with drainage holes to drain excess water when watering and ventilate the roots to prevent them from rotting.

The pot should be cone-shaped to facilitate subsequent transplantation of the rooted lemon cutting; Such a transplant using the transshipment method should be done annually as the lemon grows for 5 years into a pot of slightly larger volume and diameter (by 5 cm).

You can also use a 1.5-2 liter plastic bottle as a container for rooting cuttings. To do this, you need to cut it crosswise with a sharp knife approximately in the middle, make 4-5 holes with a diameter of 2-4 mm in the bottom with a drill or a nail heated on fire.

The upper part of the bottle can then be used as a greenhouse to cover the cutting and thereby create the necessary microclimate for the normal development of the plant;

It is convenient to root lemon cuttings in plastic bottles.

At the bottom of a pot or cut plastic bottle, you need to put one of the materials as drainage - charcoal, vermiculite, expanded clay or pieces of broken brick - this layer should be approximately 1/5 of the height of the container.

The acidity of the soil for growing lemon should not exceed 6.5–7 pH.

The soil must be fertile and necessarily loose thanks to peat, compost soil and river sand.

A ready-made universal substrate for citrus fruits can be purchased at a specialized store or made independently by preparing a mixture of:

flower soil, sold in specialized stores, humus and river sand in a ratio of 1: 1: 1,
humus, turf soil and river sand in a ratio of 1:1:1,
sand, turf and coniferous soil in a ratio of 1:1:1,
sphagnum (moss), rotted horse manure and river sand in a ratio of 2:1:1.

The soil for rooting a lemon cutting must be fertile and loose.
If you decide to prepare the mixture yourself, then the river sand must be rinsed well with cold water to remove impurities, and then calcined in the oven to destroy pathogenic bacteria.

You can also take natural soil for growing lemon from cuttings in a place where nettles have been growing well for a long time.

Technological process of lemon propagation

The easiest and fastest way to grow a lemon is to plant a cutting in the ground. From the very beginning, the cutting is prepared and cut off. Keep in mind that the selected time should be between the periods of flowering and active growth.

When to perform the procedure?

The best time for this is spring. Just then the juices wake up and the air temperature rises. The tree is expecting warmer temperatures and sunlight ahead, which will allow it to grow quickly.

Choosing an Escape

For the procedure, a well-developed cutting is taken, but it should not be old. Make sure that the trunk is semi-lignified and elastic. There should be 3-4 leaves on the stem, maximum 5. If there are a lot of leaves, they are cut off. The length of the plant should be from 10 centimeters, the thickness is average.

Preparation and rooting of cuttings

The leaves are pruned so that all the energy is directed to the roots. Before planting, the cuttings are kept in a solution of Epin, Heteroauxin or any other stimulant. The temperature should be 20-25 degrees, then there is a greater chance of successful landing. Provide good lighting. It is also necessary to find an additional light source.

Landing technology

The pot does not have to be large, a medium size will do. The capacity for the plant is increased gradually. There must be drainage at the bottom of the container so that excess moisture can escape and the plant can breathe . The best material for a pot is clay. Plant the cuttings according to simple rules:

Take a flowerpot or pot, pour coal and ash into it.
Then add a soil mixture of coniferous, turf soil and sand.
Root the cuttings in sand with moss.
After the plant is stuck in, it is sprayed.

How to plant a lemon shoot without roots

In this case, you need to create all the conditions for growth and formation of roots. That is, they plant a lemon from a branch. After this, care will be needed, otherwise the tree will grow and develop very slowly.

Features of growing lemon from cuttings at home

Not all citrus fruits can be propagated by cuttings, but the method is excellent for lemon. Its essence is to place a cutting cut from an adult fruit-bearing tree in conditions favorable for root formation and obtain a ready-made seedling within a month and a half.

