- Two varieties of lemon trees, the Ponderosa and the Meyer, are easy to grow no matter where you live. If temperatures dip below freezing in your region, these varieties can be brought inside and will still thrive.
The Meyer lemon is actually a hybrid of a lemon and an orange. The fruit has a thinner skin and sweeter taste than traditional lemons due to a lower acid content.
The Ponderosa isn't a "true" lemon either. It is believed to be a hybrid of a citron and a lemon. The fruit is large and seedy and has a thick, bumpy peel. Ponderosas have white flowers with a pinkish tint and often produce thorns. - First, choose a well-draining container with adequate room for growth. You can expect your lemon tree to reach a height of 3 to 5 feet at maturity. Lemon trees require approximately six to eight hours of bright sunlight each day to thrive, so choose a room with southern exposure.
The temperature in the room should be kept between 55 to 68 degrees F, and the humidity should be in the 30 to 60 percent range. According to Michele Warmund of the University of Missouri Extension, the humidity in most homes averages only 15 to 20 percent. To correct for this difference, you can use a vaporizer or humidifier. Alternatively, you can periodically mist your lemon tree with water from a spray bottle.
To avoid overwatering, Warmund advises watering only when the top 2 to 3 inches of soil feels dry. Once a month, apply a citrus fertilizer. You can place your lemon tree outside when temperatures are warm. - Citrus trees are prone to scale, spider mites, aphids and mealybugs. You can help prevent these pests by washing the tops and undersides of the leaves. If you are growing your lemon tree indoors, be sure to choose chemical pesticides that are formulated specifically for houseplants. Don't over-water, as this weakens lemon trees and makes them more susceptible to pests.
- A common problem with indoor lemon trees is that they sometimes flower but do not produce fruit. This could be caused by inadequate pollination. Horticulturist Deborah Brown at the University of Minnesota Extension suggests carefully shaking the flowers or flicking them with your fingers to aid pollination.
- According to the Worldwide Gourmet, legendary lover Giacomo Casanova thought the lemon was a powerful aphrodisiac. Spanish priests, on the other hand, once thought lemons were the devil's creation because they were not as round and perfect-looking as oranges.
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