Before you start propagating indoor lemons from cuttings at home, you need to decide on the choice of variety. Preference should be given to those bred for indoor cultivation, for example:

Pavlovsky;
Meyer;
Genoa;
Maikopsky;
Anniversary;
Volcano;
Novogruzinsky;
Lunario;
Irkutsk large-fruited;
Ural indoor

Lemon trees of these varieties grow no higher than 1.8 m and easily tolerate insufficient lighting.

Necessary conditions for rooting

First you need to ensure constant air humidity, place the plant in partial shade, and ventilate regularly. Lemon is sprayed 2-3 times a day. All this will help root the plant.

Optimal soil composition

The earth must contain many useful components. Usually they take soil from the garden and mix it with humus in a 1:1 ratio. They also take sand, coniferous and turf soil.

Required pot size and volume

At first, take a small pot so that the water collects near the roots. As it grows, the container is changed and the plant is replanted.

Climatic conditions: humidity, light, temperature

The temperature should be no lower than 20 degrees, and preferably even higher. In this case, partial shade is created so that there is no negative impact on the cuttings.

Humidity should be increased, but this only applies to the air in the room; with abundant watering, the plant will begin to rot.

Irrigation and fertilizing

Watering is carried out as the soil dries; you should not irrigate the plant often. As they grow, the volume of water is increased, but care must be taken to ensure that the water does not stagnate. Watering is carried out 2 times a week.

How long does it take for a sprout to take root?

Depending on the variety and the characteristics of the genetic material, the plant takes root in different ways. Usually this period is two weeks, but rooting can also last up to a month. It also depends on planting and further care.

Choosing a cutting

Cuttings from fruit-bearing lemons at home is a multi-layered process. First of all, take the choice of cuttings seriously. You should not cut young, immature shoots from the tree. The best option would be a mature branch. Its thickness should be 4–5 mm. Try to choose a sprout based on these parameters.

If you take too thin shoots for propagation, they may not take root in the ground. Conversely, branches that are too thick take root with great difficulty. Find the necessary shoots on the plant and cut cuttings 10 cm long. Remember: you should leave a few buds and leaves on each sprout. The lower leaf plates are removed so that the sap flow does not slow down. But taking cuttings without leaves is also not recommended.

Further care of seedlings

The tree loves lighting, a comfortable temperature for its growth is from 18 to 28 degrees. Transplantation is carried out every year, as it grows. Feeding is carried out all year round, especially during the warm period - from the beginning of spring to the end of autumn. Renew the top layer of soil.

The plant should not be transported frequently. Sudden changes in temperature will harm the lemon. They form the crown and monitor their health. Proper cultivation and care will bear fruit.

When is the best time to propagate lemons from cuttings?

The development of a lemon tree is characterized by cyclicality: 3-4 times a year, an active growth phase begins, when the lemon blooms, grows foliage and shoots. Then comes a period of relative peace. Cuttings are prepared from twigs of a healthy fruit-bearing plant that has completed its next growth cycle. A favorable time for propagating lemon by cuttings is considered to be the period from April to July. If you start rooting lemons at the end of summer or autumn, the process may be delayed. The plant will require additional lighting and increased care. If the seedling does not acquire new growth before winter and begins to shed its leaves, it may die due to metabolic disorders.

We are building a specialized greenhouse for lemons

To maintain the right temperature for lemons all year round, gardeners often use greenhouses. This does not have to be a separate building. In spring and summer, you can grow vegetables in a greenhouse and replant lemons in the fall. There the plant will receive enough moisture and will be able to strengthen its roots.

Or the pots with plants are simply transferred to the greenhouse. If you plan to leave the lemon for the winter, then the greenhouse should maintain a temperature of at least +20 degrees. It is also necessary to provide lighting. The light should be diffused.

I will highlight the main thing

Do not take weak branches for cuttings: they will either die or get sick.
Lemon trees should not be propagated during fruiting or flowering periods. Then he already loses a lot of energy.
Monitor the humidity for rooting of the cuttings. The required figure is 95%.
Do not place the shoots (and even mature trees) in direct sunlight. Otherwise, the lemon leaves may get burned.

I hope now you understand how to cut lemons in an apartment. If you understand the process, there is nothing complicated about it. Over time, you will get used to it and will do everything automatically. The main thing is just to start and get a taste for it. And then everything will go like clockwork.

Planting a cutting

Place a drainage layer of at least 3 cm at the bottom of the pot. Cover it with citrus soil or a self-prepared mixture.
Before rooting the cuttings, you need to moisten the soil. Deepen the seedling by 5–6 cm, compact the soil around it. You can sprinkle the ground with sand or a layer of sawdust on top.
Before putting a special cloche (cap for seedlings) on the pot, moisten the plant and the inner surface of the cap with warm water from a spray bottle. The greenhouse will ensure easy survival and make caring for the cuttings more convenient.

Experienced flower growers independently make bottom heating on the windowsill in order to better care for the seedlings. Temperatures reach 25–28 °C. The rooted seedling takes root within 3–4 weeks. Some varieties require a longer greenhouse period: Ponderosa, Eureka variegata, Lisbon.

If the ground is wet, it is enough to spray moisture over the plant 2 times a day so that the inner surface of the greenhouse does not dry out. Prolonged ventilation during the rooting stage is unacceptable.

Transplantation to a permanent place

To grow a lemon from a cutting at home, you need to properly care for it at each stage of development. A year after planting, when the seedling has become stronger, it is transplanted into a larger pot. A volume of 0.5-0.6 liters will be sufficient. The diameter of the pot should be 8-10 cm along the top edge. Once started, the cutting should not be transplanted into a large tub immediately. The plant will not develop well in it and may die.

A seedling obtained by propagation by cuttings is transplanted carefully, trying not to damage the roots. They carefully pry it up and take it out along with the earthen lump. The root collar is not buried. The soil in the pot is heavily moistened, the plant is shaded for 10 days, and then moved to a bright place.

Lemon loves frequent light watering and fertilizing. The main substances a lemon needs for development are phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium. It also needs sulfur, manganese, calcium, boron, copper. Properly selected fertilizers contribute to the timely entry of the plant into fruiting. The lemon tree is fertilized for the first time 1.5 months after transplantation. From now on, it will need to be fed during periods of intensive growth. For this use:

fermented slurry supplemented with superphosphate, 50 g per 10 liters of water;
wood ash - 1 tbsp. l. for 1 liter of water;
0.5% ammonium nitrate solution;
10-day weed infusion;
aquarium water;

Flower shops sell special liquid concentrates for fertilizing citrus crops. The leaders among them are “Kemira”, “Citrus mixture”, “Master”.

A lemon tree grown by propagation by cuttings should begin to bloom and bear fruit after 3 years. If this starts earlier, it is recommended to pick off the flowers so that the plant does not waste nutrients on premature flowering. As the root system grows, the seedling will need to be replanted. A young plant is replanted 1-2 times a year, an adult plant – once every 3 years.

At the age of 1 year, at the end of winter, a seedling grown from a twig is pruned for the first time. Side shoots form on the annual stem; when pruning, no more than 4 should be left. In the future, the plant will need to be periodically subjected to formative pruning; this is necessary for the health of the tree and full fruiting.

Choosing a container

When choosing a pot for a lemon tree, two criteria are taken into account.

Material – wood, ceramics, plastic are suitable;
Size – the lemon tree is transplanted into a larger pot if the roots of the plant are visible. The roots are only visible in places - a pot of the same size is selected.

As for the shape, the branch is not capricious - it will suit a container of any configuration. For an adult fruit-bearing plant, it is better to choose a cone-shaped pot. In any case, the lemon planter should provide good drainage.

If we consider the aesthetic aspect, lemon looks very beautiful in a white or terracotta ceramic pot. If you choose a pot with a pattern, then it should match the color and pattern with the pots of neighboring plants, then you will get an attractive and harmonious composition.